I don’t use my blog as a soapbox very often, but this is an issue that is near and dear to my heart. My blogging friend, Amy Holder, posted about this topic over the weekend and I’m picking up the torch from her. I’m not going to try and re-invent the wheel and express my thoughts on this topic, because she already did a most eloquent job. I agree wholeheartedly with everything she says. So if this is a subject you care about as well, follow this link to Amy’s blog and read what she has to say.
http://amyholderbooks.blogspot.com/2010/10/lets-end-bullying.html
Bullies aren't formed in a vacuum, they learn the behavior at home, or from friends who learned it at home. Cyber-bullies are no different. Our kids need to learn that if they want to show how tough they are...try standing up to a bully!
I totally agree with you. I can't stand bullies. Which is probably why they stayed very far away from me.
ReplyDeleteI agree!!! This needs to stop.
ReplyDeleteHadn't heard of this but I like it. If you know of any bullies that need a talking to, let me know and I'll put in a call to "my people" in Jersey. ;)
ReplyDeletethanks for that link. What a heartbreaking story and ellen's message made me tear up. You can see she really understands what those kids went through. I wish I could say bullying is a problem between children and teens but I've seen it happen oh too often in the work place as well. I don't know if it's insecurity, a superiority complex or a hunger for power and domination over others that is responsable. All I know is it has to stop. Great post!
ReplyDeleteI agree with you! My oldest daughter has been bullied and it's so hard as a parent to watch your child going through this. In our case, letting the teachers know what was going on helped, but a lot of the time that doesn't work. You're right, bullying is often a learned behavior and it's difficult to make them stop because the bullies try to use the "I'm just kidding" line of defense.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad, sad thing. And the internet has made it so much easier for them to do. It's all about how you raise your kids and staying involved in their lives.
ReplyDeleteThis is something that definitely needs awareness. I think we skirt the issue at times hoping it doesn't still exist. Thanks for this post (and link).
ReplyDeleteMaking Life a Work of Art!
You are completely right. I was bullied quite a bit before high school and it was devasting. More awareness is needed.
ReplyDeletebullying is really bad here. t
ReplyDeletehis year i had to confront a teacher who was encouraging her students to bully my six-year-old son as revenge for him being the class clown.
it gets worse as they get to high school. this town has a culture of bullying, and it makes me sick.
i've had people say to homeschool or send them to private school, but that doesn't solve anything. some other kid will just be bullied in there place.
it's so wrong. and it isn't always easy to stick up for yourself. but it's just got to stop. kids are cruel- sure. but as adults it's our jobs to reprimand the cruelty- not encourage it.
i seriously thought that society had become more open-minded than this.
Kids who bully are really cowards - especially the ones who do it through the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI'm up on that soapbox with you, D.L. As a high school teacher, this is a very important topic to me. I'm off to check out Amy's post. Thanks for the link. :-)
ReplyDeleteAmen. Bullying is one of the leading causes of child/teen suicide.
ReplyDeleteIt NEEDS to stop.
Amen! I don't know how we can call ourselves "good parents" if we teach/show our kids bullying is okay (or if we don't teach them how to deal with bullies). We have the obligation and the privilege to help kids in this aspect.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder!
Excellent post and such an important topic. People die because of bullying and it's preventable.
ReplyDeleteMy kid's school has a strict bullying and cyberbullying policy. I wish all schools did.
I absolutely agree with you. Thanks for posting about this.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! And there needs to be more awareness of the different kinds of bullying kids face. Not all of it is obvious. But even if we don't recognize the bullying happening, we can offer support to people who may be experiencing it. Sometimes it just takes one person to give them hope, confidence, and stability.
ReplyDeleteIt's amazing to see the increase in bullying with the internet. Such a cowardly thing to do.
ReplyDeleteLove this!!
ReplyDeleteBullies need to be stopped! It's a growing problem and it's very difficult to stop. We all need to do our part.
Great post! Yes, bullying needs to stop now!
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Have you read Single Dad Laughing's post on bullying?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.danoah.com/2010/10/memoirs-of-bullied-kid.html
I agree. I think with cell phones/cameras and the internet, it is getting far worse.
ReplyDeleteIt's heartbreaking.
I'm all for this soap box, DL.
Bullying is such a serious issue and it's only getting worse. Bravo for taking a stand.
ReplyDeleteI've always been angry that schools seem to generally allow bullying to occur. I think bullies should be prosecuted and removed from schools after more than one offense.
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine what it will be like for my son growing up. Crazy cyber bullying.
ReplyDeleteIt's an important message... thanks for speaking out, DL.
ReplyDeleteevery year they do a session on bullying at my girls' school. I really can't believe this still goes on, but you're right. There is no place for it among our kids~
ReplyDeletegood stuff, DL! :o)
Thanks so much for posting this, DL! I think it's so important to get the message out there that bullying needs to stop.
ReplyDeleteI think bullying is an important topic to talk about. I think the more you talk about it to your kids the less likely they are to accept that kind of behavior as being acceptable. It has to be a part of your everyday discussion just like talking about dating relationships and teen suicide...
ReplyDeleteSomething has to give. This breaks my heart. I blogged about this earlier in the year when we had a teen girl from our local HS (where my BF teaches) commit scuicide over text bullying. I linked Ellen's snip on my FB last week. There have been some otherd floating around this week. It's all very sad.
ReplyDelete