Abstract
This study described the experiences, analyzed the reasons for bullying, and described the lessons learned by the disheartened learners of a central elementary school. The study employed a qualitative narrative case study approach, with five learners as the participants. Semi-structured interview guide questions were formulated and divided into three parts: beginning, middle and ending stories. These questions were designed to gather rich, in-depth information about the learners' experiences and perspectives. The beginning stories revealed the following emergent themes: physical abuse, verbal abuse, poverty, upsetting, unmotivated, ashamed and doubted. The middle stories had the following emergent themes: bullying as revenge, haughty bullies, discrimination, afraid to retaliate, ignoring, skipping school, seeking justice, and call parent’s attention. The ending stories had the following themes: perseverance, do not harm others, striving, calmness, faithful, and trust in the teacher’s authority. This study sheds light on the often-overlooked voices of disheartened learners, emphasizing the need for educational systems worldwide to prioritize student well-being and provide support for those who may be struggling.
