No more suffering in silence
Brave mum and daughter put horror tales of school bullies into print to help others
20 May 2008 16:02
Article by Karen Doherty, Oldham Evening Chronicle, Friday May 16th 2008
Marie Dolan was so desperate to escape bullying at school - she threw herself down some steps. She was hoping to sprain her ankle and get a few days off - but ended up fracturing her spine and spent six weeks laid up. And in a sad twist, history repeated itself when her daughter Chelsea developed an eating disorder after suffering bullying at the same Chadderton high school.
Now their experiences are featured in the new book, "Write About... Bullying" by Gatehouse Media which produces literature for adult beginner readers. It includes a short story by Marie (39) and a poem by 17 year old Chelsea.
"It was hard because it was very emotional remembering how I felt at the time, explained Marie.”But if it will do some good, help someone to get through an experience like mine, it will be worth doing."
The mother of three tells how she was bullied the minute she started secondary school. "It started with name-calling, but soon I was being physically pushed about. I spent most of the next four years bunking off, even though I loved learning. I just hated the daily taunts about my looks, my hair and my clothes. The experience left me with little confidence, very low self esteem and self-hatred."
Chelsea's weight plummeted to just four stone when she was intimidated at school, eventually dropping out to learn on-line. She also left a college course because she couldn't cope with the classroom environment after her experiences. Marie, who suffers depression, believes that the bullying has had a big impact on their lives. She said, “I could have made more of myself because I loved learning. It has affected Chelsea because she is a bright girl. "She is just trying to get herself together and get a job."
"One positive thing to come from being bullied is that I don't care what people think of me anymore. The only opinions that matter are of true friends and loved ones."
Marie, who also has Joshua (15) and Jessica (11), developed her writing skills when she enrolled on a literacy programme at Oldham College with her mum, Cath Taylor (61). Chelsea started writing her poem as part of her online learning. The foreword to the books states: "The strength, humour and sensitivity evident in these writings inspires us all, by showing how even the most traumatic experience can shape a person into becoming stronger than they could have imagined."
20 May 2008 16:02
Article by Karen Doherty, Oldham Evening Chronicle, Friday May 16th 2008
Marie Dolan was so desperate to escape bullying at school - she threw herself down some steps. She was hoping to sprain her ankle and get a few days off - but ended up fracturing her spine and spent six weeks laid up. And in a sad twist, history repeated itself when her daughter Chelsea developed an eating disorder after suffering bullying at the same Chadderton high school.
Now their experiences are featured in the new book, "Write About... Bullying" by Gatehouse Media which produces literature for adult beginner readers. It includes a short story by Marie (39) and a poem by 17 year old Chelsea.
"It was hard because it was very emotional remembering how I felt at the time, explained Marie.”But if it will do some good, help someone to get through an experience like mine, it will be worth doing."
The mother of three tells how she was bullied the minute she started secondary school. "It started with name-calling, but soon I was being physically pushed about. I spent most of the next four years bunking off, even though I loved learning. I just hated the daily taunts about my looks, my hair and my clothes. The experience left me with little confidence, very low self esteem and self-hatred."
Chelsea's weight plummeted to just four stone when she was intimidated at school, eventually dropping out to learn on-line. She also left a college course because she couldn't cope with the classroom environment after her experiences. Marie, who suffers depression, believes that the bullying has had a big impact on their lives. She said, “I could have made more of myself because I loved learning. It has affected Chelsea because she is a bright girl. "She is just trying to get herself together and get a job."
"One positive thing to come from being bullied is that I don't care what people think of me anymore. The only opinions that matter are of true friends and loved ones."
Marie, who also has Joshua (15) and Jessica (11), developed her writing skills when she enrolled on a literacy programme at Oldham College with her mum, Cath Taylor (61). Chelsea started writing her poem as part of her online learning. The foreword to the books states: "The strength, humour and sensitivity evident in these writings inspires us all, by showing how even the most traumatic experience can shape a person into becoming stronger than they could have imagined."
