Schools

Bullied NH Fifth-Grader's Tearful Plea For Protection: Video

A student at Pollard Elementary School in Plaistow, New Hampshire, said a classmate threatened to shoot her and bury her in her backyard.

PLAISTOW, NH — A bullied New Hampshire student made a tearful public plea for help to school officials last week. Delanie Marcotte, a fifth-grader at Pollard Elementary School in Plaistow, said she has been bullied all year and been the target of comments that she be "shot in the head by an AK-47" and "buried in my backyard."

She said her parents contacted school officials about it but the bullying continued. On Thursday, Delanie addressed the Timberlane Regional School Board and asked for help by reading a prepared letter.

"Bullying is a problem in our school," Delanie said through tears. "I have been threatened to get shot in the head by an AK-47 and buried in my backyard and many other things."

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She added, "I am here to stand up for every kid that gets bullied ... I ask you: What are you going to do to protect me and my classmates against bullying?"

The board applauded her for speaking out.

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"I'm very proud of you for coming," Timberlane Regional School Board Chair Sue Sherman told Delanie.

In a statement, Sherman said the district take bullying "seriously."

"The matter was immediately forwarded to District administrators and is currently under review," Sherman wrote. "The District is committed to promoting anti-bullying preventative strategies to ensure that each student is provided a safe learning environment ... I encourage students to speak to their teachers, guidance counselors or building principals with any questions or concerns they might have about bullying."

These are Delanie's comments to the board:

Hi. My name is Delanie. I live in Plaistow, New Hampshire, and I am a fifth-grader at Pollard Elementary School. I am here to talk about a problem that means a lot to me: bullying.

Bullying is a problem in our school. I am a victim of it. My parents have contacted the school about it but it continues. It happened to me and my classmates ... I have been threatened to get shot in the head by an AK-47 and buried in my backyard and many other things.

I ask you: What are you going to do to protect me and my classmates against bullying? I am here to stand up for every kid that gets bullied.

Delanie's father told NBC10, which first reported the story, that school officials need to address the matter.

"It is very hard to watch your child get bullied, hear about it day in and day out, and you do get very aggravated," Todd Marcotte told the news station.

Marcotte shared video on Facebook of his daughter speaking to the school board:

Photo credit: Shutterstock

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