| Whoever said that high school would be the best | | | | wants to do for the upcoming school year. He has |
| time of your life and that those would be the | | | | attended only Christian schools up until now (which |
| days that you looked fondly back on obviously | | | | makes the bullying even harder to understand) |
| was never the victim of a high school bully. Steve | | | | and he is talking about trying out the local public |
| would love to be able to look back and think | | | | high school. If the bullies rule the Christian schools, |
| about positive and happy memories that he | | | | I shudder to think what might go on in public high |
| shared with his friends during high school. But for | | | | schools. Will he be so badly picked on that he |
| Steve, the main memories that come to his mind | | | | gives up on school all together? Or, will he be able |
| are ones of being tripped in the hallway, shoved | | | | to find someone in this much larger school who |
| from behind, chairs pulled out from underneath | | | | will befriend him? |
| him as he went to sit down, and paper clips | | | | I seriously doubt that the harmful impact that |
| stinging him on his cheek after being carefully | | | | being bullied has upon the person being bullied can |
| aimed and flicked from another student's desk. As | | | | completely be understood unless you have been |
| I write down just a few of the things Steve | | | | through it yourself or you know of someone who |
| endured at the hands of his peers, it continues to | | | | is a victim. Being bullied and not having some one |
| fill me with amazement that students can get | | | | who is willing to take a stand and help put a stop |
| away with such unacceptable behavior. Even if a | | | | to it can, and often does, have major negative |
| victim reports an incident to the school principal, it | | | | consequences. It is impossible not to notice that |
| isn't likely that the bully will get much more than a | | | | there are more and more stories in the news |
| slap on the wrist, leaving the victim feeling alone | | | | about this very issue. Kids are dropping out of |
| and helpless to stop the abuse. I am completely | | | | school and even taking their own lives because |
| clueless when I try to figure out how it is that | | | | they are driven by experience to believe that this |
| this behavior is allowed to go on in our schools. | | | | is the only solution they have that will put an end |
| The above incidents are just a few of the abuses | | | | to their constant humiliation and pain. Aren't there |
| that students are subjected to while attending | | | | programs specifically targeted to help with this |
| school. But Steve doesn't put up with it anymore. | | | | problem that could easily become a regular part |
| See, Steve made the decision that he would | | | | of our school's curriculum? Isn't there something |
| rather stop going to school than have to put up | | | | that can be done before any more kids make the |
| with being humiliated everyday. Steve happens to | | | | headlines because nobody was able to help them |
| be a boy that I know who is a great kid and has | | | | put a stop to being bullied? |
| a heart so big he would never think of hurting | | | | I feel helpless and I hate that feeling. I'm not sure |
| anyone. Have you ever noticed that the kid that | | | | I hold out too much hope that things in our |
| gets picked on the most is very often one of the | | | | schools will get any better. Does anyone know of |
| kindest and most respectful kids at school? Why | | | | a school where bullying simply is not tolerated? Is |
| is that? What makes a nice young boy or girl the | | | | it possible the world is simply at a time where it is |
| target of some cold hearted, hateful and unhappy | | | | all about survival of the strongest and meanest |
| student? | | | | and if you don't fit in, then you better get out of |
| I can tell you in Steve's case, it is most likely | | | | the way? I have lost so much respect for our |
| because, although he is extremely kind and | | | | school system that I honestly think kids would be |
| respectful, he is also hyper active and finds it hard | | | | much better off if their families would find |
| to sit still. He likes to talk and move around and | | | | alternative ways of educating them. Once upon a |
| this behavior just doesn't fit in a traditional | | | | time, not so very long ago, the teachers and |
| classroom. He was marked by other students as | | | | faculty of our schools took very seriously the |
| being "different" and any kid who is considered | | | | responsibility of teaching our children not only |
| 'different" automatically becomes fair game and a | | | | reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also manners |
| great target for those kids who feel in some way | | | | and morals and what it meant to be a responsible, |
| superior, or perhaps "more cool" or "more | | | | respectful young man or woman. How I crave to |
| popular" than every one else. | | | | see some of the old fashioned virtues being |
| Steve's family has talked to him and to the | | | | taught once again in our schools. That used to be |
| school(s), but sadly there was never an end to | | | | so important. But, that was once upon a time, not |
| the bullying. Steve is trying to decide what he | | | | so very long ago. |