Bullying happens ,but teachers don´t want to see that because it causes more work when trying to interfere.Teachers have so much to do with discipline matters , so they close their eyes. Besides, the reputation of the school will be harmed, if things like that are been revieled.

My school falls between "no" and "somewhat." We are improving. Most of our children can be cured by consistently enforcing the rules. Unfortunately, certain students either don't care what punishments they are given or are reacting to their home life. For the later group, we have counselor interns, but progress is limited when the counselor changes every semester; they just get accustomed to one person and then they're gone. Those students who are bullies because of their background are hard to stop because they are often bullied / emotionally abused on a daily basis themselves. This defeats much of the school's attempt to teach them that such behavior is wrong.

Scapegoating is the same as bullying. Concerns need to be attended too and teachers need to be aware of perspective victims/villians. Remarkable progress begins when individules communicate first hand, one on one with each other.

Taking 10 minutes to talk to a bully and the victim can offten make a big turnaround for all .

I agree that most students are learning to bully "under the radar". In the past few years our school has focused on character education ,discussed teasing and repeated expectations on what behaviors will and will not be tolerated at school. Despite increased training and discussion the problem is better dressed than in the past, but still exists. We have reached a point of acceptability of a certain amount of bullying/teasing the elementary setting. We have missed opportunities to reflect on our own actions and have allowed parents and teachers who "bully" to continue on that path.

God yes!!!
I am a graduate student completing my second Masters degree in Education. In the last eight years of school I have never once heard or seen anything mentioned about bullying and the victims it produces. The best way to describe the tragedy of this phenomenom is for every teacher and parent to read, "Bullies and Victims, Helping your child through the schoolyard battlefield," by Ellen Fried A.D.T.R. and Paula Fried Ph.D., Clinical psychologist. The community needs to see this problem for the tragic consequences it produces and not ' A rite of passage' as many parents resign themselves to believing. Colleges and Universities need to include it in their curricullum. Columbine, suicides and desperation is what sears the mind of the young victims of such bullying. Please!!!! Read the book.

As a former teacher, principal and now a college professor I know that bullying is a huge problem... especially done to special ed students...my son was one so I know. As he outgrew special education...he outgrew much of the bullying. By the way, most of the school shootings have been done by kids who were on special ed in one way or another....so what damage does bullying do?????

Our coed, independent day school, grades 6-12, experiences relational aggression (group exclusion, rumor mongering, verbal cruelty) in Middle School primarily and seems to fade away by 10th grade or so. We have an advising/mentoring (upper school mentors) program in place to raise awareness of the problem and teach communication skills and as well as a parent program that does the same. When we began our program a few years ago, we asked the school community (students, parents, faculty) to come up with what we called Norms (values) that we would all support (respect for others, honesty, tolerance). It all looks good on paper but kids are very good at operating below the radar so I can't say it's over. With each new group of kids who arrive on campus, there is a new dynamic each year who need to learn new skills and have their awareness raised. That's the meaning of working in a school, I think - teaching kids what is appropriate, valued, important, and some skills for getting along in a way that creates real friendships and promotes kindness in our community. It's never-ending, and necessary for faculty and parents, as well as students.

The definition of"bullying" oday is and always was "teasing". Yesteryear we just said" Oh they are just teasing." These were over matters of dropping a pencil or shoes that came untied. Other cruel things just were not said. But in today's ease of morality when "booty" is just a regular ol'word the line in a song, the days of respect are gone and another line has been crossed to just say those " crule comments" and that is "bulling"! We as adults are not correcting those who are "bullying." I feel that as a parent my concerns are seen by other adults as over reacting to "teasing." I have taught my children through their Orthodox Christian Faith and morality our beliefs of right and wrong. My children and I have to "decompress" everyday the issues of bullying after they return home from public school. My frustration is over other children who lack the examples that society expects of them.

Girls at the age of 7 are cruel and are bullying. I have personal experince with my daughters. Any ethnic sounding name (Greek at that) creates huge amounts of bullying. I stuggles with maintaining my daughters heritage. A growth sprut that make one taller and "heavier" ( FATTER) then others adds fuel. Girls start it younger with words. As for the boys I have seen their actions being more physical.

I do miss the days of Mayberry with Opie and Andy. Welcome Back Kotter was the begining now Boston Public. What next?

No, it isn't a problem anymore. We had some instances of it about two years ago but with careful consideration and use of the Olweus program, it has dissipated. Most of our students are respectful. Those who aren't, we look at the home situation and try to work out the problems with therapy for the child.

There's more to bullying then what occurs in K-12. What about the bullying that continues on into higher education, where academia is allowed to continue on as the last bastion of feudalism. The way some professors treat their graduate students and junior faculty is no less than extreme bullying.