Bullying is a HUGE topic of debate in many states, but recently Arizona lawmakers are taking aim at it. There are a few bills being introduced, some targeting cyberbullying and some putting more responsibility on schools.
What do you think should be done? Is it a shared responsibility? Should it be a joint decision between lawmakers, school officials, police, and parents? I think it should be, aren't they all involved in the students' lives? Discipline should start at home, but we all know it continues at school. We need to empower our schools and officials to make tough decisions, but ones that would protect our children.
I remember being bullied in HS, and honestly for no reason at all. I didn't pick fights, I didn't antagonize them...Maybe it was because I was Caucasian (the bullier was non-Caucasian). Regardless of the reason, I didn't feel comfortable "getting her in trouble" but what was I supposed to do? Take the bullying? Just live with it? It's part of everyday life, right, children growing up....it's a lesson to learn?
No child should have to deal with being bullied, regardless of the reason. More and more kids are committing suicide because it is the only way they feel they can "escape it". Should we provide more counseling and other services to children, their parents, their teachers? I think we can all be better trained to "see the warning signs" and offer a helping hand when children may not think there is one available.
This is a topic that worries me. I was by no means "poppular" or even pretty and not awkward in middle school/high school, but yet I was never teased. I mean, I was teased by boys (they are dumb LOL jk), and I'm sure one or two girls made not so nice comments, but I never felt I was harassed or hated. So, what worries me is how do I help or deal if/when my kids are? Because, until now I didn't know kids did bully other kids, because I had never experienced it. (Duh how naive am I?!).
ReplyDeleteThere was one incident in 8th grade that a well know kid was violently abused by classmates for being thought of as gay. That was the one and only time I had ever heard of such horrific events. So, what if one of my boys is gay, or a little on the feminine side (and not gay)? How do I protect them, or prepare them? I'm scared to death.
I would love to know that teachers are trained to see warning signs, and would look into suspicions. But what if there are none? Kids can be very manipulative as pre-teens/teens.
I'm not totally aware of what Arizona is trying to do to help this cause, but as a parent I will raise my kids to NOT bully, and to not partake in it at all as best I can. I will also teach them to be confident in themselves, and to hopefully be comfortable enough to go to us, a teacher, or a mentor if they are ever harassed. I don't know what else to do? Keep them busy in extra-circular interests (that they enjoy), and watch for warning signs in them too.
This is a hard topic because I have very little faith in our school system. I know the teachers mean well, but they don't get paid enough to go above and beyond and I think they're are only a select few who do go above and beyond.
ReplyDeleteI was bullied in school and I remeber no teacher even giving a rats behind all they would do is send me home since sending the bullies home would be they would have to deal with their bully parents.
I think it does start at home and I will do my very best to see that my son does not tease people and that he is very aware of the feelings of the kids around him. I think that's all we can do. If I ever thought that my son was a target of serious bullying (cyber, malicious, or other serious bullying) I think I would take him out of school and then start talking to the school about what they plan on doing about it. Leaving him in that enviroment while the schools trying to figure out what to do I think would be endangering his life.
It's a scary situation.