WATCH: Dad forces son to run to school in the pouring rain after school bus bullying

A Facebook live video went viral after a Virginia dad recorded the unusual punishment he doled out to his 10-year-old after learning that the b0y was bullying schoolmates on the bus.

According to The Washington Post, Bryan Thornhill of Roanoke, Virginia, posted a video of himself driving in a car behind Hayden, his fifth grader who was accused of bullying last week and subsequently kicked off the school bus.

The video, initially posted to Thornhill’s Facebook page Thursday, was picked up by media outlets and has since garnered nearly 23 million views. In it, Hayden runs the one-mile distance to elementary school wearing his coat and backpack in the rain, while the elder Thornhill keeps watch and narrates from behind the wheel.

“This right here is called parenting,” the father, 33, advised viewers.

“My son has finally got in trouble on the bus enough to where he was kicked off the bus for three days because he was being a little bully—which I do not tolerate, can’t stand,” he continued.

“Therefore, he has to now run to school.”
While trying to teach his child right from wrong, Thornhill also acknowledged the novelty of his correction.

“I just wanted to show everybody and give you a good little laugh.”

Thornhill revealed that the punishment worked, and Hayden has been better-behaved since he began running to school.

The video sparked heated debates between commenters who alternately applauded Thornhill’s tough love approach to parenting, and others who suggested that the punishment and subsequent online sharing of it are themselves bullying behaviors.

“If you get your panties in a wad seeing a kid jog, well I feel sorry for you,” Thornhill added. “You probably need a lap or two.”

 

 

[Feature image: Hayden and Bryan Thornhill/Facebook]