I heard a friend say that this all went on when we were kids and we turned out ok. Well, I don't exactly think so. In fact, I don't think so at all. I think the pain from bullying was there, but I don't think it was broadcast the way it is now. My friend mooned many a passerby and it was never taped and broadcast live. Another friend rolled more houses than she ever trick or treated and was never arrested or shot at in the process. Yet another friend had a terrible run in with a boyfriend and it was not on Twitter within seconds. (Please note that I never did any of these things.)
I think back on my high school years and wonder if I was ever a bully OR if I was the one who knew it was going on and did nothing to stop it. I don't recall any cases off hand (thank God) but I do remember meanness. It was everywhere. I was. My friends were. It wasn't aimed at one person, but it was there. We were lucky in that there was no internet-beepers were bad enough!
How to fix it? I wish I knew. I wish I could fix it before my guy starts school. I know it starts at home. I know we (as a whole country) make fun of each other all too much. Light hearted turns into repeated mean into us against them. I know I will always encourage my son and niece to be kind and follow the golden rule. I will try my best to model this behavior, too.
Do you ever think about your glory days through the bullying lense?
I am always against bullying in school. As far as I know, it creates psychological problems to the victim and can be evident in the long run. As teachers, they should be the one to stop bullying and if possible, seek the assistance of Guidance Counselor to talk seriously with the victim...
ReplyDelete