http://www.youtube.com/user/MercerReport#p/u/2/Wh1jNAZHKIw
On Tuesday, Rick Mercer (my celebrity crush) did a rant on teen suicide in Canada. He suggested that there isn't enough being done by adults to save these kids who feel that their only escape is to end their lives.
He is specifically talking about Jamie Huebly, who took his own life because he was bullied for being gay. What do you guys think? I'm reading a book about bullying right now, that is a compilation of teen experiences. Over and over again, I read that teachers watch these kids get bullied, teased, beaten, neglected by their peers and say nothing and do nothing. How can this be?? When is it our job to intervene and when is it our job to look the other way and let them fend for themselves? Where do we draw the line? What more can be done within the school to counteract this aggression and discrimination?
When it comes to dealing with a bully, it can be the toughest part of the job.
ReplyDeleteI remember being bullied in school. One year I competed in the public speaking contest - which I won first place in the school - and my topic was about gay rights in Canada. I choose this topic because my mother is gay, and I am very open about that fact. What's the sad part of the story is the individual who bullied me: my teacher. When she discovered my topic she tried to ban me from the contest, and began to single me out within the classroom. Both my mother and myself had to bring it to the attention of the principle before she would persist.
While I know this may be a unique situation, it still goes to show that it can happen anywhere, at any time. But then the real question stands, what do we do to prevent it? How do we look deeper into the situation, and is that really our position, or is that the job of the school councilor? Are we qualified to really deal with it?
I think Allyson is right when she speaks about dealing with the behaviour and not the individual action. So I don't think a time out, or a smack on the wrist is going to cut it. And while I agree with Mercer (who is also openly gay) that something more has to be done, will an assemby filled with police really change the attitude of a bully?
I think it's time we educated, not only ourselves, but the students as well. If they can teach about sex ed, and drugs and alcohol in the schools, then I think they should bring in a course to teach about mental health, consequences of bullying, and maybe ways to prevent it.
I know that some of us will be taking a course with Cindy next term on classroom management. I have spoken with her, and she has informed me that a big chunk of the class is going to be about how to deal with bullying.
In any case, we have been told many times over that it is our job to provide a safe learning environment, both mentally and physically, so it will definatly be something we have to be on the watch for.
Hey Cory,
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you posted this issue and Rick Mercer’s video. Many of us have experienced bullying, and can attest to the ways that it affects students. I grew up with and attended school with the same kids through elementary and middle school, where I had wonderful relationships with my fellow students and enjoyed going to school every day. I knew that there were students in my class who were sometimes ostracized by others, but I felt that as long as I did not participate, it would be okay. However, my family moved to a small town during my first year of high school, and I found myself on the other side of this situation. I was the “new kid” who was sneered at for being eager to learn and teased because I didn’t quite fit in. This lasted until graduation four years later.
Yet, the loneliness and lack of solidarity that I experienced in high school cannot begin to compare to what some students go through every day. These kids are experiencing rejection and often humiliation, not just because they are new or awkward, but because their peers don’t approve of their sexual orientation! Sexuality is hard enough to navigate as an adolescent without someone constantly harassing you for something so personal. When I see this, what will I do? When my students see this, what will they do?
Cindy has told us that our first priority as teachers is the safety of our students. Clearly, we can see that bullying or teasing is not simply a speed bump of adolescence; it is not necessary for kids to endure bullying so that they can toughen-up for the “real world” after school. In my experience, the kind of bullying that happens in high school would be considered serious harassment in an adult social context, especially if it took place within a profession and public institution. Thus, we cannot ignore bullying or simply reassure our students that things will get better after high school.
So, when I see bullying, will I get actively involved and publicly address those at fault? Will I try to support the student in a non-imposing way? Will I be able to recognize those kids who are being bullied while no one else is looking? I hope that, as a future teacher, I will recognize bullying and be able to take the steps to stop it immediately. I specifically want my classroom to be a safe place, where everyone feels comfortable to be themselves without having someone roll their eyes or make a snide comment behind their backs. In my classroom, I hope to establish zero tolerance for bullying, and I hope that my future school will see it as the serious harassment that it is.
I think that no matter what class we are teaching, it is in the IRP to ensure that we establish a positive classroom climate, and include all students, have equality and accessibility. Maybe this relates to class material, but I think that personal opinions and experiences can easily become related to that material.
ReplyDeleteTherefore, it is crucial to establish respect for all areas of the classroom, and anything that is discussed in it.
Remember how in 432 we talked about the various problems that occurred in classroom settings? In the Social Studies class it was about racist generalizations. As some class mates pointed out, I think that it is important to let our students know when they crossed the line. We can help establish these lines at the beginning of the semester. And, we can incorporate topics such as sexual orientation into our material so that students learn to be open minded.
I think that it is our job to intervene when a student is singled out. I think that teachers need to be the role model who shows students that these negative attitudes won't be tolerated. Maybe we won't be able to change the entire school, but we can change our classes.
This is an interesting topic, because oftentimes you will intervene as a teacher to stop bullying but it makes little difference. Perhaps this is why teachers do little OR are just perceived by students as doing little to help them out. Further, no kid likes to be bullied and they might be the first to speak up about how someone mistreated them... unfortunately this might not stop them from mistreating another student.
ReplyDeleteI was on the bus the other day and a bunch of 12 year olds got on the bus and sat next to me. One of the girls was talking about how she was part of the anti-bullying campaign at her school, but when one boy (let's call him Jim) started making "joke" comments at another boy (Tom), that clearly were making Tom uncomfortable, this girl was the first to laugh along. Now as a teacher in training, what was I supposed to do in this situation?
Hey Tracey, if we take the teacher hat off I'd assert that as adults we're still responsible to stand up to behaviour that hurts or has the potential to hurt, demean, degrade or discriminate against others. Sometimes it's easier to pretend we didn't hear or see something to avoid getting involved or risk negative consequences to ourselves - think it's a risk we sometimes have to take - if we don't speak up, who will? Tough situation!!!!
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