|
|
Post by edm233 on May 13, 2011 8:29:37 GMT -5
Recently theres been alot of racial unrest at the boro culminating to a reminiscent racial war between the whites and black. Just about every class excluding the freshman is whites one side blacks on the other. Theres been two large fights in the last week and four in total. Intervention in the school is desperately needed to stop this violence. Things are getting worse and worse and things need to be done. The admins do not even act upon the bullying and slurs that go on in and around the school.
|
|
|
|
Post by admin on May 13, 2011 8:39:16 GMT -5
Recently theres been alot of racial unrest at the boro culminating to a reminiscent racial war between the whites and black. Just about every class excluding the freshman is whites one side blacks on the other. Theres been two large fights in the last week and four in total. Intervention in the school is desperately needed to stop this violence. Things are getting worse and worse and things need to be done. The admins do not even act upon the bullying and slurs that go on in and around the school. Wow!...... First, welcome to the site. Second, how aware of this problem is the school administration? Have the police been notified? Intervened? They should be. Things we used to think of as "kid stuff" are often defined as hate crimes now due to stricter laws. The police have to be notified, it they haven't been, the school is negligent. On a personal note, if you know any kids in the schools, make sure they are smart enough to stay far away form the nonsense as possible. In the end, it is not worth getting involved with it. Keep us informed and good luck. |
|
lisa
Novice
Posts: 76
|
Post by lisa on May 14, 2011 10:47:53 GMT -5
WOW is all i can say to that last statement. Don't get involved??? yeah okay ignore it just push it under the rug and maybe it will go away? Haven't people yet learned?  If someone ANYONE complains about Racial prejudice or bullying it needs to be addressed by the school and police IMMEDIATELY!!! Does anyone have a clue what can happen anymore if its not?? It's state law now that Administrators who do not investigate reported incidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school. Maybe certain people should read and become familiar with our new law before someone gets sued for ignoring it? www.bullypolice.org/nj_law.html |
|
|
|
Post by admin on May 14, 2011 12:46:33 GMT -5
Lisa, That is not what I meant. I realize I was not clear. When I say dont get inviolved I mean that students should not get involved withe the tention and confrontation with other students.
|
|
lisa
Novice
Posts: 76
|
Post by lisa on May 14, 2011 13:37:38 GMT -5
I'm fully aware of what you meant. And it just shows the age old attitude of "kids will be kids, let them deal with it". Have you been reading the news in the last year of how many kids have died because so many so called responsible adults share your attitude? Let me put it in simple terms for you since you don't seem to get the purpose of the new laws that are VERY specific. They basically are taking the responsibility of bullying out of the kids hands and putting it on the adults, administration and the police. It's now up to the schools to determine how it's dealt with and that it IS dealt with.
I'm at a disadvantage here because I don't know exactly who I'm speaking to and I don't mean to sound so harsh. But I think the law is specific enough and the news should have hit home to every responsible parent and adult. If not there's something allot more serious going on in Freehold than most of us are even aware of. This needs to be addresses immediately. I'm floored as to how this even got into this site. Is the reason because the person that posted it is possibly feeling frustrated that it's not getting the attention it merits? That question in itself leaves cause for wonder.
|
|
|
|
Post by lisas84 on May 15, 2011 7:33:18 GMT -5
Lisa, I totally agree with you. If anyone -- student or teacher -- is witness to any type of bullying behavior, he/she should feel obligated to report it. At this point in time, it isn't a case of "tattling" but an initiative to ensure the problem doesn't grow into something more serious.
|
|
adefonzo
Junior Member
If I can see further than some, it's because I have stood on the shoulders of giants
Posts: 308
|
Post by adefonzo on May 19, 2011 6:38:15 GMT -5
I'm fully aware of what you meant. And it just shows the age old attitude of "kids will be kids, let them deal with it". Have you been reading the news in the last year of how many kids have died because so many so called responsible adults share your attitude? Let me put it in simple terms for you since you don't seem to get the purpose of the new laws that are VERY specific. They basically are taking the responsibility of bullying out of the kids hands and putting it on the adults, administration and the police. It's now up to the schools to determine how it's dealt with and that it IS dealt with. I'm at a disadvantage here because I don't know exactly who I'm speaking to and I don't mean to sound so harsh. But I think the law is specific enough and the news should have hit home to every responsible parent and adult. If not there's something allot more serious going on in Freehold than most of us are even aware of. This needs to be addresses immediately. I'm floored as to how this even got into this site. Is the reason because the person that posted it is possibly feeling frustrated that it's not getting the attention it merits? That question in itself leaves cause for wonder. Let me first say that it should be determined whether we are talking about bullying in the high school, or some elevated violence such as gang or racial related violence. We tend to throw around the word "bullying" but the problem is, when most adults think of bullying, they think back to their days in school when bullying involved stuffing someone in a locker, taking lunch money, and the occasional fight. Nowadays, what society calls "bullying" includes gang violence, death threats, fights involving weapons, and some rather violent acts. In my view, this isn't bullying, it's criminal assault and worse. As you even mention above, there have been a number of deaths related to what society calls "bullying". And, perhaps before we go jumping on the "righteous behavior" horse, telling everyone they have to get involved with stopping this behavior, we should realize that there are a great many parents out there who do not want their kids to get involved for the simple matter that it could very well put them in harms way. For example, a kid witnesses a group of teens "bullying" another teen, he reports it...and then the group comes after him. Let's not get into the whole myth of "anonymous reporting" because that seldom holds true...there are always ways to find out who reported an incident. So, if I were a parent, and my kid told me stories about what they saw in school, I would tell him/her to stay as far away from it as possible, and to not get involved if for no other reason than I don't want my child to get hurt, or even killed. Furthermore, how many parents have removed their children from the public schools due to rising violence levels? The law that you presented above shows the responsibility of the school and it's employees/volunteers. And let me throw out one additional issue that schools have faced...while the folks in Trenton (and other cities around the country) write these laws and tells the schools they are responsible for dealing with problems such as this on the one hand, they tie the schools hands on exactly what they can do with other legislation on the other hand. This way, the folks in Trenton can tell part of their constituents "I supported the anti-bullying legislation", and another part of their constituents "I supported the laws that prevent schools from simply expelling your children if they have committed an offense, but forces them to try and 'treat' your child and help them with their 'emotional' problems". The old political two-step. Violence in schools is ridiculously common, and the type of violence is getting more and more severe...these facts go without question or argument. However, to seemingly pin the responsibility for these acts solely on the schools is ludicrous. By the way...did you notice how there isn't a single mention of responsibility or involvement of the parents of the "bully" in the law? I would say that reflects our society's belief that no one is responsible for their own actions or those of their children...which is a whole other discussion. |
|
|
|
Post by richardkelsey on May 19, 2011 11:55:39 GMT -5
"In '65 tension was running high at my high school
There was a lot of fights between the black and white
There was nothing you could do
Two cars at a light on a Saturday night in the back seat there was a gun
Words were passed in a shotgun blast
Troubled times had come to my hometown" -- Springsteen Sound familiar? This is not a new problem at FHS or in many communities. In a society where we count by race, we divide by race. This is a cultural issue that no anti-bullying legislation is going to change. The truth is, sports was and has been the great uniter for race relations in High schools. Where students don't get involved in activities that include all, they continue to live in their own bubbles, created or perpetuated by their family, friends, and the given cultures. The society at large actually makes it worse by encouraging self-segregation and pride groups, while likewise promoting programs, scholarships and division based on race. If not for the sports I played, I would never have interacted with some great kids of diverse backgrounds who then became friends. I dare say, they likely would not have interacted with me either. Until our culture shifts from promoting our differences to promoting our similarities, this problem will persist either on the surface or below -- and it will bubble up from time to time like it has for many decades. I see the issue of bullying, in the traditional sense, completely separate from these race issues. While I agree 100% that racial division may lead to bullying that has racial motivation, the pure issue of bullies -- mean kids treating other kids badly for their own pleasure or for acceptance in a group -- is mostly separate and apart from this issue. The bullying issue too, is cultural, and reflects broken families, poor parenting, and often lost, abused, foolish kids. (It can also include angry, mean, elitist, groups -- and fewer are meaner than middle school girls!) I tell my kids the exact opposite, with respect to bullying. I tell them that if you see a child being bullied, you get that kid help. If that kid is in danger, or you can't get them help or don't want the pressure of being a tattle, then you stand up for those weaker than you. That goes hand and hand with the advice I tell them about new kids and shy kids -- which is to try to make kids feel welcome and treat them nicely. Imagine yourself new to a school, or shy and having no friends, wouldn't you want someone to reach out and be nice or kind? Bullying is a parenting issue, and trust me some parents could use a good ass-whooping. I have always told my kids, the worst report I could ever get about them would be a call saying they have stolen something, or that they were mean or bullying another child. I know that will never happen. I remind them as well, as my uncle use to tell my cousins, that name you are carrying with you everyday -- it's mine -- don't you dare disrespect it. My middle child is a very quite, passive, often shy and docile kid. His teachers love him because he is very respectful and helpful. He shies away from attention. (I know -- really he is mine). He's in 4th grade. About a month ago, my wife got a call from the school saying my child had hit another kid and made him cry. My wife said, there is no way that could be my son -- he must have been attacked. Turns out, he didn't "hit" anyone. Another boy, chronically in trouble and a classic bully, was picking on my son's friend. He was using his arm to diving pinches, and hurting the kid. My son told him to stop. When he didn't he intervened by grabbing the kids arm and twisting it behind his back. The big bully started crying. We were shocked our boy took any action, given his nature. But i will tell you this, he didn't get in trouble in my house. He did what he was told. Later, his principal informally gave him kudos for his bravery -- while reminding him that school policy is to get a teacher involved. The long and short of it is -- it all starts young -- and at home. |
|
