I understand what you're saying, and I think it's a matter of degree. Some people are bullied to the point of being traumatized, then they act out that trauma as adults. You had the resiliency to mature from the people who believed you, and that is great. I wonder if you were bullied to the extent that you were beat severely, or cruelly demoralized day in and day out. That's the degree of bullying that needs to be monitored and curtailed in my view. I don't see a problem with teaching tolerance and kindness as anti-bullying.
I had some kids pick on me for a couple months in middle school. I just kept ignoring them and they lost interest. I never thought of that as bullying. I didn't get beat up or molested or groped. That would have had a different effect on me.
I agree with a moderate approach to how schools handle bullying. It has gotten way too extreme. My 8 year old daughter was reported as a bully to the principal by a classmate. I had a string of texts where that girl was the horrible bully (including death threats), and I told my daughter to block her and have only superficial contact with her in school bc they were in the same class. I didn't make a report. I handled it. Over time when my daughter wouldn't engage, the girl got angry/jealous whatever and used the "b" word to the principal (I am quoting him.). Hence a full scale HIB investigation by the school, then the administration, and then presented to the school board. WTF? After the HIB charge was lodged, I showed the texts (about which I got no direct response). The charge was deemed unfounded, but I doubt anything happened to the girl (for certain reasons I will not say). Again, a perversion of the protections that are meant for true situations worthy of intervention.
I understand what you're saying, and I think it's a matter of degree. Some people are bullied to the point of being traumatized, then they act out that trauma as adults. You had the resiliency to mature from the people who believed you, and that is great. I wonder if you were bullied to the extent that you were beat severely, or cruelly demoralized day in and day out. That's the degree of bullying that needs to be monitored and curtailed in my view. I don't see a problem with teaching tolerance and kindness as anti-bullying.
I had some kids pick on me for a couple months in middle school. I just kept ignoring them and they lost interest. I never thought of that as bullying. I didn't get beat up or molested or groped. That would have had a different effect on me.
Good points, I do get what you're saying.
Kicked repeatedly in the balls, yikes! ЁЯе┤ Did you tell your parents about this kind of thing? If so, how did they respond?
I agree with a moderate approach to how schools handle bullying. It has gotten way too extreme. My 8 year old daughter was reported as a bully to the principal by a classmate. I had a string of texts where that girl was the horrible bully (including death threats), and I told my daughter to block her and have only superficial contact with her in school bc they were in the same class. I didn't make a report. I handled it. Over time when my daughter wouldn't engage, the girl got angry/jealous whatever and used the "b" word to the principal (I am quoting him.). Hence a full scale HIB investigation by the school, then the administration, and then presented to the school board. WTF? After the HIB charge was lodged, I showed the texts (about which I got no direct response). The charge was deemed unfounded, but I doubt anything happened to the girl (for certain reasons I will not say). Again, a perversion of the protections that are meant for true situations worthy of intervention.