Mom Says She'll Risk Going to Jail to Protect her Daughter From Alleged Bullies

Nov. 11, 2010 — -- A Philadelphia mother has vowed to go to jail if it means keeping her daughter out of the school where bullies have allegedly tormented her about her weight, her hair and her race.

Cheryl Joseph said she has been told by a truancy court in Philadelphia that if she doesn't enroll Tiffany, 13, in a school by early next year, she could face at least five days in prison, a $500 fine and community service. Her children could also be removed from her care, she said.

But Joseph said she has hit roadblock after roadblock trying to move her daughter and that the school district is no help.

She said she's willing to take the risk of jail time after seeing what her daughter has endured in the past year at Pepper Middle School.

"I have resigned myself to going to jail for at least five days," Joseph said. "I'm going to go to jail rather than send my kids there.

"I feel like I'm feeding them to wolves when I send them. It's a hell hole," she added.

Her daughter has reportedly been beaten up and even had basketballs thrown at her and "bounced off her" by bullies who "don't like the way she looks," Joseph said.

Bullies have called her daughter's cell phone and cursed at her, according to Joseph, and spread rumors that Tiffany was doing "inappropriate things with boys."

"My children are biracial," Joseph said. "They have olive complexions, and the root of the bullying is that other kids don't like the way Tiffany looks.

"When one child was asked why she didn't like Tiffany, she just responded that she, 'Didn't want to have to look at Tiffany's face,'" Joseph said.

Tiffany has purportedly suffered from low self-esteem since the bullying and her mother says she constantly refers to herself as "obese" and is "obsessed with dieting."

"She's constantly asking me how many calories is in this or in that or just not eating," Joseph said.

Joseph said she had unsuccessfully campaigned for the school to let Tiffany and her younger sister transfer schools.