Morning Read: Confronting bullies in Malone
School kids, teachers and other grown-ups formed a mile-long vigil yesterday in Malone to “take a dramatic stance against bullying,” according to the Plattsburgh Press-Republican.
As Denise Raymo reports, the vigil had a particular power because of shocking violence that struck the community this spring, even as the gathering was being organized.
As a counselor in the [school] district, Karen Bourdon-Clark brought the community Rachel’s Challenge, a program founded in honor of Rachel Scott, the first student killed in the 1999 Columbine massacre in Colorado.
Bourdon-Clark wanted to raise awareness about the impact of bullying and instill a spirit of kindness and friendship toward one another not only in the school district but in the greater Malone community.
But Tuesday’s celebration went on without her.
She was killed in her home on May 2, and her 14-year-old son, Dilan, is facing charges of second-degree murder.
Bullying is a complicated problem and the response to it has been a major issue in school districts across the North Country. What do you think? Are vigils like this a sign of progress?
Tags: education
Bullying is a complicated problem precisely because it’s so widespread in society. Politicians bully each other. Citizens and special interest groups bully (as distinct from lobbying) politicians, as do corporations and unions. Our government bullies foreign governments who don’t act as our toadies, sometimes even sending the military in to do the bullying. Closer to home, parents bully teachers and coaches who don’t give their special entitled ones an automatic A+ or 100% of the playing time. Parents are abusive to waitresses and other service workers in front on their kids. Where do you think kids could possibly learn bullying from? This is why a seminar or something in the school, while not a bad idea, is akin to putting a band-aid on a major flesh wound. It has to be step 1 of about 235.
Brian,
Excellent point and well said. Bullying is certainly a learned behavior.
Brian MOFYC is right, but I do think the proliferation of events like the one in Malone is a good sign. Raising awareness that bullying is unacceptable to a lot of people will go some ways toward encouraging people to express what is, I think, a natural repugnance toward bullying. Often, the bully intimidates not only his direct victim but everyone witnessing the behavior to keep quiet. All it takes is one person to feel empowered enough to step forward (like the first guy who went to lift the burning car off the guy who had run into it with his motorcycle) and the crowd will follow. Admittedly, this is a tougher sell with kids.
It is a good sign but must be real at the day to day core level.
How do you stop bullying? I think there has been some interesting studies around the topic but no for sure answers.
I agree with Will’s point. I just want adults organizing these things to consider their own behavior. I’ve seen two schools in this own area organize such seminars but if you ever attend a school board meeting at those districts (with ‘adults’), wear a flack jacket!