Dozens of parents are angry about what they say is a bad bullying problem at an East Tennessee middle school.
It started with a post in the Facebook group "Maryville Speaks Out."
One mom posted, "Does anyone on here know how to get to the bottom of a bullying issue at Heritage Middle School?"
Her question garnered nearly 150 comments from other members, many saying their kids were also bullied at the same school.
Some of the comments read as follows:
"Heritage Middle is horrible with bullies!! Been that way for years."
"We've been through this once and it is happening again."
"Good luck, we've taken it all the way to the top and nothing's changed at that school."
These parents want an end to bullying. Not just at Heritage Middle, but everywhere.
One of those parents is Samantha Thomas. She has an 8th grader at Heritage Middle School.
"A little bit nerdy I guess would be the stereotype that she's given," said Thomas.
Her daughter first experienced bullying in 6th grade.
"It was more so your typical stuff that happens to every kid, ya know, oh you have glasses," said Thomas.
But in just two years, things have gotten much worse.
"It's kind of progressed to them pushing her in lockers and saying really nasty things to her," said Thomas.
Things like "I hate you so much," "you're the fakest person I have ever met," and messages with harsh curse words. Thomas spotted those messages on her daughter's phone.
"She's had some kids tell her that she needs to hurt herself, or that she should kill herself things like that and she's already kind of fragile."
Thomas was furious.
She said she talked to the school SRO, who she said was also outraged by some of those messages, but nothing has been done.
Dozens of other parents echoed similar stories, saying school administration didn't help their kids, either.
But Blount Count Schools said they take bullying prevention very seriously.
The district issues the following statement to WBIR:
It is the policy of the Blount County School system that all students be provided a safe learning environment. We take reports of bullying seriously and ask students to report incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor, or building administrator. Allegations are fully investigated and the privacy of all parties and witnesses are respected.
Administrators, teachers, and students are also required to participate in yearly bullying prevention training. The BCS bullying policy is publicized in documents such as student handbooks, take home folders and other school marketing materials, as well.
Thomas said she doesn't know how much school staff can or will help. But it's bigger than just them.
"This isn't something that people who have your kids a couple hours a day a couple days a week are gonna be able to fix, it's deeper than that," she said.
Thomas said her child isn't perfect.
"Has she said some things that I was kind of disappointed in? Yes."
But said no 13-year-old should be bullied to the point of self harm.
"I think that it's deeper than just the school. I think this goes back to homes, their families, their parents."
Blount County Schools said all administrators, teachers, and students are required to participate in yearly bullying prevention training.
Thomas hopes they can do more to help all kids before they become victims of bullying.