Bullies...a national disgrace
I submitted this is another group and thought I'd share it here to get your feedback on what is a disturbing subject:
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I was watching the program yesterday afternoon (Blackboards and Bullies: Are Your Kids Safe?) and experienced a myriad of emotions: anger, frustration and disgust at what is a steadily growing problem (bullying) for our young people today.
Here are some statistics for starters:
23% of American children reported gangs are operating within their schools
16,000 arrests for assault are made in schools yearly
128,000 teachers have been assaulted in schools
600 arrests made for sexual assault in schools
There was one family featured where the 15-year-old son of a teacher committed suicide after continual bullying not only at school, but bullying online as well, which is better known as “cyberbullying”. And the arrogant little bastard who was the perpetrator was shown in a clip from Good Morning America looking smug and saying that he had no feeling about what had happened partially as a result of his behavior. I could have smacked the smirk off of his face! The irony was that the jerk who called this boy “faggot” on the internet didn’t look particularly masculine to me.
Another teacher was featured who had been assaulted (with brass knuckles) so viciously by a student after he attempted to break up a hallway fight that he may not be able to return to teaching. The punishment for the vermin who committed this horrible crime? A year in juvenile detention.
This doesn’t sound like America to me. It sounds more like Beirut. This was just a one hour program; which means this is merely a thumbnail sketch of the big picture regarding what our children face on a daily basis. No, I’m not a parent, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any feelings for the type of environment that children attempt to receive a decent education in today.
Sure, there were bullies when we were in school. Kids may have been teased and/or shoved, but even in the worst neighborhoods, I don’t think it was at this proportion.
And…another important fact: THIS IS NOT SOLELY AN INNER CITY PROBLEM! This is becoming more prevalent in affluent suburbs and rural communities, so people who think that their child or grandchild is attending a “safe” school away from the “elements” needs to think twice.
You can run, but you damn sure can’t hide from the reality of the situation.
**************************************** **************************************** ***********
I was watching the program yesterday afternoon (Blackboards and Bullies: Are Your Kids Safe?) and experienced a myriad of emotions: anger, frustration and disgust at what is a steadily growing problem (bullying) for our young people today.
Here are some statistics for starters:
23% of American children reported gangs are operating within their schools
16,000 arrests for assault are made in schools yearly
128,000 teachers have been assaulted in schools
600 arrests made for sexual assault in schools
There was one family featured where the 15-year-old son of a teacher committed suicide after continual bullying not only at school, but bullying online as well, which is better known as “cyberbullying”. And the arrogant little bastard who was the perpetrator was shown in a clip from Good Morning America looking smug and saying that he had no feeling about what had happened partially as a result of his behavior. I could have smacked the smirk off of his face! The irony was that the jerk who called this boy “faggot” on the internet didn’t look particularly masculine to me.
Another teacher was featured who had been assaulted (with brass knuckles) so viciously by a student after he attempted to break up a hallway fight that he may not be able to return to teaching. The punishment for the vermin who committed this horrible crime? A year in juvenile detention.
This doesn’t sound like America to me. It sounds more like Beirut. This was just a one hour program; which means this is merely a thumbnail sketch of the big picture regarding what our children face on a daily basis. No, I’m not a parent, but that doesn’t mean I don’t have any feelings for the type of environment that children attempt to receive a decent education in today.
Sure, there were bullies when we were in school. Kids may have been teased and/or shoved, but even in the worst neighborhoods, I don’t think it was at this proportion.
And…another important fact: THIS IS NOT SOLELY AN INNER CITY PROBLEM! This is becoming more prevalent in affluent suburbs and rural communities, so people who think that their child or grandchild is attending a “safe” school away from the “elements” needs to think twice.
You can run, but you damn sure can’t hide from the reality of the situation.
