No Child Left UnscarredComments on: - by

By: crossroads

crossroads — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:40:46 +0000

My son is curently the victim of teacher bullying at his middle school. Verbally abusive bullying by a college educated adult to an eight grader should be the definition of being “out gunned”. If that teacher bullies because he or she was bullied when he/she were kids they may not see that this is a problem. Lets not confuse teasing with bullying. Qadhafi thinks his people love him.

By: Arizonasteamer

Arizonasteamer — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:48:19 +0000

I agree that under the immediate pressure of dealing with a confrontation with the local gastapo, the best choice is to walk away. But I also believe that we must not let these idiots continue to receive our confirmation that they are doing the right thing by our LACK of action. Yes, it takes time and usually money to fight these bastards. But when our foundational institutions (schools, government, police) have stopped serving the purposes for which they were created, and now thrive unchallenged under their own mis-directed authority, their actions must be dragged into the light of logic and common sense. I know how wasteful such a fight can seem. I live in what I consider to be an extremely corrupt (as in selective enforcement, discrimination, favored treatment) part of the state of Arizona, and after having my fill of lawsuits, lawyer scum and lying public officials, I have found the most effective weapon against those who use their elected and appointed authority to commit everything from fraud to outright thievery is to bring as much media attention to the situation/individual as possible. If more of these “untouchable” servants of the public are put on the defensive for their questionable actions, it might also put them on notice – making them realize they can expect more of the same if they continue to abuse the privileges of their authority. If you disagree, think about the alternative of simply doing nothing – the problem repeats, grows larger in scale, and eventually changes the policy, the laws and our lives – for the worse.

By: mike f

mike f — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 22:20:55 +0000

There have always been bullies and teasing. I went through similar things when I was a kid. However, I think these experiences toughen you up for the real world, where no one is going to hold your hand.

I think part of the problem here is that the schools teach that “everyone is special” and that everyone deserves “respect”. When their experiences contadict these ideas, a lot of people become unglued, but, that’s life. Get over it and grow up.

By the way, the “Misanthropic Bitch” wrote two good essays about this that can be found on the wayback machine: “Sergeant Pepper’s Loner Band” and “Don’t Hurt Me”. They are the best essays I have found on this subject.

By: teddyboy46

teddyboy46 — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 17:53:18 +0000

I have worked in an inner city high school for 31 years. I have seen students carried out on stretchers , young girls raped and beaten, one teacher knifed to death. It is like an urban war zone.

Believe me blaming the teachers and principles is like blaming the victim. No one wins or loses in inner-city public schools, everyone just tries to survive.

By: Phil

Phil — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 00:43:31 +0000

This is so sad re SB’s son. I can relate so much, and especially perhaps to Robert’s son’s experience, having been rather naive and gullible myself as a kid. My school was a private one in Atlanta, and might as well have been run by trained terrorists. I could go on ad infinitum. Doubt the phenomenon will subside soon in today’s society.

By: KenNoel

KenNoel — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:50:17 +0000

This case makes a terrific case for home schooling. At least the parents can control who is there, and get control of bullying.

I agree that teachers are as much at fault as anyone else. What incentive do they have to control the bullies? None that I know of, and lots of incentive to NOT control them.

By: alfoss1540

alfoss1540 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:44:36 +0000

Thank you for getting back to Cho!

By: J.E. Jones

J.E. Jones — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 20:09:54 +0000

It was so sad to read what happened to S.B.’s son. Having taught for 30 years (between 1950 and 1980, when California was on top in education), I still follow with interest everything that’s happening in the public schools. The following remarks you made in your commentary got me to thinking:

“But with the professional vote-buyers who are now at the controls in Washington, bad teachers, bad principals, and bad schools are certain to remain untouchable for a long time to come.”

You went on to mention the unions and how they have hurt education. I couldn’t agree more! In addition, somewhere in your site you asked for suggestions for future columns. What about commenting on the TRAINING given to prospective teachers in the universities, as well as the qualifications of those designated to approve future teachers? I really believe that the real root of the problem lies in this latter situation.

By: Dances with Clouds

Dances with Clouds — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:47:28 +0000

My heart breaks for your loss and everyone’s outrage should be palpable at the loss of such a young life, barely formed. That the schools would reflexively deny any culpability, stinks to high heaven.

We are not supposed to home school because that doesn’t provide “socialization”. What a load of B.S. These so-called “leaders” need to be led to prison to see how well they take to being tortured on a daily basis.