Schools Are Making Changes To Combat Bullies

[metta]

It is good to see that more schools are taking this seriously and have made changes as to how they are dealing with bullies. Here is a story from a city in Los Angeles County:



West Covina, CA school teaches dangers of bullying

officials are taking proactive measures against that type of behavior.

School counselor Lillian Moreno conducted a “Bully Proofing Workshop” for about 75 parents, children and community members on Thursday, Nov. 4.

“This is really about prevention and helping students work out their feelings,” Moreno said. “This is not just about helping the victim, it's about helping all our students.”

Attendees learned what bullying is, how to deal with it and ways to prevent it.

“The reason why bullying has increased in school is because we have too many people just watching and not doing anything about it,” Moreno said.

In a study of sixth- to eighth-grade students, 38 percent of respondents said they don't do anything when they see bullying because they don't feel it's their business, 27 percent said they think they should help but don't and 35 percent said they try to intervene, she noted.

“A majority will not do anything," Moreno said. “They have said, ‘we're afraid if we say anything they might come after us and we don't want to have any part in it.'”

Moreno cited the California Education Code, where it outlines that students can be suspended or expelled if they engage in bullying-type of behaviors.

“If your child is being harassed and threatened in any way, you have the right to go to West Covina PD (Police Department) and file a report against another student,” Moreno said.

School officials are making every effort to prevent bullying behavior.

"We just work really hard to try to be able to make school successful for kids and we know that there are a lot of difficulties that kids have sometimes," Nambu said. “We know that sometimes it's those (social) areas that keeps kids from being successful academically.”

There will be peer mediation, conflict resolution and counseling groups for bullies and victims to help them cope with their feelings and improve their interaction.

Starting Nov. 29, the school will have an Anti-Bully Week, where student leaders and ASB members will go to classes and have role-playing activities.

“Speak to your children about respecting the rights of people who are different,” Moreno advised parents. “They don't have to like everyone, but they do have the obligation of respecting everyone at school.”

http://www.sgvtribune.com/highlanders/ci_16565379?source=email

 

[Supersix]

About time. I think self defense classes might be in order for some kids, too. It may help them be less of a target.

 

[andy12]

About time. I think self defense classes might be in order for some kids, too. It may help them be less of a target.

Yeah, and changing the zero tolerance policies. I remember when I was in sixth grade, I was pushed off the bleachers. The asshole inattentive teacher who didn't prevent this only saw me cursing like a sailor and hitting the kid who pushed me. I got suspended for finally standing up for myself. But no one dared touch me after that.

Kick a bully in the balls and that'll be the end of that. That's a good lesson for victims and bullies.

 

[Supersix]

Similar thing happened to me in junior high school. Shithead teacher!

 

[metta]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhFZ7qjrw5U&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL[/ame]

 

[onetwothreefour]

My worst experiences in middle/high school were with teachers who said small things that made a big difference like, "I don't mind gay people as long as they aren't gay in front of me." And I asked what she meant and she said, "You know kissing and stuff, ECK!" And another teacher who went on and on about how great she heard Will and Grace was a great show but she just couldn't watch it because she couldn't get over the "gay thing."

Of course it didn't help that kids called each other fag etc, and accusing me of being gay and then taunting me for it even though I wasn't out. I wasn't physically bullied much except for some obnoxious kids (the same ones who called me gay) who would poke me with pencils and pull the hairs on the back of my neck during class. And one who tried to run me over with a bicycle. I still don't get why someone accuses you of being something that you don't claim to be and then bullies you because of it? It would be like if I went up to some random person who I had no evidence was Muslim and said you're Muslim and I don't like Muslims and Muslims are bad! (Not that I don't like Muslims, just hypothetical.)

But for some reason I was always looking for a sign from an adult that it was OK to be gay. I wanted some sign. Just someone to say it was OK. So the teachers' comments, though not outrageous, really stuck with me and affected me.

I think parents and teachers should be careful in how they speak and remember that teenagers could be gay or questioning and should not only not say negative things about homosexuality but shouldn't always make the assumption that people are straight, as is common at the dentist, "So do you have a girlfriend yet?" etc.

 

[fetaby]

“This is not just about helping the victim, it's about helping all our students.”

IMO, when a kid is more worried about being a successful bully they stop being a student and become a criminal. Why are we continuing to pander to criminals?

“If your child is being harassed and threatened in any way, you have the right to go to West Covina PD (Police Department) and file a report against another student,” Moreno said.

Good. Perhaps the police can do what these teachers and administrators are still refusing to do.

Pretty words and fluff....

 

[freefall]

This is good.

But there is one important issue though. They have to make sure that any kids who stand up for the bullied ones won't be in turn bullied. This is crucial because this is one of the things which causes bullying to continue.

 

[thermodynamics]

I am truly glad to see all the attention toward cracking down on bullying. I strongly believe that bullying has ruined more lives at school than all weapons put together.

The worst part was always when I tried to stand up for myself and started yelling, or defending myself physically. A teacher/adult would see me doing this and I'd be the one blamed for it.

The other cop-out that adults would always use was "Tell the bully how it makes you feel. Tell him it hurts when you do that." Well DUH, of course that isn't going to work.