Not too long ago you and I had a brief discussion about why today’s youth are being so hateful towards each other. I feel I must re-visit the topic, and will continue to do so, until we have a broader conversation about bullying and prevention. This is a serious subject; we have children losing their lives over what other children see as harmless actions.
At least two high profile court cases have been introduced in recent days regarding this very topic. Major publications are reporting these tragic events. High profile celebrities and elected officials are calling for action. So my question is this: “Parents, are you seeing this?”
Parents, teachers and families are the front line observers in the battle. Yes, a battle for the safety of our children. With the rise of this issue, with the tragedy we see more often than not and the increased reports of horrible actions taken by children against children, I am beginning to wonder who in the world is watching?
We all have seen, or remember, the kid who always gets his or her way at home and believes that with that embolden spirit they can be held harmless at school. One action leads to another and the rest is history. My friends; as parents, teachers and families we need to take action before this battle becomes an uncontrollable war.
Parents: please engage your children and let them know how wrong bullying can be. Support schools that work towards bullying prevention and help create programs for bullying prevention where they do not exist. Teachers: help parents understand what they can do to help you identify this issue. Help parents understand what you see every day. Families: do not be afraid to seek assistance from the school, medical officials or law enforcement if needed.
These are bold comments but we are fastly getting to a point that if we do not address this problem it may just be our child, or a neighbor’s child, on the front page next.
Support resources can be found by going to http://www.pta.org/bullying.asp
Until next time.
Charles “Chuck” Saylors, president-National PTA
My 6 year old daughter began to display some bully tendancies as a kindergartener. I immediately met with her teacher to share my observations and she confirmed the behavior. I then sought out the school counselor for help. My daughter began to participate in socially appropriate behavior sessions with the school counselor. She will enter the 1st grade this fall. I am constantly talking with her about her behavior. She still seems a bit aggressive and I have introduced consequences for the inappropriate behavior. I know these are baby steps but I have to do something to curve her behavior before she bullies the wrong person or meets up with other bullies whose parents are not trying to correct their child’s behavior.
As nice as it is to see my local elementary schools focusing more on this issue and conducting weekly guidance sessions in classrooms to help teach the children about character and how to be a good friend I still feel that there is a lack of real and substantial focus on this disturbing trend. I live in a extremly small town, and as is often in small towns there is plenty of gossip…However I have noticed this is no longer a adult issue, it is not the adults doing the gossiping it is a growing trend even among children as young as 8 or 9. I feel like the problems with bullying and the underlying causes of this issue have been overlooked for so long we may never be able to undo the damage in our cultur and this generation. I wish that the schools would step up the programs to do more. I think my biggest issue with the school is that a child who bullys consistently faces little punichment or consequence.. Without these they are led to believe in a 9 year old logic that it is okay to do what they are doing and to escalate their behavior to even more disturbing acts.
My daughter who is now 9 has had a ongoing issue with the same girl year after year after year since K. I have spoken to teachers, principals, counselors and even gone to the school board. The young lady who is bullying my daughter does so with other children too and has even gone as far as trying to hold my daughter against a bathroom wall while using saftey siccors to cut her hair. When that incident occured just recently the schools resolution was to send the girls to mediation with the school counselor? Why was another child who has consistently gotten into trouble for bullying and even fighting in school allowed to lay hands on my daughter and not be punished. That is my question…what are the schools so afraid of and why do they refuse to punish the bullys!