I Read the News Today, Oh Boy: Bad Bullies in The New York Times

Can’t stand hearing about these situations! I wonder why the parents don’t simply insist on police protection for these children. Surely the school could be sued for harrassment and then let’s see the parents of the bullies complain. The parents have to get involved somehow, and for some reason money speaks in powerful ways. Does this bullied child have an at-home mother? Why did she not take decisive action sooner, I can’t help but ask.

what difference does it make if the mother works or not?
bullies are and have always been a horrible problem in schools
no parent believes that their child could possibly do such things -and everyone is appalled-
in this day of video cameras and cell phone cameras may be we can catch the culprits red handed
then lawsuits and school suspensions might be in order
i think that the guilty parties should be forced to go to some kind of behavior training-with their parents
i also think teachers and schools should be more responsible-
when this happened in my sons class i asked my son to take responsibilty for the child and to stand up for him
of course my son was 6 feet tall in eighth grade and kind of leader so it didnt really put him on the spot

I used to teach social skills classes to “at risk” learning disabled elementary and middle schoolers. Two of the teaching videos I used were “Ten things to do instead of hitting,” and “How not to be bullied.” They offered great strategies which the students and I role played. In the heat of the moment, however, these children have trouble reaching into the bag of tricks and remain very vulnerable. I attended a meeting once with a wise school principal who, “off the record” said to a parent “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if he learned to hit back.”

I read the article, too, and what I don’t understand is what was the point of it? Nothing’s being done for the poor boy, by either his parents or the school. His parents seem to voice their complaint and file reports, but nothing changes. And they refuse to leave an excellent school system. To allow such bullying to go on, year after year, without doing something, fills me with dread. How many times have we read about boys who’ve ended up dead because such harassment was allowed to continue, unchecked? What good did that piece do for him or anyone else?

bullying is not acceptable. and this should be the hue and cry of the school. i absolutely believe this is the role and under the authority of the school to provide an environment conducive to learning and while on their time to impart the right values. a child should feel safe at school. a school can be very aggressive in this regard if it has a philosophy that makes clear this is unacceptable. it has the power. are administrators afraid of these child bullies? get over it. from day one, from kindergarten and each year thereafter, a school needs to set the rules straight and tell kids what is unacceptable, what will not be tolerated, and what the repercussions will be. if they cannot have recess that is supervised then maybe there can be no recess. whole lives and personalities are set in motion at early ages and we need adults when we are vulnerable to appropriately protect us. how many of us have been damaged as adults have looked the other way? adults in positions of authority at schools have to take on the responsibility to not allow bullies to take over. in a profound way, most people who bully are sad examples of dysfunction…a normal child does not need to bully. maybe we should find a way to help those who are so incapacitated emotionally that they need to do so.

I thought HRC was supposed to have made Arkansas a great place for children. This state has some peculiar laws, or lack thereof, in my opinion. I teach in LA, and the law requires us to report to the office any incident in which a child is bruised or bleeding. I cannot imagine a situation in which school officials or faculty believe this to be “business as usual,” but then again, I cannot imagine describing such an ungodly system as “excellent,” as Billy Wolfe’s parents do. Excellent schools do not subsidize such vicious violence. Also, when it comes to children’s behavior, the apple rarely falls far from the tree, so I imagine that when Billy Wolfe’s tormentors’ parents read the NYT piece, they will blame — who else —? Billy.

need to say one more thing about bullies: what makes a bully? a child who is insecure who has feels he/she has no power and needs to assert themself in a way that makes themself powerful. Maybe we should pay some attention to the poor demented soul who is a bully… let’s not just try to banish that child…they bully for a reason…it will always end up being a losing proposition for them, but maybe before they create destruction on their way to no return we can capture them and help them? i do not believe “normal” people act in such a destructive way…they are crying for help…i abhor their actions…but maybe punishment is not the answer…at the same time, save the children who are at their mercy

Going after the weaker is not new in human nature. What is new in American in my lifetime at least—is the institutionalizing and glorifying of it. The Bush Administration is a bully government. Much of Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Michael Savage, ditto. Some of the reality-TV is inhumane and dreadful. I feel like the only one who thinks Donald Trump’s We have a larger percentage of citizens in prison, including more women, than any country on Earth; surpassing China, Russian, Burma, Saudi Arabia. We have more Blackhawk mercenaries in Iraq than military troops. Our children play violent video games and their folks can buy AK47s online, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joweZ6uM5iYetc. You can tell a person or a nation’s value by the checkbook. The US spends more on military than the rest of the world combined. http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/ArmsTrade/Spending.asp#InContext… Nearly $1.5 trillion in 2008, and when feeding programs for elders are cut. For example, here in San Francisco, a 98 year-old former school teacher had her monthly box of groceries—which cost the government $18.—eliminated. That box was the difference between this frail lady eating or not. So it is no surprise that bullies in LA are beating up on this poor hapless kid. Solution: Things rot from the top, and are most quickly changed at their essence. Those at the top set the example by their behavior and their words. JFK and Jackie brought about a mini-Golden Age. As William Styron said “They shimmered…even the Republicans were ga-ga.” They created a more actively compassionate, artistically oriented, personally responsible and reflective world. “Who would have the color of our own skin changed?” President Kennedy asked us to think of others. Our culture is a mess because of the corporatization of everything, including our ‘leaders.’ There are good and responsible corporations, but DON’T FEED THE MONSTERS! Use your money to bend capital and culture to the good. Be aware that while this story about locals bullies is very troubling, it’s the larger bullies that are reshaping society at its very root. Here, for example, is a three part piece from european TV on Monsanto http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=joweZ6uM5iY To me, our duty as citizens of the world is to be informed, see the connections, and then not feel overwhelmed but just do what we can to make it better: Oprah’s Angel Network. Micro-enterprise. This fantastic video from Sarah McLachlan that shows how people’s lives can be empowered people for relatively little.
http://www.worldonfire.ca/ Another inspiring story from a Denver lady who started an eco-fair trade apparel company. http://www.globalgirlfriend.com/ When people are empowered they can’t be bullied, they know who they are.

Children learn what their parents teach……so look to the parents and make THEM responsible for the kids’ treatment of Billy and it might quit. And where are the teachers and admin for Billy’s school? Do they also have blinders on?

I read the same article this morning. It saddened and angered me. The parents of the bully should be held accountable — it starts at home (whatever “it” is) and it should be finished at home. Obviously the school and the people in it are worthless - they certainly haven’t done anything to stop this or to help Billy in any way. Someone needs to help that child before it’s too late.

I grew up as a “military brat” I never finished a school from start to end. My parents were divorced also. I was always picked on. Always being the “new” kid . It really hurt , I feel that teachers need to be more aware with what is going on in their class. And out side the aids should walk around and make sure that the play ground is a safe place. There should always be two safe places and today it seems that 1. The home should be very safe, but as we know that is not always true. 2.Our schools are suppose to protect and teach our children, again we know that is not true. Where can the skinny kids, the awkward ones, the ones who have nobody to stand up and and protect them go?