Karen Klein, the bullied bus monitor

Ricola · June 2012

You probably all head the story about the bus monitor who was bullied by 12 and 13 year olds who videotaped the whole thing. If you haven't watched the video yet, they are really mean to her. She is 68 years old and they keep calling her fatass, poor, ugly and in the end even say "Your whole family probably killed themselves because they wouldn't want to live with you anymore." It's pretty horrible to watch them continue even when she starts to cry.

Since the media has picked up the story, the bullies have apologized to her. Between the time the video went viral and today, a fellow on Reddit asked the community if they could raise some money to send Karen on a much needed vacation. The goal was to raise $5000.

As of now donations are at $578,127!
https://www.indiegogo.com/loveforkarenhklein

Amazing!

brandywine2010 · June 2012

I've been keeping up with this story. It's truly amazing to see a fundraising goal of a $5,000 vacation go to over $500,000.

I read an article today that said that the boys were getting several threatening txt messages and phone calls. When Karen was asked about it, she said that she felt bad for them and wanted no harm to come to them. What a humble person.

I can't imagine going through what she went through and you know it probably wasn't the first time, either.

MrsT2008 · June 2012

I have been avoiding reading/watching too much coverage because I just can't. My heart hurts for that woman. I hope she realizes how much support she has from total strangers around the world (the donations are pretty telling!) and it gives me hope knowing that thousands of people were touched enough to donate all that money to her.

rlfonda · June 2012

I haven't watched it because idk if I can. I know all of us dec 11 Mommas will raise our babes with manners but I hope everyone does... Seems like there is way to much bullying and not enough manners. This is somewhat local for me. Hope she enjoys her vacation!!

hlc820 · June 2012

I couldn't watch it and then I did. I cried. That poor poor woman. Those kids make me want to vomit and if those were my kids, God help them!!!!! What a disgrace. She seems like such a sweet woman.

prairiegurl24 · June 2012

i had a huge lump in my throat watching that, i was bullies when i was in school, im not exactly a skinny person and a known 'teachers pet' i never let it get to me, cause my dad always said those people are more miserable with themselves, and they are trying to make themselves feel better (which there are other ways to make yourself feel better) kids and teenagers can be so cruel. so sad, im going to be raising my daughter with utter respect and manners. there is no if's and's or buts

ETA:meant to say bullied

ksmit062 · June 2012

So nice to see there are so many supporters for her! I saw her interview on the Today show, and she was truly humble. They asked her how she was able to sit there and not get up and scream at the kids. She just said, that wouldn;t be the right thing to do. And they asked if she wanted them to be severely punished, and she said no. She just wanted them to stop acting that way, and to serve as an example for others to not act this way!

xraychick07 · June 2012

I watched half of it before turning it off. I DARE my kids to treat an elder like that. DARE THEM! That's all I got to say about that.....

MesmrEwe · June 2012

prairiegurl24:

i had a huge lump in my throat watching that, i was bullies when i was in school, im not exactly a skinny person and a known 'teachers pet' i never let it get to me, cause my dad always said those people are more miserable with themselves, and they are trying to make themselves feel better (which there are other ways to make yourself feel better) kids and teenagers can be so cruel. so sad, im going to be raising my daughter with utter respect and manners. there is no if's and's or buts

ETA:meant to say bullied

Same here - I had flashbacks more than anything to the taunting and teasing I went through as a kid on the bus, if I spoke up I was the one punished so had to learn to take it... The cruel things that kids do! This though is an example of kids not being taught respect for their elders and their fellow human being. Sad part is, fat is the new smoking or drinking...

lckcdc3 · June 2012

I heard the story from a friend and then I read the article. I could not bring myself to watch the video. It's such a disgrace. It makes me sad to think about the kinds of parents these kids have. And then it makes me even more sad that they very well may be the best parents but just had a kid who felt like he needed to fit in and joined the crowd. It scares the sh*t out of me, what we are going to have to face as parents. Very scary.

uncharch7 · June 2012

I think it's great that bullying has gotten such attention, but I take issue with almost $600k raised for one person when there are a lot of other causes (and IMO better) that can use the money. Southwest has already volunteered to take her and 9 of her friends on a dream vacation, all expenses paid. The generosity is great, but I wish it was happening to other causes as well.

MrsT2008 · June 2012

uncharch7:
I think it's great that bullying has gotten such attention, but I take issue with almost $600k raised for one person when there are a lot of other causes (and IMO better) that can use the money. Southwest has already volunteered to take her and 9 of her friends on a dream vacation, all expenses paid. The generosity is great, but I wish it was happening to other causes as well.

theres always someone to put a damper on things...

can no one raise money for something without someone chiming in about where else the money could go? there will *always* be other places to put money

Smgrochowski · June 2012

Ugh, how awful! I'm a middle school teacher and it never ceases to disgust me how cruel the students can be.

Does anyone know who videotaped this, why, and how it was made public?

uncharch7 · June 2012

MrsT2008:
uncharch7:
I think it's great that bullying has gotten such attention, but I take issue with almost $600k raised for one person when there are a lot of other causes (and IMO better) that can use the money. Southwest has already volunteered to take her and 9 of her friends on a dream vacation, all expenses paid. The generosity is great, but I wish it was happening to other causes as well.
theres always someone to put a damper on things...
can no one raise money for something without someone chiming in about where else the money could go? there will *always* be other places to put money

And I'm 100% ok with being *that* person in this case. I'm sorry, but almost $600k raised for ONE person is over the top. Were the kids wrong in doing what they did? Hell yes. Was it horrible? Absolutely. The internet is great about spreading awareness, and this video just so happened to go viral. To each his own, but I will never understand why the child who hasn't eaten in 3 days, or the kid dying of cancer because we have yet to find a cure doesn't deserve just as much attention as bullying. I really wish non-profits who try to spread awareness about bullying would receive this type of attention and donations and not just one individual. 2 weeks from now she'll be forgotten, whereas a non-profit spreading awareness would be able to do so much with that kind of money... or a lot of children who don't have anything to eat could be fed.

And a correction to my original post, the SA trip is to Disneyland, not a dream vacation.

ealauber · June 2012

uncharch7:
MrsT2008:
uncharch7:
I think it's great that bullying has gotten such attention, but I take issue with almost $600k raised for one person when there are a lot of other causes (and IMO better) that can use the money. Southwest has already volunteered to take her and 9 of her friends on a dream vacation, all expenses paid. The generosity is great, but I wish it was happening to other causes as well.
theres always someone to put a damper on things...
can no one raise money for something without someone chiming in about where else the money could go? there will *always* be other places to put money
And I'm 100% ok with being *that* person in this case. I'm sorry, but almost $600k raised for ONE person is over the top. Were the kids wrong in doing what they did? Hell yes. Was it horrible? Absolutely. The internet is great about spreading awareness, and this video just so happened to go viral. To each his own, but I will never understand why the child who hasn't eaten in 3 days, or the kid dying of cancer because we have yet to find a cure doesn't deserve just as much attention as bullying. I really wish non-profits who try to spread awareness about bullying would receive this type of attention and donations and not just one individual. 2 weeks from now she'll be forgotten, whereas a non-profit spreading awareness would be able to do so much with that kind of money... or a lot of children who don't have anything to eat could be fed.
And a correction to my original post, the SA trip is to Disneyland, not a dream vacation.

I assure you that there is allot of attention and money paid to feeding hungry kids and children's cancer. This woman kept a job that only paid $12000 a year because she couldn't afford to retire. And if people around the country want to help her get out of a bad situation then awesome.

But be mad at people trying to do something good just because it isn't what you consider good.

uncharch7 · June 2012

ealauber:

But be mad at people trying to do something good just because it isn't what you consider good.

At what point did I say I was mad?

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