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Parents worried about bullying at Winter Haven High after fighting video

Posted at 7:02 PM, Apr 13, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-13 19:02:06-04

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — Winter Haven parents are concerned their kids are dealing with violence in school and nothing is being done.

In a video made viral on Snapchat and Facebook, a Winter Haven High School student was body slammed to the ground in the middle of the hallway.

The child’s mother says her son isn’t the only one who’s been targeted.

“This is happening in your hallways and kids feel like they don’t have the trust to either speak out to the teachers or even to administration,” Mary Ello Lugo said. She first learned of the violence when her son was suspended for swearing at the other student.

It’s not clear how the fight started or who is responsible, but Lugo says it’s a bigger issue than that.

Lugo believes children are now using fights and social media as a game to either earn points or gain possible fame among friends.

“If somebody recorded you being slammed and the kid is slamming you, maybe you were set up? The reason it was recorded was either to get some more of those points or basically get social media attention or fame,” the mother said.

ABC Action News did reach out to the Polk County School District.

We were given the code of conduct found here.

We also have alink for parents or relatives who believe their students are being bullied.

“They really need to start applying their own rule about non-tolerance for bullying because it’s happening every day,” Lugo said.