That's really cool - tip of the hat to BACA - and that's a great start.
But, there have always been bullies and always will be. The only way to stop them is to fight them. There are far more normal students than bullies, the kids themselves have to make it clear this is unacceptable and take it on themselves to stop it. If a bully is confronted by superior numbers each time they do something inappropriate they will alter their behavior. Probably won't make them better people, but it will stop the behavior. The schools have to change their rules too. Zero tolerance for fighting is often why others don't get involved - they don't want to be the trouble maker and get expelled. Some common sense at the principles office and with the board would help these kids help themselves. I stood up to bullies. I didn't always win, but I refused to be bullied. I stepped in when my friends were bullied. In fact my best friend Joe became my best friend because he was bullying me and we fought. We left the baseball field behind Minor's Lane Elementary School in Louisville bloody, and friends. He never bullied anyone again.
I realize times are different, but people really aren't. What makes a man or woman is still the same. You learn it growing up, learning to defend yourself and your friends; by making mistakes and correcting them. I applaud what BACA is doing, but it's only a start. We have to give these kids the tools to stop bullying themselves and in so doing learn how to be men and women.
Much truth here.
I was bullied every day of my young life until I was taught to return fire. From that moment forward I was not bullied again successfully. I stepped in when others were being treated badly. I got in a lot of trouble for that. So what.
Now kids/people just stand around the incidents and record. Yes, times have changed.
This hangs in our place near the back door.
Did the kid agree to this? Seems like a PR stunt that'll just cause more grief for the kid.
If no one knew you were being bullied, they definitely do now... and that isn't necessarily a good thing. People being bullied want to lay low, blend in.
Much truth here.
I was bullied every day of my young life until I was taught to return fire. From that moment forward I was not bullied again successfully. I stepped in when others were being treated badly. I got in a lot of trouble for that. So what.
Now kids/people just stand around the incidents and record. Yes, times have changed.
This hangs in our place near the back door.
I'm not sure I agree. Isolation is one of a bully's (any abusive person's really) main tactics.
Sure, but the next day... the bikers are gone. The kid goes to school, like every other day, and gets bullied. Perhaps it'll raise awareness of his peers, and they'll hang with him.
I think the solution to bullying is other people stepping-in. Once the bully sees they're the one-off, the minority, they want no part of that.
I think this behavior (defending others) comes from education, just having a group discussion without singling anyone out.
If I were bullied to the extent this kid was, the last thing I'd want is to call attention to it on a national scale.
Wait, so you can't even go in your own house??
Did the kid agree to this? Seems like a PR stunt that'll just cause more grief for the kid.
If no one knew you were being bullied, they definitely do now... and that isn't necessarily a good thing. People being bullied want to lay low, blend in.
That'll teach him self-sufficiency...but then again, I was 5'8" and 150+ lbs in 6th grade.