"Normal Bullying?" I am stunned.
Fresh when it gets here from
Julie Barrett
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
This editorial in today's Dallas Morning News had my jaw on the floor. This afternoon I dug around on their site and found the original story.
Before I continue, I have to warn that this involves sexual abuse of teenagers by other teenagers.
You read that right. At Sunnyvale Middle School a student is alleging that a group of 9th graders engaged in sodomizing younger boys. Apparently an object was involved in the alleged acts. This happened in the gym locker room. Where were the coaches, you may ask? In their office, 20 feet away, apparently unable to hear the screams of the victims.
The results of the principal's investigation? "...nothing beyond bullying took place..."
So bullying is okay? Even more disturbing, is sodomizing considered okay? Thank God for the parents who pushed the issue forward to the Sheriff's Department.
Our schools kick out honor students who have a bread knife left over from a weekend move in the car, but do nothing when a child is injured by a bully because "boys will be boys" or "girls will be girls" or now, bullying is "normal."
Gym class has always been the place for the toughs to assert their dominance, and it will always be so. We can't change hormones, but we certainly can do a better job of protecting children from being beaten or worse. From reading the article, it was apparent that the coaches hung out in the office while the boys changed and showered. This was going on when I was in school. A science teacher would never leave a class when a Bunsen Burner was plugged in and running. Too many opportunities for mischief or accident. Yet, it's okay to leave a group of hot, sweaty adolescents fired up from a workout alone in a room. What is wrong with this picture?
School districts should require at least one coach or aide to be on duty in the dressing room whenever there are students present. I'm not naive enough to think that this will stop the bullying altogether, but it might cause some students to think twice about their actions.
Bullies like to operate under the radar. There needs to be a method for students to report behavior they experience or witness without fear of retaliation. School administrators (understanding that false reports are also a form of bullying) need to take these reports seriously. They also need to stop punishing children for defending themselves. I understand that self-defense doesn't mean "I'll beat the crap out of you because you hit me," but to tell children that they can't even take basic measures to protect themselves is as much a form of abuse as the original act of bullying. Yes, I've seen cases where a child trying to ward off a blow gets in as much trouble as the bully.
Of course, there is an other side to the coin. Teasing is part of growing up. Kids do have to learn how to take it. Bullying behavior continues through adulthood. Kids need to learn when to let an act go and when and how to stand up. The current atmosphere in our schools (zero tolerance = zero brains) sends mixed signals at best and encourages silence at worst.
Something has to change. The boys at this school are probably scarred for life, and to pass any bullying behavior off as "normal" sends the wrong signals.
Tags:
Bullying
Filed under: Bullying
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