Comments on: Education Matters: Bully beware — A serious issue takes center stage http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/04/13/education-matters-bully-beware-%e2%80%94-a-serious-issue-takes-center-stage/ Enlightening La Jolla since 1913 Wed, 22 May 2013 04:21:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Daniel Sanchez http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/04/13/education-matters-bully-beware-%e2%80%94-a-serious-issue-takes-center-stage/#comment-149736 Daniel Sanchez Wed, 18 May 2011 19:16:50 +0000 http://lajollalight.mscsddev.com/?p=39336#comment-149736 I cut this article out of the La Jolla Light a few weeks ago, and I read it again today. Is it not our responsibility to teach others how we will be treated? I don't have the responsibility of being a parent yet, but if I did, I'd make sure my child knew how to defend themselves physical or otherwise. I grew up at a school where the motto was, "Never fight." I think that motto should be, "Never fight unless you have to." I feel for kids that don't feel comfortable going to school because of bullying. But I hope they know that they can go a long way in helping themselves and preserving their self-value and confidence. It reminds me of the movie Shawshank Redemption, when Andy Dufrense tells Red, "There are places in this world that aren't made out of stone. That there's something inside... that they can't get to, that they can't touch. That's yours." I cut this article out of the La Jolla Light a few weeks ago, and I read it again today. Is it not our responsibility to teach others how we will be treated? I don't have the responsibility of being a parent yet, but if I did, I'd make sure my child knew how to defend themselves physical or otherwise. I grew up at a school where the motto was, "Never fight." I think that motto should be, "Never fight unless you have to." I feel for kids that don't feel comfortable going to school because of bullying. But I hope they know that they can go a long way in helping themselves and preserving their self-value and confidence. It reminds me of the movie Shawshank Redemption, when Andy Dufrense tells Red, "There are places in this world that aren't made out of stone. That there's something inside… that they can't get to, that they can't touch. That's yours."

]]> By: Edwaard F. Dragan http://www.lajollalight.com/2011/04/13/education-matters-bully-beware-%e2%80%94-a-serious-issue-takes-center-stage/#comment-140756 Edwaard F. Dragan Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:35:53 +0000 http://lajollalight.mscsddev.com/?p=39336#comment-140756 School should be a place where children feel safe and secure--a place where they can count on being treated with respect. The unfortunate reality is that many students are the targets of bullying, resulting in long-term academic, physical, and emotional consequences. School personnel often minimize or underestimate the etent of bullying and its harm. In many cases, bullying is tolerated or ignored. Schools are notorious for insulating themselves from the outsside world. All to often, schools behave like private companies afraid to tarnish their image. But public schools are public institutions with obligations to those they serve--students, parents, and the community--to be transparent. They have a duty to protect children and to stop bullying. They have a responsibility to give every kid an opportunity to learn in a climate that is free from intimidation, harassment, and bullying. Sadly, schoold don't always fulfill these obligations. Edward F. Dragan, EdD, Education Expert, author of "The Bully Action Guide: How to Help Your Child and How to Get Your School to Listen." School should be a place where children feel safe and secure–a place where they can count on being treated with respect. The unfortunate reality is that many students are the targets of bullying, resulting in long-term academic, physical, and emotional consequences. School personnel often minimize or underestimate the etent of bullying and its harm. In many cases, bullying is tolerated or ignored.

Schools are notorious for insulating themselves from the outsside world. All to often, schools behave like private companies afraid to tarnish their image. But public schools are public institutions with obligations to those they serve–students, parents, and the community–to be transparent. They have a duty to protect children and to stop bullying. They have a responsibility to give every kid an opportunity to learn in a climate that is free from intimidation, harassment, and bullying. Sadly, schoold don't always fulfill these obligations.

Edward F. Dragan, EdD, Education Expert, author of "The Bully Action Guide: How to Help Your Child and How to Get Your School to Listen."

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