Bullying stops with good role models
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
“Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.” — James Baldwin
GENERATIONS OF children and teenagers have had to endure pranks and hazing heaped upon them by other students on and off school campuses. We used to call it “initiation” or simply being picked on.
I suspect many readers know of someone who was subjected to a rite of passage that became so prevalent it even acquired a name — swirlie. Some may simply remember is as having your head stuffed into a flushing toilet bowl. It may have been for nothing more than being an underclassman or wearing horn-rimmed glasses. Being picked on was part of growing up.
Over the years, awareness of the pranks and teasing have escalated to the point that schools are required by law to have anti-bullying policies and plans to ensure a safe environment for learning for all students. The plans must include training and education for students and staff. Our board of education has talked about a bullying policy for the past two months and we are struggling with how to best define it.
Kansas law broadly defines bullying — an intentional gesture or written, oral or physical act or threat that creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive environment.
Bullying can be outright force, threats or intimidation. It also can be subtle and difficult to detect, especially with the high-tech communication tools available today. We’ve come a long way from swirlies to cyber-bullying — the 21st century term for bullying and harassment through e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones, pagers, and websites.
It is unfortunate that teaching children to be respectful has become the responsibility of schools. Bullying is a problem at school, but it is not just a school problem. Our teachers and administrators need the help of the community, especially parents and adult leaders who have the opportunity to serve as positive role models for youth.
Our district has an anti-bullying curriculum that is included in our social and emotional learning standards. Student support specialists and our classroom teachers incorporate positive social skills into the academic curriculum.
If we really want to make a difference to reduce bullying, the lessons of respect cannot stop at the schoolhouse door. All adults have a responsibility to show one another respect in our professional and personal lives. Children imitate what they see.
Denise_Dorcey (anonymous) says...
What a great commentary!!!! I hope ALL adults, especially parents, in our community will read this and step up to the responsibility of being good role models.
October 3, 2007 at 4:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )