![]() The experience of an eight-hour bus ride and three days of shared meals brought us together. There were people from a variety of the various stereotypical social groups: jocks, smart kids, dorky kids (me, I'm thinking). Similarly, in high school I went on a trip as a junior to Quebec with a group of people I largely did not know. Events that allow kids to meet different social groups seem to work well. ![]() I work in a community (Stamford, CT) with a very diverse population, and the schools have really done a lot to bring the kids together. By heading the fear off at the pass, we can avoid the hatred. That fear turns to anger and that anger quickly becomes hate. People tend to fear what they don't understand. Speaking of connecting kids with each other, getting kids together and working toward a common goal is a brilliant way to eliminate any tensions that may exist between them. Also, punishing bullies without teaching them more appropriate behavior is just begging for them to do it again. by helping kids connect with each other) is far more effective than simply punishing kids who do the wrong thing. Supporting development of positive behavior (e.g. Also that word tends to make parents of the bully angry, and then communication shuts down. ![]() Research shows that it's better to identify which specific behaviors are inappropriate…teasing, put-downs, name-calling, homophobic language, tripping, pushing, gossiping, social exclusion, etc…without over-emphasizing the term “bullying,” which is trickier than it seems to legally define. Of course, action must be taken.too many times in the past, bullied kids have been left to fend for themselves.Īn issue with the rigidity of the laws is the definition of bullying itself. ![]() Smart administrators and teachers need to use their heads, find the cause of the problem and take appropriate steps. Arbitrary, mandatory penalties don't accomplish that any more than mandatory minimum sentences have ended the drug problem. The goal of anti-bullying laws is to have kids be able to feel safe in schools. I agree that some of the new state laws are too rigid, as it’s difficult to find out what is “true” bullying and what is just two kids in a dispute. Also, if we really want bullying behavior to stop, we need to look at why it's happening in the first place. One of the big problems, I think, with how bullying is handled is that authorities (whether it's the school or law enforcement) take a one-size-fits-all approach to a wide variety of behaviors - some much less severe than others. So will forcing schools to conduct investigations within a specified time frame get them to inspire kids to respect diversity? Bullying thrives in environments where tolerance for diversity is low. My concern with all the state anti-bullying laws being passed is that they seem to decrease, rather than increase, schools' desire to make real reductions in bullying. Here are some of the things that have been said thus far: We hope this discussion will be an ongoing one, and we invite you to jump into the conversation at any time. With that in mind, we wanted to explore solutions and hear about what's working in your school.Ī recent discussion in our educator community highlighted some of the challenges of bullying prevention. Many of us either were bullied as kids, or witnessed someone being bullied. This is an issue that affects us all personally. We at EducationWorld find that on the topic of bullying, our readers have much to say. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and everybody’s talking about this important issue. Best Books for Teachers, Students and Parents.
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