Reactions to NYTimes Article on Bullying in New Jersey Schools...
August 31, 2011
Ryan Giffen
Vice President
Guy Doud, Sally Northway Ogden, and Stacey Dewitt have a few things to say about the recent legislation passed in NJ...
NY Times: Bullying Law Puts New Jersey Schools on Spot
By WINNIE HU - Published: August 30, 2011
Under a new state law in New Jersey, lunch-line bullies in the East Hanover schools can be reported to the police by their classmates this fall through anonymous tips to the Crimestoppers hot line.
In Elizabeth, children, including kindergartners, will spend six class periods learning, among other things, the difference between telling and tattling.
And at North Hunterdon High School, students will be told that there is no such thing as an innocent bystander when it comes to bullying: if they see it, they have a responsibility to try to stop it.
But while many parents and educators welcome the efforts to curb bullying both on campus and online, some superintendents and school board members across New Jersey say the new law, which takes effect Sept. 1, reaches much too far, and complain that they have been given no additional resources to meet its mandates.
The law, known as the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, is considered the toughest legislation against bullying in the nation. Propelled by...
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PSB's Speakers Opinions:
National Teacher of the Year and Best Selling Author of "Moulder of Dreams"
"Schools are already overwhelmed with unfunded mandates. This is another one. While bullying is a problem, it is not one that can be solved by the legislature. What is needed is old fashioned character education."
To book Guy Doud for your next event go to - https://premierespeakers.com/guy_doud
Award Winning Educator and Author of "Words Will NEVER Hurt Me."
Isn't it sad that we aren't asking what is causing all this bullying? It seems to fall on educators (as always) to fix the problem, but why are there so many mean, vindictive and cruel kids out there? What role does the family or American culture have in this?
We face difficult, confrontive people throughout our lives. Teaching kids the skills to handle these difficult people and situations is very positive. Any program that can help to eradicate bullying can be of value, primarily if it includes teaching kids why bullying happens and how to respond to it, so that children are empowered for their lifetimes. If the program relies on bystanders and adult intervention however, it will have limited success. What happens when the bystander or adult isn't around?
In addition, teachers need to structure classrooms where the emphasis is on cooperation and students experience a great deal of social interaction with other students. In this era when testing has become so important, many educators have moved away from grouping students together and have concentrated mainly on lessons where students work independently, thinking that this will increase achievement. This "every man for himself" can have powerful negative side effects, including the fact that students who don't know one another well and don't feel a sense of belonging in the classroom are more likely to be critical and derisive to fellow students.
To book Sally Northway Ogden for your next event go to - https://premierespeakers.com/sally_ogden
Founder and CEO of Connect with Kids and Producer of Emmy-Award Winning Documentary
Yes, New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights has put schools on the spot, with already stretched resources. Yet, with or without legislation, schools nationwide are already on the spot. The American Medical Association calls bullying a public health issue. While schools strive to hit benchmarks for academic achievement and student success, the National Association of School Psychologists reports that every school day, 160,000 children stay home because they are afraid of getting hurt at school. Something has to change.
That anti-bullying spotlight really needs to be on students, parents and communities nationwide – because the real solution can be found in nothing less than cultural change, one person, one family, one classroom at a time. A shift from today’s pervasive culture of cruelty and intense competition (online, in person, in the media) to a culture of caring. The challenge of learning to live from the inside out, motivated by intrinsic rewards of accomplishment and learning rather than the extrinsic rewards of trophies, class rank and test scores.
Sure it’s no short order -- a challenge that extends beyond school hallways and classrooms. Many believe that, as a general rule, students today are meaner than they were generations ago. Bullying has changed, perhaps, because we have. Our global village is more competitive than in any time in history. When kids (and adults) are narcissistic and value competition, materialism, fortune and fame. . . . the end result is a crueler culture. A culture that experts say begins to show problems with conflicts in relationships, with a breakdown in community, and a lack of connection.
How can we encourage a culture of caring that teaches empathy that promotes concern for others rather than just for oneself, a culture that values respect and kindness, and builds a connected community? New Jersey and its requirements will surely lead the way. But each of us -- at home, in schools, at work, in our community – need to learn to live from the inside out, to demonstrate and learn from the emotional pay-off of being assertive rather than aggressive and kind rather than cruel. We need now to literally teach kids and help them experience what it means to live in a connected, other-directed community where you don’t have to watch your back because your friends and family have your back.
Look for opportunities in day-to-day life and provide real-life stories and examples of how to students can speak up for themselves without intimidating others. Try to make certain that everyone has a least one friend – someone they can count on that has their back. If you see a student that is completely isolated, try to pair that student with other children who share common interests. Most importantly, teach students that taking care of one another is priority, at school and at home.
To book Stacey Dewitt for your next event go to - https://premierespeakers.com/Stacey_Dewitt