Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire How to combat school bullying

Anytime someone mentions the word bully it reminds me of Elmer Kieths book “Hell, I was there”. The story about the bully in the book was very entertaining. I’ve retold the story many times. The book should be required reading.

Somehow I don't think this is going to work. A school in England has eliminated recesses and...well, you'll just have to read it.


In an effort to eliminate bullying, a school in England has replaced breaktime playground games with poetry recitations, choir and quizzes. Said Charlotte Whelan, the Hackney New School head teacher (the British equivalent of a principal): “A school without bullying sounds like a utopia, but it is achievable.”

Whether or not reciting Percy Shelley during recess is your idea of utopia, a BBC piece on the school quotes Whelan saying: “It’s long been my belief that we could be doing more for pupils while they are on their breaks. So often you see them aimlessly wandering the playground. We want every second at school to count.”

I’m sure the kids are counting the seconds, too.

Clearly, Whelan is of the belief that kids’ brains shut down the moment they are not engaged in something officially academic. Now the students, aged 11-16, practice sonnets by bards of yore and recite them in the lunch line — or even while eating. For even more fun, Whelan said, they “quiz each other on capital cities.”

Woo-hoo!

The issue here is not just the Dolores Umbridge nature of the administration. It’s the inability of that administration to believe that kids could possibly be learning anything — or not bullying — when they are allowed to goof around. The “teachable moment” notion of child development is so thick here that kids are not allowed to “waste” their time even in between bites.

This notion is wrong. “When they are free to play in their own ways, children practice the most important skills required to move toward adulthood — how to take initiative, make their own decisions, solve their own problems, negotiate with peers and, yes, how to deal with others who aren’t always nice,” says Boston College psychology professor Peter Gray, one of the co-founders of Let Grow with me. “When we prevent them from such opportunities by taking continuous control of their lives, we prevent them from growing up.”

Prevent away! That seems to be the philosophy of those who believe the only way to end bullying is to end any freedom the students enjoyed. Linda James, founder of a nonprofit called Bullies Out, notes in the BBC piece, “Unstructured games can sometimes lead to nasty comments, aggressive behavior or children feeling left out.”

She’s right: some sad feelings — and betrayals and loneliness — are inevitable in childhood (and adulthood!). Talk about your teachable moments! Not that anyone wants kids facing constant cruelty. But learning how to deal with some playground frustration is actually a big life skill it behooves kids to learn.

I doubt it will come as a surprise that another expert quoted in the piece said it is important for schools to create safe spaces, where kids “feel supported and included.”

In other words: Kids will fall behind and hurt one another the second they get the chance, so the only option is to micromanage every interaction — and throw in some sonnets.

Let's hear the short version. I haven't read that book.

Keith family moved to western MT from Missouri. Boys were about 8 and 11 years old. Bully picked up younger one by his ears. Older one see’s what’s going on and try’s to help. They both get beat up. They go home and dad tells them if they don’t beat up bully within a week he will tan their hides. They pattern bully and lay for him. Priest happens to come by when the beating is taking place. Priest pulls Keith kids off bully and probably saves his life. Bully gets better after extended absence from school. Bully tells all new kids that come to school, that you can pick on anyone you want to around here, but stay away from those Missouri kids cause they’ll just kill you. I forgot to mention, the weapon the Keith boys decided on was some wagon spokes they got from the local blacksmith. I’m not much on typing so I hope you enjoy the story.

Told my boys early on I would kick their ass harder than any kid ever could if I found out the picked on or bullied a kid. Never had to worry as both were very well liked brother's keeper types. They were atheletes in school, but got along with the nerds too.

I let them know it was ok to lose a fight if you are standing up for what is right. Just make the other guy second guess his choice. I don't think either of them fought more than twice each thru school.



Clyde

Getting your azz whipped or giving out a azz whipping is part of growing the fugg up.


Probably half the males in this country across all age groups aint never had 1 good punch in the face or dealt one out in their life.