Big Bullies

Eileen Parkman sprang into action when she saw several fifth-grade boys beating an autistic student at the elementary school she attended in Hawaii. Parkman, who was then in second grade, told them to stop. Instead, they knocked her down and stepped on her. That began a series of incidents in which the boys hit her or threw things at her. School officials didn't seem to be able to stop the boys, but they threatened toreport her family to Child Protective Services if they removed Eileen from the school. The parents finally did take her out of the school, and the Maui Autism Center presented her with an award for bravery. The boy she tried to protect, however, is still in the school and still being bullied.