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After watching the video assigned, what was your reaction? What stood out as significant information to you? Let's talk about it! I'm reading some very interesting things so far. First of all, I wonder what folks think about the practice of making students apologize to one another. Does it foster sincere feelings?
Also, one of the common themes is the frustration we feel as educators in helping students feel we really are taking their concerns seriously. We want to be heard--- we want our students to feel heard as well. Another "theme" I am seeing is that you have many experiences with students who say "We were just joking around" when asked about bullying behavior. What can we do to make students more aware of their own impact on others if, indeed, they really are just joking? I appreciate so much the comments so far. Keep them coming!! The only way to Banish Bullying is to face it head-on!!
57 Comments
Amal Abdellatif
9/27/2012 11:24:20 am
I have been having problems with the sixth grade girls since the beginning of the school year. There have been three incidents. Today, was the cherry on top. I lectured the students about bullying. Then, I assigned them to write a reflection on why people like to make fun of people. I asked the students who were making fun of the new boy to write a letter of apology instead. At the end of class I called the group of boys outside and asked them to apologize in person, as well.
Nadia Shamim
10/7/2012 11:06:37 pm
It was powerful that many of the same students who were speaking out against bullying were victims of bullying themselves. I'd like to learn why kids bully each other in the first place.
Aminah Murrar
9/28/2012 05:08:35 am
There are so many incidents about bullying pushing its victims to take drastic measures. I wish we as educators and parents would learn not to so easily dismiss the signs that our children are unhappy and feeling isolated. I understand that it is hard to even acknowledge that some of our students are bullies. Sometimes they are the most popular and charismatic students who are causing the most harm. We need to take a stronger stance against bullying. Students who feel victimized will not turn to adults if they feel nothing will be accomplished by doing so.
Sana Shukairy
9/28/2012 12:46:53 pm
Since having children I've developed a weak spot for the topic of bullying. When my son comes home from school and tells me incidents in which he was picked on or excluded it breaks my heart. I now understand first hand how other parents feel when they discover their child is a victim of bullying. As a teacher I take it seriously when students laugh at a peer or say negative comments about her. How are we supposed to create a safe community that fosters learning and growth when students fear humiliation from making mistakes? I have spoken repeatedly about bullying in class and recently read an inspiring article to students about one lady who used bullying as a motivational tool to fulfill her life goals. I hope my students will incorporate the invaluable messages of that story in their lives and continue to respect their peers both inside and outside of the classroom.
Nadia Joudeh
9/29/2012 04:09:23 am
It was most shocking for me to hear that 35% of students would partake in bullying. This upsets me even more when I hear that bullying is considered mutual "joking around" by the bully. In schools with small populations where bullying seems to have gone unchallenged, I feel bullying should be addressed head on. Students who are victimized by bullies need to feel that schools are are safe place and that bullying, or associating with a bully, are unacceptable and far from "cool." As a mother of a high school student and teacher, I would like to see strategies discussed and implemented so that future generations will know that schools are places of learning and healthy socialization.
Duha Dabbouseh
10/7/2012 02:36:06 pm
I was shocked as well to hear 35% of students will take in act of bullying. I believe it is through peer pressure to feel a sense of "coolness" and to fit in just so they won't be bullied. I was also dispappointed to hear that the majority of teachers won't do anything about it when they hear a student being bullied. As educators we just don't teach subject matter, we need to teach about bulliness and to implement it in our curriculum. The more we educate our students about bullying hopefully will diminish with consequences taken place
Sabrina Ahmad
9/30/2012 12:14:23 am
I was shocked to hear that almost 160,000 students stay at home everyday because of the bullying they endure at school. I cannot imagine what these students feel like every morning heading into an environment where they know that they are a target. Seeing all those different students talking about how they were bullied and tormented made me realize that bullying is a subject that needs to be addressed in our classrooms from an early age because the earlier we address it the earlier we can stop it.
Nicole Pirkl
9/30/2012 06:49:58 am
In the video, they mentioned a survey where most children believed that there was not a system in place to protect them. I believe this to be the 100% truth! I was bulled as a child and as an adult but when I have witnessed what could be bulling (as an adult) I have not stood up and stopped it like I should have. This is because I have felt that I would be doing more harm then good for the person in the long run. What would happen to them after they left my classroom? As a child when an adult stepped in I was embarrassed and nothing changed. I would love to have and learn a system that would protect and support the children who are being bullied.
Asmah Abdallah
9/30/2012 11:34:10 am
Bullying has always been a major problem for our youth. Awareness regarding the problems of bullying has increased, nonetheless dealing with bullying remains an obstacle to tackle. As a teacher, I believe that all teachers should be watchful for the signs of bullying, even the ones where students appear to be joking with one another. Behind these "jokes" could lie hurt and pain. I think its important as a teacher to learn and understand how to end it at its core, rather than just in the classroom, because once the students leave the classroom, they should still feel safe. It was sad to hear that students stay at home to avoid bullying. School should be a fun, safe learning environment that students look forward to, and I believe if teachers work together to try and provide that, bullying can decrease, and students can feel more comfortable.
Janine Salameh
10/1/2012 05:42:18 am
Bullying is definitely a problem in every school even if it is not apparently noticeable. Everyone knows bullying is bad and will stand against it, but the problem is that nobody see's it. Nearly 1 out of every 3 middle school and high school students get bullied every day and the most shocking part is that they feel like adults are incapable of making a change to stop the bullying. The issue of bullying has been going on forever, and we may never be able to put an end to it completely, but the least we could do is make sure there is a system in place to help the victims of bullying. We need to make sure that adults are paying more attention to it, because bullying can be done through many different forms and could be overlooked as joking and sarcasm but really is causing a lot of pain for someone. That someone needs to know there is a support system for them.
Sanah Yassin
10/1/2012 07:29:20 am
Coming from a background where, since childhood, I witnessed domestic bullying take place, growing up it was difficult for me to stand up and say something since I was so used to seeing it happen and feeling powerless about it. I feel like a lot of kids have a similar problem in which bullying becomes so commonplace for them, they don't even realize it's bullying, or they feel like it's something that can't be helped.
Ikhlas Ibrahim
10/1/2012 09:02:56 am
The most shocking thing I heard in the video was that one out of three students is being bullied. I think as an educator, it is my responsibility to prevent bullying or to put a stop to it immediately. There have been many incidents of students hurting themselves, because someone made them feel like they did not matter. It hurts me to know that students fear school or their classroom. I definitely agree with the other comments. We need to have a program implemented in our school to help educators put a stop to this. We must let other students know that if they see bullying they need to speak up about it, because it is the right thing to do. I think a sufficient program will put a stop to bullying both online and at school.
Mervet Dissi
10/1/2012 01:49:53 pm
I understand how it feels to be bullied. Although it was not as severe as some of the stories mentioned in the video, the fact that I remember the incident clearly shows that it has had a lasting effect on me. As a teacher, I make it clear that bullying has no place in school and especially in my classroom.
Ghada Ali
10/1/2012 09:26:30 pm
It is heartbreaking to hear that students cannot approach adults for help when it comes to bullying. Even though schools have “zero tolerance” policies toward bullying, no one knows what follows outside the school. In some areas, students wear casts to school to relieve themselves from physical bullying. I’ve witnessed verbal and emotional bullying which is probably more common between girls. Social networking is definitely making it deeper of an issue.
Kathleen Curto
10/2/2012 12:39:27 am
It is so hard to hear that students feel like they can't approach teachers about bullying. But at the same time, when I was being picked on in school I felt the same way. I didn't want to seem like I was being a "baby" about it and I thought that telling a teacher would in turn lead to more bullying. Now that I'm on the other end of the spectrum, it is just as difficult. When I see someone getting bullied, I try to fix the situation as quickly and as discreetly as possible. Obviously as teachers, we want to help students avoid those situations. But what is the best approach for helping them get out of these situations? We can control what happens in our classrooms, but when they leave, they could be in danger of getting bullied once again. So I guess my real question is: how do we make our actions last farther than the doors to our classrooms?
Lana Mahairi
10/7/2012 12:10:02 pm
That's exactly my concern, we have been keeping an eye out for bullying, but the real bullies know when to bully, and it's rarely in class, it's in the bathroom, the walk home, Facebook, what can we as teachers do? To get to the root of the problem especially when dealing with adolescents
Lara Hamdan
10/2/2012 04:04:09 am
These are all things we have heard before and we know its a problem. No matter what students are told and how many times these issues are brought up, it is still not going away. From personal experience, I do agree that that in the majority of bullying situations there is nothing done to stop it. But I also find it difficult to catch it within the classroom. How do we change the minds of our students to put an end to this issue?
Gadeer Kamil
10/2/2012 08:05:02 am
I was surprised to hear the statistics on bullying. It is problem that unfortunately is not only found in school but follows people throughout their lives It has become more widespread with the advancement of technology.
Jeanine Askar
10/2/2012 02:48:45 pm
Every school follows a "zero tolerance" policy towards bullying, however many students bully each other indirectly. The statistics are increasing and we need to take a stand to prevent students from feeling isolated from everyone else. We do our best to control what happens within our classrooms, however how about the indirect glares in the hallways or the indirect messages at lunch? Many students feel they cannot approach an adult about bullying and just ignore it. At times students don't even know that they're bullying another person, and unfortunately its become the norm (rolling of the eyes, ignoring another person, indirect comments, etc.) We need to educate our students on:
iman ibrahim
10/3/2012 06:16:08 am
I think it's sad that so many students get bullied and have no support from the adults around them. As educators it is our duty to create safe environments for our students. It can be difficult to notice everything, but we need to do more to help students feel safe to come to us with any problems.
Mrs. H. Jody
10/3/2012 10:47:45 am
Oh My God. I honestly did not know that the statistics were that high. (1 in 3 students are bullied, that is very scary.) Speaking from a lower elementary perspective, I think that when we as teachers respond QUICKLY AND CONSISTENTLY to bullying behaviors, we send the message that it is not acceptable. As a teacher of younger children, I also feel that it is important for us to make sure that when we intervene during a "situation," to make sure that we as well model respectful behaviors as to not continue the "cycle."
Hayfae Awadallah
10/3/2012 11:45:50 am
I believe that bullying is a big problem and it is also something that can’t be fixed right away or easily. I have always believed that talking to students is not enough. I talk to my students all the time and I try my hardest to educate them on what is considered bullying and how to try to avoid it but sometimes I think that I need more support. I feel that the students need to be educated when they are young. Schools need to bring in professionals that can also help with the teachings of the teacher. My students are my kids and I don’t want others to hurt them. I want to protect them in any way that I can, but I can’t do it alone.
Samantha Tarabiah
10/3/2012 04:33:08 pm
What's sad is that our students are getting better at keeping their bullying private. They have also found different ways to bully each other that our generation would have never thought of. The things they say are more cruel because of the things that they watch. Disney channel is not what it used to be when I was growing, most of you would agree I'm sure. Maybe parents need to be reminded that what their children watch at home affects the way they behave at school.
Angela Gall
10/3/2012 11:00:18 pm
I just recently read two books by Jodee Blanco about bullying. Jodee is from Illinois and from 5th grade to 12th grade she was severely bullied much like the kids in the video. Now she is an activist who goes around to schools educating parents, teachers, administrators and students about the issue. I highly recommend her books, especially, her second one because it gives direct, specific advice on how to help kids deal with the bullying situation: Please Stop Laughing at Me and Please Stop Laughing at Us. 10/4/2012 01:59:36 am
I think that bullying is increasing day after day, and most of the time we just don't see it. what's worse is that our kids consider it normal to bully or to be bullied. Educating them is the key to stop bullying, but educating them is just not enough. It is our duty as adult and educators to give them security. They are most likely afraid to say something so they don't pay a bigger price for it. Giving them security by involving parents and higher athotities to take care of the issue before it grows into a bigger problem that ends in tragedy. This is a huge social problem that we need to decide on which measures should be taken to out an end to it.
Sawsan Radwan
10/4/2012 02:01:55 am
I personally have experienced bullying as a teenager, I did not ask a teacher or other adult for help because I thought it was something I should take care of myself. Watching the video reminded me that it continues to happen and will continue until adults take some responsibility. As adults we cannot run the lives of the student but we can be a presence they can count on. If they believe they can come to us when they need us then that will increase their confidence which in turn will help them deal with the bullies.
Omaima Yousif
10/4/2012 02:50:24 am
The most challenging thing that I believe teachers face in every school is to know when to step back or step in when bullying occurs. As a fellow teacher, all of my students become so much more than just students to me, and whenever I witness some type of problem, my first instinct is to address it immediately on site. Knowing how to deal with bullying that is happening in our schools, without singling out a certain person, whether it is the bullied or the one bullying is difficult. Also, not having all the details about what goes on outside of the school, makes it hard for us to make disciplinary decisions without making assumptions.
Amanda Debaz & Rana Mustafa
10/5/2012 04:04:32 am
As kindergarten teachers we feel that it is our responsibility to teach them the social skills they need in order to stop bullying. We have to teach them to respect others and to listen to each other's feelings, and the proper way to respond when they get upset or something/ someone is bothering them. We have to teach students from as young as kindergarten or even younger that No means no.
Ayesha Kazi
10/5/2012 04:25:41 am
It's heartbreaking to hear that bullying is as prevalent as it is. I agree with Iman Ibrahim that it's important to create safe spaces in our classrooms and schools. It's also necessary to build strong relationships with students so that we can be easily approached about these issues. It's scary to me that there's so much that we probably don't see because realistically we cannot see/hear everything.
Iman Matariyeh
10/5/2012 06:24:24 am
Watching the video made me think of my younger sister who came home one day from school crying because she was bullied that day. She explained that it took place during lunch, so she stayed in the bathroom cleaning up her clothes that a boy smeared his lunch on and washing her face after crying then showing up late to class only to face a teacher who humiliated her for being late to class. As a new teacher, I am trying as hard as I can to be aware of these situations and how I can help. I do not want to be that teacher that ostracizes a student for appearing tardy to class because he/she was in the bathroom trying to put himself/herself together before walking into the class that possibly that bully is in. As a teacher and older sister, this worries me how common bullying is and how hard it is to really know the whose and when bullying takes place.
Amna Awan
10/5/2012 12:27:02 pm
Bullying is a major issue in our schools and it is something that needs to be addressed as early as in elementary grades. Kids are being bullied at school and it can have an impact on their social skills. Academic achievement is the first aspects which influence by bullying at school. As educators it is our duty to create safe environments for our students. I think it is important to talk to kids about bullying and address these issues right away.
Layla Khayr
10/5/2012 01:35:01 pm
As a school social worker, I have not only witnessed bullying in the school system but have also seen the lasting damaging effects it can have on the victims. Some students are bullied for so many years, often in the presence of adults, and nothing is done. Bullying has become an immense issue in the school system; it not only creates an unsafe school environment, but also can have damaging effects on the victims and their families. Therefore, educators, social workers, and other professionals within the school system should be aware of bullying behaviors and also implement ways to prevent and reduce the amount of bullying in a school. The goal here would be to eliminate bullying altogether. As stated in the video, it is important to change the culture of the school. The whole school needs to be on board with a zero tolerance for bullying (and reinforce the fact that “just joking” is bullying too and unacceptable) and any programs implemented. This will require the time, effort, and energy of the entire school, but it will be completely worth it for the health and safety of the students, school, and community as a whole.
manal abdellatif
10/5/2012 11:25:38 pm
I believe that bullying is an issue that is addressed in school, but it is not taken as seriously as it should be. It is sad that many television shows that kids watch promote bullying. It is not just up to the teacher and the school to address this issue, but parents should be educated as well. Students that are bullied and students that bully both encounter psychological issues. I believe that the bully is a victim as well. Sometimes people that bully others are being bullied by someone. One thing I think will help if not eliminate bullying, decrease it is advisory classes. Advisory classes are sessions that happen at lease every week with the teacher to help students talk or write about issues they have encountered or feelings they have that they are afraid to talk about. I think schools are so focused on grades and curriculum that we have forgotten that students need to learn tolerance, character education, and coping skills. However as I said before it is not just up to the classroom teacher or the school to develop programs and a community to get rid of bullying. The parents should be a held responsible at home as well. This program should be a implemented in school and at home.
Linda Hamadeh
10/5/2012 11:54:42 pm
Watching the video, I feel that we need to recognize the subtle bullying that usually goes undetected and builds up day after day. I also feel that it is unrealistic to expect that every incident of bullying, especially with students becoming more discreet and devious in their bullying actions, will be caught. Therefore, dealing with bullying in the school needs to not only focus on the one who bullies, but it more importantly needs to empower those students who are being bullied. 10/6/2012 01:49:31 am
As an early childhood educator, I understand the fact that my number one responsibility is to ensure that I establish and maintain a caring classroom community; one in which children begin developing essential skills of respect, empathy, and cooperation. Through my experiences, I have observed that children as young as 5 and 6 are capable of displaying both relational and physical aggression (often labeled “inappropriate” or “unacceptable” behavior when observed in early childhood). Modeling the very behaviors, I wish to see from the children—working to create a culture of connectedness and caring, I believe, empowers my students as they work towards becoming compassionate problem-solvers and caring members of society—the very environment that prevents bullying, violence, and fear.
Ms. Banan Said
10/6/2012 03:30:20 am
I am honestly not a big fan of the bullying narrative. It often focuses on labeling youth as criminals and victims (or bystanders) and not offering practical ways to promote their positive development. As a youth worker, I am just as interested in working with the "bully" as the "victim" on processing their thoughts and emotions into positive behavior. I think over the years, we have become better at labeling these types of situations at our schools but not necessarily providing sufficient resources to focus on the underlying factors which cause such behavior and how to support youth to self-regulate those factors.
Inshirah Barakat
10/7/2012 03:11:18 am
Amy MacKenzie (Fatima)
10/7/2012 04:19:23 am
My reaction to the video was shock and sadness at hearing the severity of bullying that exists among students.
Dalal Askar
10/7/2012 05:44:53 am
The problem that is at the core of bullying lies within character development. We, as educators, must understand that bullying is not often a behavior problem, but an emotional one. It can be counterproductive to “treat” bullying by enforcing punishment or even just educating teachers and students about different forms of bullying. As many others have already mentioned, there are times that a bully might not even realize that he/she is being a “bully”; therefore, listening to a lecture or watching a video about bullying, however moving it is, simply won’t cut it because the bully won’t make the connection. Solving the bullying issue will take more than increasing awareness about bullying, or being a more available and understanding teacher; it must be a long, multi-step process that addresses the bullying at hand, provides counseling for the both the bullies and victims, and education for parents to raise children who are emotionally and socially literate.
Amanda Razeq and Nassrine Hamdan
10/7/2012 06:22:53 am
As we watched the video, we both have come to the conclusion that bullying exists however, not every situation should be regarded as bullying. As teachers and parents we need to become familiar with the differences between crude (bullying with intent to harm) and rude (inconsiderate and thoughtless) behavior. If we teach students different coping strategies then they should be able to differentiate between a rude a person and someone who is intent on harm (whether it is words or actions). We find that many children are now quick to call everything bullying and it becomes a joke to them. For example, when children are thoughtless towards one another and say something like "shut up" it is automatically classified as bullying even if it was a one time occurrence. Ultimately we need to make sure each of our children know how to cope with being bullied in a positive manner. The general belief is that a bully has been bullied, and so because they do not know how to cope with the bullying themselves they will either bully someone else or do something that could possibly harm themselves and others. All in all, we as educators and parents need to teach our children the skills to first identify bullying and then cope with the situation in a positive manner. 10/7/2012 06:54:59 am
This video is an eyeopener for many that Bullying is so wide spread in our schools.Teachers unfortunately are unclear about what situations come under this category and what measures can be taken to prevent it. I want to learn more about the steps we as educators can take to banish bullying in our schools.
Rafat Siddiqui
10/7/2012 08:23:10 am
This video was, indeed, informative about an aspect of school-life that doesn't get as much attention as it should. As a preschool teacher, I would definitely agree that schools should be made a safe environment for all students and staff alike, but we need to know not only how to identify and diffuse the situation but to understand the causes of this type of behavior and what to do to correct it.
Wafa Ibrahim
10/7/2012 09:53:51 am
When I watched the video I was surprised mostly about the percentage of adults who knew or were told that there was bulllying going on and did nothing to stop it. As adults and educators it is our resposibility to make sure that our students feel like when they come to us with an issue we try our best to solve it. As teachers, I think that we need to include more activities centered around the students getting to know one another better. This video was a real eye opener.
Laila Alharithi
10/7/2012 10:41:58 am
It is such a daunting issue to deal with; to know that while we are striving to prepare an educated, more able generation, our efforts are being slammed by these adverse actions. We simply cannot allow this to happen, and the responsibility lies on all of us as parents and educators. It is not enough to place policies and follow procedures, we need to spread awareness among students and empower them to take a stand, simultaneously parents have to be informed of this issue’s seriousness and should remain in the loop as an active participant
Sameer
3/17/2013 04:24:25 pm
I am abhorred to learn that you are annoyed and fed up with the issue of bullying. It is such an Irony Mrs. Alharithi. to know that you are on the side of the abused children. Keep the good work and good luck to you!!!!
Dr. Arneson
3/17/2013 11:19:35 pm
Sameer, there might be a bit of confusion. Who are you suggesting is "annoyed" with the issue of bullying? Please clarify your comment. I believe we must remain vigilant in the fight against bullying.
Eve Mersch-Zenki
10/7/2012 11:15:50 am
Bullying has taken on so many different facets over the years. It was so much more evident when it was the physical bullying that I used to see as a student. Now bullying has so many new faces and the use of technology has only made it more widespread and feasible. It is a shame that the children of today are too afraid to come forward to share what they are experiencing and are willing to continue to let this abuse continue for fear of further retaliation or losing their so called "friends." As educators we need to be fully aware of what is going on with our students and have the skills necessary to get the students the help they need and put an end to this disease of bullying.
Rashida Patel
10/7/2012 11:30:21 am
This video was very informative. I was surprised to hear that many teachers are ignoring students when they confided in them. Is it just easy to overlook the situation and hope that it will take care of itself? As an elementary school teacher, I try to take care of situations involving bullying very seriously and try to put a stop to it before it gets out of hand. I'd like to learn more about the topic.
Sarah Faruqui
10/7/2012 11:31:20 am
Bullying is a definite problem in our schools and often times it goes unnoticed. Boys bully with words or through physical means but the most dangerous bullying is done by girls. They do what I want to call emotional bullying, they play games with you and are very deceiving and that's why it's hard to catch. They act a certain way in class and very different when its just them and their classmates. As teachers, its our responsibility to come up with a system where students can feel comfortable sharing with us. We need to keep the lines of communication open. A lot of times it goes unnoticed because the child being bullied feels as if they can't do anything about it.
Ferhat Khan
10/7/2012 11:34:57 am
It was really sad to see how students bully each other and hurt each other feelings. However, I believe that children react upon what they face in their life. I strongly believe that this kind of behavior should be identified and address properly. I also believe that only school can't do much, it should be taken care at home also. Last but not least, children adopt the behavior from adults so adults need to be very careful about their words, gesture and actions.
Saima Malik
10/7/2012 01:01:40 pm
As I watched the video I was shocked to realize that 60% of teachers do little or NOTHING when bullying is brought to their attention. Although I am a preschool teacher bullying to the extreme never occurs. But you will still see children left out of groups because they are shy and not social. Some kids are very social and others may not be it is most likely that the more social child will have more friends and more higher self esteem. I believe that appearance is key. People judge you on how you are dressed and look. My school has uniform which proves equality among all students. No one is greater than the other, all are equal. We shouldn't judge anyone until we walked a mile in their shoes. Us as parents and teachers should educate our children about bullying and respecting one another.
Samira Dissi
10/7/2012 01:22:28 pm
When I watched the video, the statistics of how many kids avoid school because they are bullied are frightening. As an educator of younger children I think we need to be more alert to the signs of bullying and kids who might be victims of it. We need try our best to identify signs of bullying when we're dealing with the younger generations because treating them and raising their awareness early on will help reduce bullying for the future. It would make for better behaving and more productive individuals.
Huda Ata
10/7/2012 01:53:12 pm
Bullying is a serious problem. I really don’t understand these bullies. How can a human being insult another human like that? No matter what the reason, these bullies must be stopped. I believe more anti-bullying laws should be passed to stop the bullies. We need to work together and educate everyone about the danger of bulling. Let every know about it, so the bully can hide no more more
Sumnble Mohammed
10/7/2012 02:23:08 pm
I was aware that bullying is a problem but I am completely shocked that 1 out of 3 kids is bullied. It is really sad and what is worse is that kids feel like they cannot confide in their teachers. They do not have a safe zone and I cannot imagine going through life like that. As an educator, I hope that I can provide a safe zone and foster a relationship of trust with my students so they can approach me if they needed to.
A. Mohiuddin
10/7/2012 02:57:43 pm
Very well put together video clip!..........The real stories put things into perspective for the viewer. Bullying takes place in many forms and it's a "disease". Anyone can be "infected" by this horrible injustice. Unfortunately, this is even taking place in the primary grade levels as well.
Lila Alharsha
10/7/2012 04:13:24 pm
I believe that it is very unfortunate that bullying exists within any school. I believe that in most circumstances, the teachers are aware but let things slide. We may be focused on educating our students and making sure that they make the grades but are not often worried about the character of our students. Most often, it is your A quality students who are bullying and we may let it slide because they are doing what we ask. Sometimes it can be the student that lacks skills and decides that they will develop skills of what they believe to be"strength" against others as a way of camouflaging their weaknesses. Unfortunately, at times the very same child that is bullied is blamed for being bullied with teachers stating that it is the fault of the bullied student rather than of those who are part of the problem. The child may be reacting to the actions of the bullies and crying out for help. However, all that the teacher hears is the noise that the victim is making and may label them as the trouble maker. I have even heard of teachers blaming the victims incinuating that the victim deserved it or instigated it.
Jinan Shillo
10/7/2012 10:59:56 pm
I feel that bullying is definately overlooked in most classrooms. Teacher education focuses on learning and teaching techniques and classroom environment is usually neglected. It would be great if teachers could be trained to deal with bullying effectively. If, as the video made appearant, almost 160,000 students stay at home everyday because of the bullying our hard work and planning will fall on deaf ears. Students who are bullied will suffer academically in addition to emotionally. How can someone focus on school work when they are being mentally abused or dread just going to school. We need to make our classrooms have an atmosphere of respect. Workshops are good ideas for students and teachers to get them aware of the power of words. Leave a Reply. |
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