Kids against bullying
Program Note: For more on bullying tune in for Randi Kaye's report tonight on AC360° at 10 p.m. ET.
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Julie Hertzog
PACER Center
PACER Center’s National Bullying Prevention project is a leader in creating innovative, interactive, and educational resources to raise awareness of bullying prevention. In early 2006, PACER launched an animated Web site Kids Against Bullying for elementary school students. The site is an important resource to engage and educate children about bullying prevention and provide methods to respond to bullying situations.
Learn more about how students and adults can benefit from PACER’s bullying prevention resources.
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A beautiful 11 year old boy hanged himself yesterday because of school bullying. His crime was to be sweet and inoffensive, so he was labelled "gay". Instead of erasing this persecution, churches who comment on homosexuals enable it. They create a climate of entitlement for people with hateful attitudes. Just saying the words can lead to someone's death.
To Rob C,
Bullying today is not the same as in the 60's and 70s. Today children can't escape their tormentors even at home- bullying has gone hi-tech and happens at school and at home via text, facebook, email and IM. Bullying is not just "teasing", it is threatening and can be relentless and nothing is worse than watching your child experience it. I don't believe those of us who grew up in the 60's and 70's can have a clue as to what it is like to be the target of a bully today. Kudos to any school system using Pacer or any other program to educate children!
While I was not bullied, I was teased. Both are very difficult for any child, teenager, young adult or adult to handle. The people doing the teasing and bullying are trying their best to fit in, be cool, be popular, be the center of attention. If the kids would stop egging that nonsense on and ignore the kids that are doing that and then go and report it to a teacher or counselor or someone in authority. Then the ones being picked on would gather strength from not and not feel like its the end of the world. How sad is it that kids feel like it is ok to torment another individual to the point that a child feels like their is no other recourse but to take his/her life. My condolences to all the families that have lost a child to this and to the parents are the children doing the bullying. Don't be afraid of your child. Take action, get involved with your child and please, please, put an end to this.
Rob C
can't keep his 2 cents to himself because he was the bullie. That is why he has no heart and can't understand
I had one run in with a bully and his pals, they seem to run in packs, at a new school. Dunno why, but he knocked out one of my teeth. My parents would not pay for the dental work so I went to the bully's house, with my parents; in short, bully's parents paid for my dental work. I was never bothered again.
Rob C was probably a bully himself.
This is such a horrible situation. We've been hearing about it here in Massachusetts for the last week.
This child was taunted by classmates because they thought he was gay. His mother tried to persuade her son to turn the kids in, but he refused. He didn't want to be a "snitch.'
How horrible is this that a child chose to die rather than a) be harassed at school or b) be further ostracized as a "snitch?"
The Pacer Center has been doing some very nice work.
Blame for this issue does not fall on one entity. It's complex in it's origins, and in it's solutions.
Most teachers do the best they can with the various demands on them.
Most parents also, do the best they can but kids often don't tell their parents.
The victims need the guidance and support of each other.
I understand there will be such a website in May 2009.
Being born with a birth defect makes you a target when it comes to bullies.
I tell students that when we were growing up we were told Bullying will make you strong, part of growing up.
When I speak at schools I remind them that it is not apart of growing up it is WRONG!
I speak at schools about bullying and even though the Middle School kids seem to act cool about it, they are all ears when it comes to tools and suggestion on how to prevent it and hopefully end it.
I have heard of at least one Hollywood actress who was bullied in school when she was a kid and yet as of today I hear she still get paid to be filmed.. and etc, etc, etc, all of which makes her the envy of most everybody.. Moral of the story..? Maybe Bullying isn’t all that bad it’s made to be? But fortunately for me, I never did bulling when I was a kid. And I don’t say this only because I think Bullying is wrong.. But because I think that the chance of pushing some girl into becoming a Hollywood actress is much worst and armful to her future and well being.. Hope you all grow up free of bullying.. But if not.. I hope you all don’t turn into Hollywood Iconic subjects because that would be in my opinion much worst.
There are school policies; it's up to the school to enforce them. If kids get into a fist fight, they get suspended. Period, end of story. Bullying is harassment, it's against the law. Schools have policies. You bully, you get suspended. How hard is it for a school administrator to enforce? Fist fighting is easier? Isabel (above) brought up an excellent point, the law of silence. You tell on the bully, your life is even more hell. It just doesn't end. It's too easy to say 'get over it.' Look at Columbine.
Bullying at schools has got to stop. Kids have the right to learn in an environment free of bullies how want to make themselves feel better by making others feel worse.
To Rob C,
Unless you've been bullied before, kindly keep your 2 cents to yourself on this issue.
When it happened to my daughter, I went to the school head, I called the parents of the kids who were bullying her (with her consent).
I always kept my cool even if I felt like hurting them.
The whole school had a one hour session on bullying.
So, what I learned from this, is that you have to talk WITH your children so that if something like this happens they know that you will do something.
WOW Lots of kids got teased when I went to school in the 60's and 70's don't remember any of them killing themselves and more than likely most of us had them for bosses later in life may its just that the culture we live in any more is just a bit to weak.Get over it kids, there isnt always going to be an organization or group to run to your defense in all that life throws at you. Im sure that Ill be called names for my views on this but maybe there's an group out there to help me cope with that and to educate those that will call me names hmmmm?
i send my sincere condolences to the family of this precious baby.
i lost my 28 year old daughter recently to a pulminary embolism, and'the hurt is unbearable. i can only imagine the horror they are
going through. Bullying has to be learned somewhere; i feel it starts
with the home.
This is a nasty trait that people have. It's usually learned in the home and through media, then transferred to the school ground eventually into work and then back into the home again. Granted, teacher's can not be parents to children, but from the time that they hit school, I believe that they are responsible and need to adopt some strict policies in this area and work with parents on the issue. Some schools may not have room to move because of red tape perhaps, it may need to come from the top level so that it is implemented, like legislation to ensure accountability?
Until educators and parents stop viewing bullying as "kids will be kids" we will continue to read about the victims going to extremes to stop it.
Bullying goes on everyday at every grade level, why PACER National Bullying Project and "Kids Against Bullying" is not a requirement for all students and educators on every grade level is beyond me...wake up educators, yes this is happening in your own schools!
I was bullied at work (when I had a job) by a bunch of incompetent insecure losers. You should do a segment on workplace bullies & sociopaths.
Excellent initiative.
The big problem is that among the victims of bullying prevail the "law of silence" due to lack of support and understanding when they complain to the adults, fear of retaliation from abusers; shame of being exposed to colleagues as incompetent and weak, fear the reactions of family members, etc..