-=> Quoting Sondra Ball to Lorraine Phillips <=-
Hi, Sondra,
 LP>On Maury Povich yesterday, the subject was bullying at school.  One girl
 >(white), who looked about 10 years old, had had her clothes slashed and
 >even had a fork stuck right into her leg (the school nurse had had to
 >remove it).  It seems a couple of girls had taken a dislike to her and
 >even though they were supposed to stay away from her, they still found
 >ways to assault her.
 SB> 
 SB> This happens all too often at school.
I have permanent injuries from the abuse to which I was subjected in the
public school system--and I don't just mean psychological, either .
 
 LP>The mother was asked if she'd considered changing schools.  She said
 >that in that case the daughter wouldn't have learned how to stand up to
 >herself...!  How would the mother feel if she was constantly assaulted
 >by her neighbours and when she tried to move away, was told that no, she
 >had to stay where she was until she learned to make the bullies stop
 >being bullies?
 
 LP>The environment in the junior high school (grades 8 and 9) I attended
 >was much more anti-social than any environment I've experienced in my
 >adult life, with the exception of the atmosphere in a room full of
 >drunks - yet I understand schools are even worse today. I don't buy the
 SB> 
 SB> Junior high is, for most kids, the absolutely worst time in school,
 SB> according to most teachers I've talked to.  Peer pressure is at its
 SB> height.  Teasing is at its height.  So is bullying.
Although there were several really bad things that happened to me in
junior high, overall it was much better than grade school.  The junior
high I went to was a city-wide school so the boys who had abused me in
grade school were diluted by sheer numbers.  Also, we didn't have recess
in junior high, and an awful lot of stuff goes on during recess.  But I
do agree that the junior high years are generally
the most difficult personally for many youths.  One of the schools here
sends out a flier to the parents that puts it very well--the changes that
take place physically in the early teen years are the most drastic
changes the body goes through between birth and death, and these cannot
help but affect one psychologically as one is going through them.
One of the middle schools here has a program to help curb teasing and
bullying.  There was an article in one of the local papers this spring
about it.  I was very gratified to see that at least some people are
waking up to the devastating effect this type of abuse can have upon its
victims.  I haven't had the time yet, but I do intend to write the school
and thank them for their awareness.
Take care,
Robin
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.20
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