«I hope you get raped»

It started in the sixth form. Things went well for the first few weeks. Then a girl from another class must have chosen my daughter as her «victim». Out of the blue, she slapped Lisa in the face while others filmed the scene. This was followed by further attacks. Lisa was so exhausted that she went straight to bed at home. Soon the films were on Snapchat and in the group chats. She begged me not to do anything. «Otherwise something worse will happen.»

When a fight broke out with her friends shortly afterwards, they also turned against her and the bullying spilled over into Lisa's own class. Everything was under control, I was told when I contacted the school. The school social worker had spoken to the girl who was hitting her and worked with Lisa's class.

Lisa used to be a cheerful child. Today you hardly ever see her laugh anymore.

Lisa continued to be threatened: «The other one is in trouble because of you. Watch out or we'll beat you up again.» Because she was afraid of being attacked on the way to school, I had to drive her. Then I got a call from the school social worker. A somewhat provocative photo of Lisa that she had once sent to a friend had gone viral. But not only that. Sex photos and a pornographic video in which her face had been «edited» were also circulating. At school, people laughed, jeered and shouted: «You're doing great! Can I have a go too?» This was the moment when my daughter said she was no longer going to school. She then withdrew completely.

Quicker help for Lisa

We spoke to the teacher, the school social worker and the headteacher. At some point, Lisa was ready to go back to class. Until someone in the class wrote to her saying that everyone hated her, that she should die and hopefully get beaten up again. Another time it said: «Go scratch yourself.» And: «I hope you get raped.» We sent screenshots of this to the school. We didn't hear anything.

Lisa fell more and more into a hole, no longer wanted to eat, wasaggressive. Meanwhile, the school psychologist revisited Lisa's previous school days. She had had few female colleagues in the past. As if the blame for the situation lay with her.

I often felt powerless and not taken seriously. As a single mum, I reached my own limits, got headaches and could no longer find peace.

Fortunately, the situation has calmed down somewhat in the meantime. For some time now, Lisa has been receiving individual schooling until a new solution is found. It is certain that she will not return to one of the district's school buildings.

The fact that everyone has seen these photos and films, these humiliations, is disturbing. Lisa used to be a happy child. Today you hardly ever see her laugh anymore. And she has become suspicious. What have I learnt? I would seek help and support much more quickly today."

* Names changed by the editors