New Federal Campaign against Bullies in Middle School

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

http://www.detnews.com/2003/schools/0312/08/a05-344477.htm

Bullying was long shrugged off, chalked up to kids being kids. But in recent years, it has gained serious notice as a factor in deadly campus shootings. More and more states and schools have taken steps toward bullying prevention, from class discussions about peer relations to reaching out to parents about the kind of behavior that is expected in school.

Health and safety officials say the country still doesn't realize how pervasive bullying is, how it hampers learning and engenders violence -- and how it can be prevented.

In response, the federal government is planning a $3.4 million campaign to combat bullying, drawing support from more than 70 education, law enforcement, civic and religious groups. With an expected start next year, the effort will frame bullying as a public health concern, targeting kids and the adults who influence them.

The goal is to create a culture change in which bullying is not seen as cool, parents watch for warning signs, kids stand up for each other, and teachers are trained to intervene.

[bluestateguy]

1. I favor adult prisons for bullies

A few days in a real prison will teach bullies a lesson or two that will not need to be repeated.

[RebelOne]

2. I'm happy that at least the goverenment is stepping in.

The son of a friend of mine was bullied in middle school because he was fat. Well, one day, he took his father's .22 pistol to school, stood up in the middle of class, said, "I'm not going to take it anymore," and killed himself with a shot in the head.

[barbaraann]

4. Oh, I am so sorry to hear that.

My son is graduating this year and I have seen and heard so many horror stories about bullying/excessive teasing that I can hardly stand it.

[sadiesworld]

bullies=rethugs in training

[barbaraann]

3. This is very important and very overdue.

And to say that bullying is pervasive is an understatement.

[zbdent]

5. I'd opt for hidden cameras in public places (not restroom/lockerrooms)

Get a few "obvious" cameras in the hallways (fakes that really look real), and then put hidden cameras in the areas not covered by the fakes.

I figure a VCR for each, and an 8-hour tape.

Would come in handy when those bullies say "Oh, x teacher has it in for me, Dad. I didn't do nothin." If the parents care to drag the school into court to clear the kids' names, then be happy to present the video in court.

Just don't blow the cover too soon.

Well, it would work. The Repubs are clamoring for a crackdown on the public as it is, right? Except when it infringes upon THEIR RIGHTS AND PRIVACY (for reference see Rush Limbaugh and the ACLU).

[mondo joe]

6. How about a campaign to stop adult bullies?

They could start with Rish and GOP.

[seabeyond]

7. this issue i hold dear

what i am seeing in the school is a non tolerance a teacher, admin given up, lack of help from parent. and inevitably when a student repeatedly goes to teacher to talk about issue they are dismissed. til it comes to the point of the abusedstanding up for self and hitting back, then both children get punished

i am seeing that it does have to be handed to the kids in them taking the responsibility and raising the expectation of behavior and support of other students and am looking at a program to encourage schools to have kids in a group that does a settling with an adult mentor that stays out yet guides. these kids can do better than the adults i am seeing and feeling.

and in personal experience, i am learning from my sons how they need to interact with bullies, and this has been the lessons for me. i am seeing the recognition of said kid, adn extending out attention and love to the kid, stops his spinning out of control of hurting others. yet i am not in the jr high years yet, i am in the younger years. adn seeing the program needs to come to the prek thru 4th grades to help out the bully before it is patterned learned lifestyle.

good stuff here. thanks for info. looking at how to become a participant.

can easily recognize the kid in these circumstance who uses this abuse of power.

this is not a hard one. just we have given up, like we have told the bully we know not what to do, like we are afraid. they dont want that power i assure you, and we can help in love to let them know they dont have to have this responsibility

[hang a left]

8. My elementary school child just brought home a

slip yesterday requesting permission to have my boy participate in a bullying survey. I of course signed it, I have always taught my children to be kind to others. But I can't help feeling like there is something sinister behind it, in the country we live in today.

[damnyankee2601]

9. What about the PARENTS?

Why are the schools expected to fix yet another problem caused by bad parenting?

I was bullied in school, and I harbored violent revenge fantasies. But at the end of the day, my parents got me through it and taught me how to be tough without being hateful. And if I'd had pipe bombs and sawed-off shotguns in my room, they damn sure would have noticed and asked questions.

[seabeyond]

12. i love this subject, wink

i agree we are asking schools to do things i dont want them to do and they cant do. and i know there are parents that cant and wont participate. yet there are a lot of parents that can get involved, and this is where i advocate. i am seeing a lot of women my age, older having children adn we have the time and patience, i think we need to start getting inot it, in a we can do.......instead of a throwing up our hands in frustration and hopelessness. always the optimist

[Name removed]

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[LeahMira]

10. Mixed message?

In response, the federal government is planning a $3.4 million campaign to combat bullying, drawing support
from more than 70 education, law enforcement, civic and religious groups.

I suppose it's good that the federal government is funding these efforts, but I can't help buy wonder what message children get when the pResident is saying "Bring 'em on!"

[seabeyond]

11. again i agree

the last three years and my boys with 9/11 adn on i have seen them exploring much of this war and fighting. and we work together talking and expressing fears and honesty and the rightness of it all. and i wonder (well we know) the effect it is having on the children that are not connected to the parent. such a hopelessness.

what better lesson we could have given our children if we had embraced the love and support being given to us by the world after 9/11 than the bring em on

[OneTwentyoNine]

13. No different IMO than being assaulted as an adult on the street.

Of course the first thing you'd do is call the Police and hope to get the adult "bully" behind bars. Yet kids in school are supposed to suck it up and not to be a snitch.

I think there should be a program in school to weed out those little assholes-in-the making. Give them a chance to change their ways or send their tough little asses off to a "scared straight" type of lockup for kids their age.

A lot of these 13-15 year old wanna be "tough guys" or hoods as we called them in the 60's are hard core criminals by 18,I think something needs to be done at the schools.

David

[chimpy the poopthrower]

14. Too bad it took Colombine to wake people up.

And even that was five years ago.

"After the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, in which two frequently bullied students killed 13 people and wounded 23 others before killing themselves, the federal government led a study of school violence. It found that many of those who attacked others had been bullied in ways that would amount to assault or harassment if it happened in the workplace."

[cally]

15. And the favorite taunt is

"you're so gay" You hit like a girl. etc, etc.

The schools just ignored it because it re-inforced societal conditioning and helped maintain existing societal order.

This is a huge issue for me. My eldest has very minor Cerebral Palsy and was dyslexic. Noone knew about the CP until she was about 12 and we were wondering why her foot turns in slightly. She's pretty bad in sports, was slow to jump, hop, run. She was different and bullied mercilessly. Beat up, picked on. The school refused to do anything. At one point a school counselor called and asked me to feel sorry for the bullies. AAAARGH. I pushed for a similar program as this to be adopted at the school. Another woman fought against it--her daughter was the bully.

My daughter is now doing fine.

[seabeyond]

16. wow cally

i have boys all around and when they start you scream like a .........what i say, what. a girl. i have been around you little boys and let me tell you, are right up there with any girl in screams. have clearly showed them the conditioning in that a way at young age to allow boys to be superior. my oldest son is small frame, so i too see that part of the bullying. i am thinking of going to public school, yet then listen to your story and say nooooo, i cant send this little sensitive boy, lol lol into that.

hm, sittin with you in this. thank you for sharing.

i guess the flip side of this and lesson to see, is your daughter is fine. you were connected and held hand thru and taught her to love all the imperfection in her perfectly created being. and the other child, crying out for mom, had the mom that didnt own it and do the work.

i do see hope though

[cally]

17. Thanks for the support

I'm not sure it's better in private schools. I do think it's very hard to be a small boy. Many of their moms were the most supportive of me when this was happening. I think the most bullied are the small boys who are sensitive, or like music, or drama, or books, or history, or anything other than sports. I just get so angry when I realize all the abuse that goes on.

[mrgorth]

18. I agree with the rest

this is past due.

[EV1Ltimm]

19. thank jeebus.

whenever i have kids, i don't want them to go through what i went through in school.