Nannatt Waldrop/Photo courtesy of The Independent
Nannatt Waldrop was jailed for third-degree assault after fighting an 11-year-old student she thought was bullying her child.
Waldrop, a Jefferson County, Alabama mother, entered the school bus and confronted the child around 7:18 a.m. on Tuesday, reported AL.com.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s department arrived and arrested Waldrop. She was jailed and charged with third-degree simple assault, trespassing on a school bus and affray (disorderly conduct).
Waldrop, 37, was only held for about three hours because she could post bonds totaling $10,500.
Jefferson County Superintendent Walter Gonsoulin released a statement ensuring the public that the behavior that occurred on the school bus was unacceptable and would not be tolerated.
“We are aware of the video circulating on social media of a fight that occurred on one of our school buses Tuesday morning. I want to be very clear: this type of behavior is unacceptable, and it will not be tolerated,’’ he said.
Only school employees are allowed on school buses. Waldrop boarded the bus to address the student that she believed was bullying her child.
Although Waldrop was attempting to defend her child from bullying, parents confronting children is not suggested.
Instead, experts advise getting as much information about the bully/bullying from your child and then arranging meetings to speak with the school administrators.
In severe bullying, it is even advised to file charges about the behavior if only to have an official record.
However, parents directly addressing the bully could cause the problem to become worse.
In 2018, Tammy Aikins called out her son’s bully on the school bus, and although she only shouted at him from the bus stairwell, she faced a backlash that included her being banned from her son’s school and all school activities such as field trips.
Inarguably, Waldrop has learned the hard way how choosing direct confrontation instead of administrative methods can backfire.
There has been no information released about the well-being of the child.