WP: Bully for Them (U.S. lags other countries in dealing with bullying)

[DeepModem Mom]

Bully for Them
Efforts to Stop Children's Intimidation of Other Children Appear to Pay Off . . .Outside the U.S.

By January W. Payne
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, August 23, 2005; Page HE01


To many adults, teasing and taunting among children and teenagers is a natural and inevitable part of growing up. But as a new school year begins, experts say such behavior is anything but normal and should be taken seriously by parents, teachers and school administrators.

"Bullying is a public health problem the larger issue of youth violence in this country," said Joseph Wright, medical director of advocacy and community affairs at Children's National Medical Center. Allowing it to go unstopped, he said, fosters crime and mental health problems that can last into adulthood.

Wright and other child health experts urged parents, teachers and community leaders to give the problem greater attention following the publication this month of a study done in rural Germany that used six months of family therapy sessions to treat 22 adolescent boys who had bullying behavior. The report, which appears in the journal Pediatrics, is a reminder that the United States lags behind other countries in dealing with bullying, Wright said.

"We are really just at the recognition phase . . . We have defined the problem and are recognizing the problem and trying to adapt," Wright said. "This just points out how far behind we are in even accepting bullying as something that's not a normative behavior."

At least 22 states have passed anti-bullying laws since 1999, some motivated by a 2002 U.S. Secret Service report that found that bullying had played a major role in several school shootings, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Maryland and Virginia passed similar legislation this year....


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/08/22/AR2005082201162.html

[bushisanidiot]

1. Yes, "they" hate us for our freedom.... riiiiiiiggghhhhttt.

our freedom to bully anyone and everyone who doesn't follow us.

[Coventina]

2. The parents of bullies are usually bullies themselves

At least, that's the way it seems to me.

So of course they excuse the behavior in their children.

Bullying needs to be taken much more seriously. My only reaction to Columbine is mild surprise that it doesn't happen more often. I was bullied so mercilessly my 8th grade year that if someone had given me a gun I would have done the same.

[SpiralHawk]

3. US Leads All Nations in Prepping for Bullyhood

With the Republican Bullies at the top of the shit heap. Bush, Cheney, Bolton, etc -- all ChickenHawks, as is usually the case with bullies.

But this will not stand.

[rodeodance]

4. critic of this study-those who lived in rural areas. I agree--

,,,,,,,The Pediatrics study described measurable reductions in anger and improvement in quality of life and interpersonal relationships after family therapy. But several U.S. child health experts said because the study included only families who lived in rural areas, the findings are not likely to be applicable to large, urban school systems in this country. They also doubted that family therapy by itself could offer a solution and disagreed with the measures used in the study to identify bullies.

[redqueen]

14. Scientists don't say "oh that's not likely"

they redo the experiment in an urban setting, to determine if the results will be the same.

[rodeodance]

5. the headline bothers me--who is 'them'?--is the article snubbing his

nose at the findings?---that the US lags behind?

[malaise]

6. These bullies simply follow

their government v others. Afterall it's OK to use arms on inncent civilians if you want their resources.

[goclark]

7. We were working on this 8 yrs. ago

in the Mid West Schools.

It is a very serious problem and must be addressed by our country.

In the last ten years, GIRL Bullies have been increasing in numbers. Girls can be MEAN, extremely mean to each other.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Girls are much worse

Their bullying is so cruel.

[genieroze]

19. Don't mean to sound sexist but I think girls are more sneaky about it.

Making up rumors etc...

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. That's not sexist at all

[Danmel]

8. Basically schools here just blame the victim

My daughter was picked on by the "cool" girls- the queen bees with their Prada bags (in 5th grade) and the school tried to send HER to the school Psychologist so she could learn how to "fit in " better. I told them I didn't want her to fit in with them, I just wanted them to leave her alone- she had no desire to be friends with them- she saw them for the back biting insecure brats that they were- she just wanted them to lay off.
My son also gets picked on- he is small and very verbal and I don't let him watch R rated movies or South Park so the kids call him a baby. I was told he "brings it on himself!". I have to fight tooth and nail for my kids. The whole system is screwed up.

[mconvente]

15. It is the system's fault

Kudos to you for being one of the few actual REAL parents out there. I know the strength I received from my parents have helped me a ton (as I prepare for freshman year in college in a few days). Kids can be so fucking mean to each other today. And bullying is only half the problem - I've heard of 7th and 8th graders giving/receiving oral sex in our white-suburbia town - how stupid stupid fucking stupid are parents to not control their kids.

[cmd]

9. Our leader is a bully

He sets the example for the rest of the country. Though some people are catching on, a third of our country still admires a bully. Sad.

[raccoon]

16. You said that right! The Bush junta is a bunch of bullies! nt

[Name removed]

10. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[DeepModem Mom]

11. Thanks for posting this resource, CabalPowered. nt

[mom cat]

12. But the pool of young repukes and mercenaries would dry up!

:sarcasm:

[smirkymonkey]

13. It's not just children either...

Bullying in the workplace has gotten out of control as well.

[raccoon]

17. You beat me to it, smirkmonkey.

I was going to bring that up. There's a lot of bullying in the workplace, as you said. There always has been but there's more of it now.

It's the proverbial elephant in the living room that everyone just ignores.

If someone owns a private business and is a bully that's bad enough.
But for people who are paid with taxpayer's money--city/county/state employees, etc., and get away with bullying, it's really disgusting.

[Writer]

22. I'm glad you posted this, smirkmonkey

Several years ago, I survived a bullying incident from an upper manager and a female coworker - both friends and probably lovers. The upper manager was sexually harassing and was dealt with accordingly. The cohort said I was having affairs around the office.

The upper manager was rightfully placed under probation and dealt a career blow (albeit not fired) for his actions. The female coworker? Nothing.

To this day, I very much want to get my licks in against this horrible woman. But I know that her own insecurities lead her, day to day, to a superficial and pathetic life.

I am doing very well myself now. I enjoy my life and want very much for her to know this. ;)

[donco6]

20. We use Positive Behavior Support in my district.

http://rrtcpbs.fmhi.usf.edu/

It seems to work pretty well, but I don't know that anything will ever stop it all.