10-Year-Old Girl From New Jersey Uses A Whistle To Defend Herself Against Bullies

Jan 22, 2020 by apost team

Bullying has gotten some serious attention in the last couple of decades, but unfortunately, it’s still an issue on many school campuses around the US. 10-year-old Giada Oates from Hackensack, NJ, is a fifth-grader who has dealt with this terrifying issue personally.

Giada was bullied by a seventh-grade boy who grabbed her from behind, put her in a chokehold, and told her she would “die a silent death.” While it’s possible the seventh-grader was joking, death threats and physical aggression should always be taken seriously, especially when they happen on school grounds.

apost.com

Giada told the New York Post she was trying not to cry, and when she got home, devised a plan to handle the situation should it happen again: Bring a whistle. People often freeze up in traumatic situations, and a whistle can be of paramount importance for making a commotion when you can’t find your voice, drawing the attention of nearby people so that they can help. They can even be found in abundance on college campuses as an extra sense of security.

It was the 1985 movie, "The Legend of Billie Jean," starring Helen Slater, that gave Giada the idea to bring a whistle, reports the New York Post. In the movie, Billie Jean is also bullied by more than one person. She stuck up for herself, along with her brother, and ultimately defeated the issue.

Ever since Giada started wearing the whistle, other girls at her school have followed her example. Her parents, Toni and Michael Oates, have purchased 85 whistles so far, which Giada has passed on to her friends.

While Giada’s choice to take the action she needed to defend herself is a good and empowering message for other young girls and boys alike, the fact remains that the necessity for her to take action seemingly shows a lack of accountability on the school’s part. Hackensack Board of Education declined to interview on camera but claimed in a statement to the New York Post that, “…student safety and security is an ongoing critical priority.”

Have you ever dealt with a bully? What was your strategy, and did it work? Make sure you pass this story on. You never know who might need to find their courage from someone like an innocent fifth-grader who decided to take things into her own hands.