School tells bullied teen: ball up or run - Houston weather, traffic, news | FOX 26 | MyFoxHouston

Going over homework: these are the times Kennedy Brumant and her mother enjoy.

But that quality time is frequently interrupted by what's happening to the 13-year-old at Cardiff Junior High School.

"The girls like to curse me out and say bad things about me," Kennedy said.

A group of girls have bullied Kennedy at the Katy Independent School District school for over a year, her mom, Claudina, said.  That has the single mom disappointed in Katy ISD.

"My daughter would be late to school to avoid these young ladies that torment her from the time she's walking to school til the time she gets into school," Claudina said.  "As a mother it makes you angry."

It all came to a head on Sept. 4.

"They scratched me, kicked me, and pulled my hair out," Kennedy said.

The seventh grader fought back against her tormenters, her bullies at Cardiff.

"She put her finger in my face," Kennedy said.  "That's when I moved her finger, then me and her started fighting."

Adding insult to injury: for defending herself, Kennedy was ticketed and suspended for three days, Claudina said.

"The secretary of the superintendent told me my daughter shouldn't have hit back; she should've balled up or she should have ran, and I said there was no where to run when they are holding her hair," Claudina said.

Jolanda Jones represents Kennedy on her fighting citation.

"I don't know how any school can take away someone's right to self defense," Jones said.

Jones said the district is allowing a case of bullying to spin out of control by ignoring the problems that Kennedy faces at Cardiff.

"I wonder if they have paid attention to all the suicides of the kids who were bullied," she said.  "Their response to the issue is tantamount to joining in on the bullying."

Katy ISD disagrees.  Spokesman Steve Stanford said their policy is clear: if a student gets in a fight, they should walk away unless cornered.  

In Kennedy's case, Stafford said she had a chance to walk away from the fight but did not.  As for the bullying, the district maintains they were aware of incidents off campus which Stanford said is out of their jurisdiction.

He said the Cardiff's principal doesn't have a history of bullying with Kennedy and the young girls but disagreements.

In the meantime, Claudina said she's also considering a petition with other parents who have complained about the same two girls bullying their children.