Post by title1parent on Jul 29, 2009 10:24:36 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/napertalk/1682813,6_4_NA24_PAGE2COL_S1-090724.article
Bullying problem extends far beyond schools
July 24, 2009
When classes start this fall, District 204's Web site will have a special section where students and parents can anonymously report bullying to their principals and school social workers.
Seems like a good idea.
If it is used properly -- if teachers and administrators use this tool to proactively and aggressively address this sort of behavior -- it may well spare many students a great deal of physical and emotional pain.
It may even save lives.
And that's reason enough to continue developing anti-bullying programs.
But, at the risk of sounding insensitive to those kids who are victims of this bad behavior and the parents who wonder what's being done to stop it, don't expect these efforts to work wonders.
When the District 204 board discussed this initiative during its July 13 meeting, two comments from board members stuck in my memory.
First, when the topic of bullying was introduced, Mark Metzger jokingly asked if the administration's presentation was a "how to."
A little later, Dawn DeSart stated her belief that bullying doesn't have to be "an inevitable part of growing up."
I know why these comments resonated with me -- because I see this issue much differently than most people.
I don't think any of us need a DIY crash course in bullying because it isn't an inevitable part of growing up -- it's an inevitable part of life.
We all know what it is, and it doesn't end when the class alpha dog finally decides to stop throwing his weight around, or when the catty cool girl realizes everyone "likes" her only because they're afraid of her.
We've had bully bosses and co-workers who've made our professional lives miserable. We've had "friends" and family members who always pick fights -- anytime, anywhere, anyone. We learned that, in what can sometimes be a cruel, cruel world, bullies can be found everywhere.
And, with age, most of us have learned how to deal with them.
Unfortunately, some of us may have even become them.
But it is time to face it -- bullies aren't a problem in our schools so much as a deeply ingrained part of our culture. All too often, it is how we treat each other -- it is how we get what we want.
That's why I worry that the lessons being taught to today's youngsters will only reek of a "Do as I say, not as I do" hypocrisy. I hope they don't -- I hope they will produce a generation that will change the way we treat each other.
But today's teachers have their work cut out for them. You need only read a handful of anonymous posts on just about any blog to realize civility isn't exactly making a comeback.
And that's why I only hope measures like this Web site for the anonymous reporting of bullying will help protect kids until they're mature enough to understand this issue, and to maturely handle the bullies who will torment for years to come.
Contact Tim Waldorf at twaldorf@scn1.com.
Bullying problem extends far beyond schools
July 24, 2009
When classes start this fall, District 204's Web site will have a special section where students and parents can anonymously report bullying to their principals and school social workers.
Seems like a good idea.
If it is used properly -- if teachers and administrators use this tool to proactively and aggressively address this sort of behavior -- it may well spare many students a great deal of physical and emotional pain.
It may even save lives.
And that's reason enough to continue developing anti-bullying programs.
But, at the risk of sounding insensitive to those kids who are victims of this bad behavior and the parents who wonder what's being done to stop it, don't expect these efforts to work wonders.
When the District 204 board discussed this initiative during its July 13 meeting, two comments from board members stuck in my memory.
First, when the topic of bullying was introduced, Mark Metzger jokingly asked if the administration's presentation was a "how to."
A little later, Dawn DeSart stated her belief that bullying doesn't have to be "an inevitable part of growing up."
I know why these comments resonated with me -- because I see this issue much differently than most people.
I don't think any of us need a DIY crash course in bullying because it isn't an inevitable part of growing up -- it's an inevitable part of life.
We all know what it is, and it doesn't end when the class alpha dog finally decides to stop throwing his weight around, or when the catty cool girl realizes everyone "likes" her only because they're afraid of her.
We've had bully bosses and co-workers who've made our professional lives miserable. We've had "friends" and family members who always pick fights -- anytime, anywhere, anyone. We learned that, in what can sometimes be a cruel, cruel world, bullies can be found everywhere.
And, with age, most of us have learned how to deal with them.
Unfortunately, some of us may have even become them.
But it is time to face it -- bullies aren't a problem in our schools so much as a deeply ingrained part of our culture. All too often, it is how we treat each other -- it is how we get what we want.
That's why I worry that the lessons being taught to today's youngsters will only reek of a "Do as I say, not as I do" hypocrisy. I hope they don't -- I hope they will produce a generation that will change the way we treat each other.
But today's teachers have their work cut out for them. You need only read a handful of anonymous posts on just about any blog to realize civility isn't exactly making a comeback.
And that's why I only hope measures like this Web site for the anonymous reporting of bullying will help protect kids until they're mature enough to understand this issue, and to maturely handle the bullies who will torment for years to come.
Contact Tim Waldorf at twaldorf@scn1.com.