Want to know why bullies target sped students? Here are all the reasons bullies select kids with intellectual disabilities to attack so that you can call these cowards out when you see them do it.
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Bullies bully special ed students the most. Therefore, in this post, you will learn why bullies target SPED students so that you’ll be encouraged to stand up for them and call the bullies out for their own weaknesses.
Once you learn all about these pathetic truths about bullies, you will be more encouraged to stand up for students who can’t defend themselves.
This post is all about why bullies target SPED students to give you the courage to speak out for them and protect them.
Why Bullies Target Sped Students
As we’ve discussed in previous posts, bullies never bully randomly. They carefully select their victims. They know exactly what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.
Remember that bullies are nothing but sniveling little cowards. And they select anyone they don’t believe will fight back.
Bullies don’t pick on SPED students because they deserve it. No. Here are the reasons they target them.
1. SPED students are so different, they stand out.
Many of them have behavioral problems. They have difficulty controlling their emotions, especially those with intellectual disabilities.
For example, a group of bullies notices a kid shooting hoops by himself. They know him from school. They also know that he has emotional problems and that he’s in a special education class.
What’s really sad is that they’ve seen this kid have meltdowns on many occasions. Therefore, they look at each other and smile evilly before approaching the boy.
Then they surround him. The ringleader of the bully group snatches the basketball from the kid, then throws it to one of his buddies.
And, sure enough, the kid starts shouting, “Give me back my ball!” But the bullies laugh and refuse to give it back.
They keep passing the ball among themselves, taunting the sped boy. And because the victim’s disability prevents him from learning social skills, he melts down.
He cries and screams. The bullies laugh and taunt him more. Finally, they give him his ball and walk away laughing.
They got the reaction they wanted. And chances are that they’ll keep taunting him just to see him break down.
Why Bullies Target SPED students:
2. Some Can’t Read Social Cues.
When a person can’t read body language and tone, they can’t recognize manipulation. And they can’t listen to their gut feelings. Therefore, they’re easy targets for bullies.
Bullies can quickly pick up on these weaknesses. So, they take full advantage. For instance, bullies may pretend to be the victim’s friends. They do this to get close enough to the victim to harm them.
And because the sped kid can’t read social cues, he really believes they like him. The bullies may stand there and laugh at him. They may make fun of him.
But the sped kid thinks they’re laughing with him, not at him. For all he knows, they’re just having a good time with him. And they are, but not in the sense that he thinks.
Another thing these bullies may do is ask him to do humiliating things. And the sped kid does it, not knowing any better.
He doesn’t think he’s embarrassing himself. But the bullies and everyone else know better.
3. Many SPED kids don’t recognize manipulation.
Bullies will target these children because they know they can get what they want from them. For instance, a bully may ask a SPED girl for her lunch dessert.
The mean girl may tell her that if she hands over her fruit cake, then she’ll be her friend. And she’ll protect her from the other children.
Therefore, not knowing any better, the disabled girl does what the bully asks. However, later that afternoon, a pack of bullies surrounds the poor girl. The bully girl doesn’t keep her end of the bargain.
Instead, she leaves the SPED girl high and dry.
Why Bullies Target SPED Students:
4. They get less protection.
I hate to say it, but it’s true. Most people look down on them. It shouldn’t be this way. But it is. Kids are cruel. And many adults are worse.
Most people don’t protect them because they see them as less human. Therefore, most children in special education have few friends. Many are completely isolated.
5. In some schools, students gain social status by picking on those with lower social standing.
The only way bullies can feel powerful is to find a victim to pick on. And the only way they can measure up is to have a victim to use as a punching bag.
If they don’t have a target, they feel less than. Therefore, bullies will go to the ends of the earth to find one.
Realize that bullies can’t get power through meritocracy because they have zero redeeming qualities. So, they bully sped children who can’t defend themselves effectively. That’s what gives them social standing.
But know this. Bullying at any age is born out of cowardice. Bullies who pick on SPED kids are pitiful people. Only lowdown, uneducated, sad, and pathetic idiots go after them.
Think about it! School bullies pick on kids they perceive as weak! They stoop so low as to pick on disabled kids! And they do it to feel better about themselves.
These bullies wouldn’t dare go up against someone with equal power. No. They’re too afraid they just might get their butts handed to them.
They’re nothing but gutless pieces of crap! Human filth! Toilet scum!
Why Bullies Target SPED Students:
6. SPED students are the most vulnerable.
Which is only proof that bullies are the biggest cowards in the world! Why? These particular targets are the most vulnerable. Moreover, they’re the least valued students in most schools.
They are virtually defenseless. The heartbreaking truth is that most of the other students and teachers don’t see these innocent kids as human beings.
Therefore, should it be any wonder that bullies prey on SPED students the most? Again! Bullies are cowards! They select kids with intellectual disabilities to target because these children are unable to defend themselves.
Because students in special education are usually low on social intelligence, they’re easy to get a reaction from, and bullies can exploit this at will.
During school, I would see bullies go up to a sped student, snatch something away from them, then as soon as the child started crying and screaming, the bully said, “Oops! Oh, I’m sorry. Here ya go!”
He gave the item back as soon as they got the desired reaction out of the poor kid.
7. Most mainstream teachers look down their noses at them.
I’ve heard gut-wrenching stories of other teachers in schools bullying those in the special ed program.
I also witnessed it firsthand during high school. A sped girl stood in the lunch line just a few heads in front of me.
And she was being laughed at and mocked by a group of cliquey teachers. Mind you. These women were supposed to be adults!
Why Bullies Target SPED Students:
My Heart HURTS for these kids.
I saw how these teachers would look down their noses at this child. I witnessed firsthand how they laughed and made her the butt of their cruel jokes.
Moreover, I heard the mean-spirited comments. The teachers remarked about how this poor girl would never find a job. She wouldn’t contribute anything to society.
They concluded that she would only be a drain on the taxpayers’ money once she got out of school.
I have to tell you. Just listening to those remarks made me sick to my stomach! How I wish I’d had the guts to stand up for her when it happened!
However, I was only seventeen and a student myself at the time. These bullies were teachers, and it was best for me to keep my mouth shut.
But I was also thankful. At least, those cackling old shrews weren’t spewing their venomous wisecracks on me. Pure prejudice and discrimination were what this was!
Not all mainstream teachers are this heartless.
Granted, not all mainstream teachers are this way. Most are very caring people who only want to help kids get the best start in life.
However, it seems that every school has that one group. Those four, maybe five teachers who are cliquey, mean-spirited, and who think they’re above anyone else.
And they usually mistreat the lunch ladies and custodians. They also bully other teachers who aren’t members of their little circle.
So, do you think they wouldn’t mistreat SPED students, too? Even SPED teachers get treated like trash. And it’s a crying shame!
Why Bullies Target SPED Students:
In Conclusion
Most schools don’t value students in special education programs as much as they value kids in regular classes. No, wait! Let’s be point-blank here.
Most schools are biased against these children. But they’ll never admit it. Not in this lifetime.
And bullies instinctively know this. They know that sped students aren’t worth much in the minds of school officials. Bullies know they don’t get much protection.
And this is why they torment them without fear.
Understand that bullies are the most disgusting, vile, and cowardly of people. To a bully, harassing a special ed child or disabled adult is like taking candy from a baby. It’s just too darned easy!
Bullies are threatened by anyone who is a challenge. They would never risk picking on anyone who could take them on. So they focus on the people they perceive to be the weakest and most vulnerable.
And the teachers who target these children are no better than the snot-nosed bullies who do it. They’ve only grown bigger. Adults should know better!
This post gave you all the answers to why bullies target SPED students to give you the knowledge as to how pathetic bullies are.
Related posts you’ll enjoy:
1. How Do Bullies Pick Their Victims? Here are Your Answers.
2. Bullying in Schools: What Every Parent Should Know
3. People with Negative Energy: How to Protect Yourself from Them