The Star - News, views and advertising of the Grand Coulee Dam Area

I’ve lived in the Nespelem area most of my life and am a graduate of Lake Roosevelt High School. My children were raised here too and are graduates of LRHS. Now my grandkids, grandnieces and grandnephews are being raised here on their way to being graduates of LR. I came from a traditionally Native home that was riddled with alcoholism and, unfortunately, so were my children.

Now our families are living alcohol free, some of us 6-plus years in, and are doing our best to raise our children and grandchildren without that dysfunction of alcoholism and broken homes. Two of our grandchildren have lost both their parents and have overcome obstacles to be able to begin living full and happy lives, being raised by their mom’s sisters who are trying to bring them up in a sober and open environment.

Now here come the bullies! Kids at LR — whose parents are OK with their kids using derogatory remarks towards their peers, pants’ing them (which is sexual assault), teasing to belittle them in front of other students, stealing from them and lying, and so much more — need to be held responsible and stop making excuses. This is not once, not twice, but constantly!

We need our parents to change the way kids are carrying this mentality and teach them to JUST BE A BETTER PERSON. Why not just carry on with their lives and be a better person? I know some parents of these kids are reading this, and I’m here to ask you to tell your children to leave other kids alone and be better. Sending your kids to school and allowing them to carry on this way isn’t in the spirit of our community. We love our community and, growing up here, we want our kids to carry on the legacy of being a Lake Roosevelt Raider. If you’ve received a complaint that your child is a bully, stop putting your nose up to it and take action! A child bully grows up to be an unstable adult.

Parents, you can do better! Please do your part and talk to your kids and hold them accountable for their actions. BE A PARENT, it’s not the teachers who should be helping your kids be better, it starts at home!!

Angry Grandma

Fed up with Bullies

AKA Deidre Ellsworth