Thoughts about Bullying

All through my childhood, I was picked on. I was well, let’s just say a tad heavier for my height, and wasn’t “cool”. Hence I was ridiculed and even called names (or at least it felt that way). A lot of the humiliation that I felt made me act nervous and timid.

One of our courses, “Bullying- The Golden Rule Solution” teaches the concept of using “the Golden Rule” to decrease bullying. The rule says that we need to do to others as we would like others to do to us. Bullies too, are children who need friends and the best way to deal with bullying is to become buddies. In this course, we also learn that bullying is a two way process, and the person who is being bullied also has a role in it.

Today, years later, when I stand as a teacher and look back at the bullying I had to endure through school, a reawakened sense of my own responsibility dawns on me (it’s always easier to see things more clearly in hind sight, right?). Maybe, during my childhood, accepting myself the way I was would have helped me make more friends.

A lot of us do not bother dealing with the sticky and uncomfortable issues of bullying. We try to ignore it, sometimes laughing it off, sometimes denying it, but it doesn’t go away. However, some simple principles of care, honor and respect can go a long way in reducing its occurrence, and building a caring community in the classroom.

My question for you this week:

• When have you successfully used Golden Rule approaches to thwart bullying, put-downs, harassment or other related encounters?