Virginia Dad Makes 'Bully' Son Run To School In Rain: Video

Warning: This video contains explicit language.

ROANOKE, VA—"Welcome to you better listen to your dad 2018."

That's how a Virginia father begins a live video of his 10-year-old son being forced to run to school in the rain as punishment for bullying.

In the March 1 live video, which has since been made private on Facebook, Bryan Thornhill records his son running one mile to school in the rain while driving behind him. The father of two explained that the boy had been kicked off the school bus for three days "because he was being a little bully."

Thornhill says the punishment has improved his son's behavior, and he hasn't gotten in trouble all week at school. "This is a healthy way for a child to be punished," he says in the video. (For more information on this and other neighborhood stories, subscribe to Patch to receive daily newsletters and breaking news alerts. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app; download the free Patch Android app here.)

In a follow up video, Thornhill said his son has ADHD and is used to running as punishment, being an athlete. A third and final video shows Thornhill and his 8-year-old daughter running, as well. "Now the kids want to run to school," he said.

The videos have drawn mixed responses on Thornhill's style of parenting.

"It was raining and the kid had to run a mile. So what is the kid to do sit in wet clothes while he's at school. And then he gets sick. Also have you noticed the amount of weight in that backpack the child was carrying. Not good for a child's back at all," wrote a commenter.

But a number of people praised his "old-school parenting" style, and some admitted they would inflict the same punishment with longer distances. "I made my son run almost 5 miles when I got called from work to pick him up because he was acting out in class. He was around 14 at the time," wrote one person.

A number of bus drivers thanked the parent for addressing bullying on the school buses. "I am a bus driver, I have seen a very small 6th grader get kicked in the middle of his back and flew forward 4 rows," said one of the commenters. "That bully only got in school suspension, I WISH his parents would have done this!"

Thornhill acknowledged in a follow-up video the boy would ride the bus again as long as he keeps behaving well.

One commenter asked what would happen if the boy refuses to run. Thornhill replied, "It's not a option that I accept. I would double the distance if he tried."

Image via Shutterstock