LogFAQs > #895840610

Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

Sativa_Rose posted...

Jeff AKA Snoopy posted...

I have 100% had to punish students who reacted to bullying as opposed to the bullies because I can only act on what I see and have proof of. Thus I tell every class I'm in not to engage with the antagonistic behaviour of others, because if I spot you retaliating, I have to punish you.

I think this is wrong. Do you think humans are ragdolls? If someone is being physical with you, you can't just sit there and take it until the teacher notices (which may not ever happen), and you can't expect kids to be little tattletales who run crying to the teacher every time someone starts to mess with them. That will just get them into even worse social situations.

You have to take responsibility for your actions. Just because you are being antagonized doesn't mean that if you hit a student you get a free pass.

Well there's a big difference between punching someone and trying to shove someone away from you to create space between you and the attacker. In terms of personal responsibility, it's only in the public school system where it seems you can get punished for this, unlike the real world (unless you run into brutal or corrupt cops or something)

soulunison2 posted...

Honestly, with my experience in the DoE - bullies are rarely punished until its too late

Look at that kid who killed his bully in the Bronx,

Part of it is the services available in dealing with bullies and how must public schools are stripped of that due to funding

Indeed, and that can make it hard not to empathize with kids who end up taking drastic measures like that, even if it's obviously something that can't be condoned.
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