Create Moments That Restore Faith in Humanity

26 Moments That Restored Our Faith In Humanity This Year

www.buzzfeed.com

Mom makes son hold sign at school

When her 12-year-old was suspended, Lisette Lopez took drastic measures to get through to him. Why he got in trouble

President Obama, Sunday (12-16-2012)

"This is our first task—caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged."

Best email of the Year

Definitely one of the BEST!

NOMINATED FOR --- BEST E MAIL OF THE YEAR


After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:

'Let me see if I've got this right.

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.

'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a whiteboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.


'You want me to do all this, and then you tell me......

I CAN'T PRAY?'

How to talk to youth about the shooting in Connecticut

We have assembled a brief listing of excellent resources you can use to help in your efforts to talk with youth and families about the shooting that took place in Connecticut on Friday. Special thanks to the following people for rallying quickly and consulting with experts to identify a few key resources (There are a multitude of resources available but we think at this point in time less is more).

• Our gratitude to Alfredo Aguirre, Director of Mental Health Services, San Diego County & Network Advisory Council Member, Wayne Lindstrom, President & CEO, Mental Health America, and Robert Abramovitz, Co-Director National Center for Social Work, Trauma Education and Workforce Development, Hunter College.

• Review the resources and download what is most applicable to your needs.

Scott Bryant-Comstock
President & CEO
Children's Mental Health Network

“Pray for the innocent children & others...our precious brothers & sisters affected by the Connecticut shooting today: 20 children: 6-7 yr old first graders, 12 girls, 8 boys; 6 female faculty members: 27-56 yrs old; shooter, his Mother.  Wrap your arms around these families, and give them strength as they & we mourn this terrible tragedy.”

"Hug your loved ones, share kindness & respect to fellow humanity.  Cherish shared moments and time...which are precious, fragile, fleeting."

"When the elderly die, the past dies; when children die, the future dies."

Guilford County School District wins $30M competitive grant

Courage, Creativity, Think Outside the Box: 3:23 min. video

"Innovation...outside of the box thinking reveals itself in this wonderful story...the perfect way to jumpstart creativity within your own life.  Paper Airplane is a thought-provoking story about vision, courage and a sixth grader's unique response to a class project."

Watch Paper Airplane >>


Copyright Simple Truths, LLC

Appreciation: Each of us can choose to make a difference

Watch - The Simple Truths of Appreciation >>

3:11 min. video
Simple Truths

"Signs Your Child May Be the Victim of Bullying in School"

http://www.babysittingjobs.com/blog/signs-your-child-may-be-the-victim-of-bullying-in-school

Operation Yuletide

All volunteers:
Bring wrapping paper
Report to the District 3 police station located at 300 S. Swing Rd., Greensboro and sign in

 

Dates/Times:

 

December 5th through 14th:
0800- until the last police employee leaves
Volunteers will assist in wrapping Christmas gifts for the selected families of operation Yuletide.
(gifts have already been sorted for the families)

 

Deliveries:

December 15: between 1400-1800
December 16 and 17: between 1000-1800

All wrapped items will be delivered by a police officer and any volunteer

Gratitude: Wish you a meaningful Thanksgiving

of love, family, friends, wonder

Watch - Gratitude HD - Moving Art >>

Life Secrets

Conscious Discipline: "Power to Inspire"/Restorative Practices

For Conscious Discipline description, see below

 

Student DJ nominated Donna Porter for Kennedy Center Teaching Award: "Power to Inspire"

Certified Instructor Donna Porter wins Prestigious ...

Gang Leader to Graduate - A Conscious ...

Ellen Kaji at the Guilford County Partnership for Children coordinates and teaches the Conscious Discipline trainings. Ellen is working on Infant and Toddler trainings, scheduled to begin Jan., 2013.

W: 274-5437.

Email ellenk@guilfordchildren.com

Conscious Discipline for Birth-Adult, was developed by Dr. Becky Bailey, graduate of Appalachian State University and an “award-winning author, renowned teacher and internationally recognized expert in childhood education and developmental psychology, who is dedicated to creating positive environments for children, families, schools, and businesses.”

 

Bailey, Becky. 2000. Conscious Discipline: 7 Basic Skills for Brain Smart Classroom Management: Proactive positive approach to character education and discipline for families and educators

Conscious Discipline: includes the seven skills of
Composure
Encouragement
Assertiveness
Choices
Empathy
Positive Intent
Consequences

"The School Family builds connection between families and schools, teachers and teachers, teachers and students, and students and students to ensure the optimal development of all.
These connections provide the three essential ingredients for school success:
*A willingness to learn
*Impulse control
*Attention"

 

Conscious Discipline & Restorative Practices could enhance GCS' Paideia & PBS, empowering our community and GCS to develop into a model school system of mutual integrity and respect for students, educators, staff, SROs, and school leaders to learn, teach, and work, which will greatly enhance academic and character achievement.


What would encourage our community to unite in implementing this paradigm shift of Conscious Discipline and Restorative Practices?
 

Restorative Practices: videos - Proactive Safer Schools

 

What are your thoughts?

"Watch your thoughts because your thoughts become patterns.

Watch your patterns because your patterns become habits.
Watch your habits because your habits become your character."

NC A & T Early Middle College student Shi Leach quotes mantra of his teacher Johnny Lewis
Greensboro News & Record, 11-18-2012: H1 & H3
&

NPR | Staying in School on "The Story with Dick Gordon"

September 28, 2012 - The Story joins the national conversation on the drop-out problem with two in-depth conversations with students who were on the verge of giving up on school.

Dick Gordon talks with Shi Leach, who always did well in school but fell into a bad routine at his high school; skipping classes and blowing off work. Shi was able to enroll in the Early/Middle College at NC A&T State University, a partner with North Carolina New Schools, and the daily guidance and support allowed him to flourish. Gordon also interviews Shi's principal, Eric Hines, who was recently named Guilford County Principal of the Year.
Read More

Dr. Ben Carson: Inspiring Words:1:57 min. video

Director of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions;

Dr. Ben Carson credits his single Mother with helping him believe in himself, "Your life is up to you"

 

Author of:

* Gifted Hands

* Think Big

* The Big Picture: Getting Perspective on What Is Really Important in Life

* America the Beautiful: Rediscovering What Made This World Great

Dr. Ben Carson's Inspiring Words - YouTube

Veterans' Day: 11-11-2012

Veterans: Thank you: Gratitude & Remembrance

For those on active duty: thank you for your service for citizens and country.

"Go to Your Courage...it is not confidence...It Is Courage."  Dad, WW II Veteran

"Veterans for Peace is interested in returning the Nov. 11 celebration back to its original intent of celebrating peace, rather than war and warriors...
On Nov. 11, 1918, an armistice was signed to stop war between the nations that had been fighting World War I.  In 1928, peaceful nations met in Paris and signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact, legally banning all wars.  In 1938, Congress made Armistice Day official.
In 1954, Congress moved to change the word "armistice" to "veterans," which also changed the focus of the celebration from peace to war.  Veterans for Peace is asking all churches to ring their bells on Nov. 11 and have a moment of prayer for peace."
Samuel H. Winstead, Veterans for Peace
Greensboro News & Record, Nov. 4, 2012, D9

GCS Supt. Maurice Green: 3 million books challenge; Nov.: National Family Literacy Month

Elianne Ramos: National Family Literacy Month: Time to Bring Back ...

You +1'd this publicGCSGCS
 

..."One of the activities hosted by GCS, which started at the beginning of 2012, is the Three Million Books Challenge, an impressive reading challenge led by Superintendent Maurice Green of Greensboro, N.C.  Guided by the belief that "life opens up, and dreams become possible when you learn to read, and read well," Mr. Green reports of the participation of thousands of students in their district-wide campaign. "That's the message we want our students to hear. That's why I challenged them to read first one million, and then two million, and now three million books in one year's time." Last year, GCS students were challenged to read two million books and shattered that goal by more than 600,000!   The campaign has received widespread support from businesses, nonprofits and local government in which organizations across Guilford County encourage students to read, including the local PTA. Kelly Langston, a Guilford County Schools' parent and Guilford County Council of PTAs President, knows first-hand how hard it can be to get parents involved in this kind of initiative. "Today's family struggles to find time to spend time together due to busy schedules, so reading together is a great family activity and it helps your children be successful in school," she says. "Guilford County Schools' Three Million Books Challenge provides families with an opportunity to be part of something bigger." ...

"Remember, no one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

Arizona student with special needs avoids bullies with protection of football team

 

By Cameron Smith | Prep Rally

Chy Johnson is a freshman at Queen Creek (Ariz.) High who happens to have a brain disorder. She is the prototypical outsider new girl on campus, the easiest teen to pick on and the last to be able to stand up for herself. Right on cue, no sooner had Johnson enrolled at Queen Creek than she began being the victim of nasty bullying from a wide variety of fellow Queen Creek students, some of whom allegedly even threw trash at the 16 year old.

The bullying incidents got so bad that Johnson's mother reached out to the one teen at the school with whom she had a social connection through a friend, a senior named Carson Jones. As it turns out, Jones is also the starting quarterback for the Queen Creek football team, a good looking one at that. In short, he is the apex of cool at Queen Creek.
As first reported by AZFamily.com, all Johnson's mother wanted was to know the name of the girls who were bullying her daughter. Instead, Jones decided to take it upon himself to protect the freshman, eating lunch with her every day and ensuring that she was protected by a phalanx of other football players when she walked through the hall.
Chy Johnson and the Queens Creek football team — BYU.edu
"They're not mean to me, because all my boys love me," Chy told AZFamily. "So much."
Chy's "boys" form a solid core of the Queen Creek football team, and they have successfully kept those who would target the special needs student away. Jones doesn't completely understand why or how it has happened, but it has.
"They're not bullying her anymore because they've seen her with us or something," Jones told AZFamily.

For their part, Jones and his teammates say that they're getting just as much out of the relationship as Johnson is, too.
"It feels good to know that we helped someone else, because you know, we're doing good, everything for us is going well, but someone else needs to feel good, too," Queen Creek senior Tucker Workman told AZFamily.

Coping with Bullying/Loss Through Sunday School Humor

Child is collecting church humor to help her move forward in the face of losing her brother who was physically assaulted/bullied & then committed suicide.

Mother shared Sunday School Humor is helping her daughter, sister of bullied, move forward through helping others.

Peruse end of (12th) left page: Fox 8 Bully Project

 

The Power of Perseverance; 1:58 min. video

The Best Way Out is Always Through >>


Live Inspired,
Doug Westmoreland Co-Founder
LifeSecretsOnline.com

Prayers and support for those affected by "Sandy"

1. What is the FOX8 Bully Project? | MyFOX8.com – Greensboro, High ...

myfox8.com/2012/10/23/what-is-the-fox8-bully-project/Cached

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3 days ago – The statistics are amazing. 1 in 4 kids get bullied. 160 thousand kids stayed home from school today because they were afraid of a bully. A child ...

1.   

FOX8 Bully Project: Suffering in Silence | MyFOX8.com - WGHP-TV 8
►►	myfox8.com/.../fox8-bully-project-suffering-in-silenc...New2 days ago Summer Polinski says she was tormented for nearly three years – on the bus, at school and at home. As a result ...

2.  More videos for fox 8 bully project »

1.     FOX8 Bully Project | Facebook

www.facebook.com/FOX8BullyProjectCached

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More than 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear of being bullied. FOX8 is starting a new campaign to bring awareness to this growing ...

New law protects teachers from cyberbullying

10/24/2012 05:36 PM

By: Amanda McKenzie

Students who like to trash talk teachers online could be in for more than just a slap on the wrist. A new North Carolina law that goes into effect Dec. 1, will make it illegal for students to cyberbully their teachers. It's the first law of its kind in the country.

               

GREENSBORO -- Students who like to trash talk teachers online could be in for more than just a slap on the wrist. A new North Carolina law that goes into effect Dec. 1, will make it illegal for students to cyberbully their teachers.

It's the first law of its kind in the country.

"People take what's online at face value and think that, wow, this is the truth, this is the gospel, and that's the problem," Gregg Slate, Guilford County School Safety Administrator said.

It's called the School Violence Prevention Act of 2012. Any student who uses a computer with the intent to intimidate or torment a school employee could be charged with a class two misdemeanor.

But it doesn't stop there. If found guilty, they could face a $1,000 fine and possible jail time.

Sen. Stan Bingham, who co-sponsored the law, said the idea isn't to throw students behind bars, but to make them realize there are consequences for their actions.

"It could totally destroy their future, their career and their desire or interest to teach," Bingham said.

"Basically protects every employee on the school level from students creating false names or false Facebook or Twitter posts and defaming and ruining the teacher's career and bullying them," Slate said.

While school officials support this law as a bullying deterrent, the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina opposed the legislation.

"We think it will probably end up violating student's First Amendment rights or at the very least chilling their speech because they'll be afraid of the criminal sanctions," ACLU policy director Sarah Preston said.

"We know freedom of spech does not stop at the school house gate," Slate said. "But we also know that if it impacts the educational environment and it's detrimental to the success of students in that classroom, then we really need to act."

Dreams Are Whispers From the Soul: 3:10 min. video

"There are many different aspects that live inside of us and two of them have respectfully been dubbed the Dreamer and Doubter. When it comes to pursuing your dreams, The Dreamer is often gung ho while the Doubter can provide a laundry list of concerns and issues. 
'Dreams' will inspire you to find your purpose and passion in life while you strive to live your dreams."
Watch Dreams are Whispers From the Soul >>


Copyright © 2005 - 2012 Simple Truths, LLC
Doug Westmoreland Co-Founder
LifeSecretsOnline.com

"The people of India think it is a privilege to be alive--not a right."

from "Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"

Oct. 21-27, 2012: America's Safe Schools Week

Safe Schools Week - National School Safety Center www.schoolsafety.us/safe-schools-week

The National School Safety Center, state governors and state school superintendents sponsor America's Safe Schools Week, October 21-27, 2012.

Please Peruse:

 
Restorative Practices: videos - Proactive Safer Schools

saferschools.blogspot.com/.../restorative-practicesjustice-videos.ht

GOAL of Safer Schools: Restorative Practices implemented with accountability in GCS.

Restorative Practice is key to creating an atmosphere of integrity and respect for students, educators, staff members, and SROs and in turn enhancing academic and character achievement.

Guilford College has implemented with accountability Restorative Practices through CAP (Community Accountability Process), a proactive, inclusive, effective approach. 
NC A &T & UNC-G are making great strides with Restorative Practices.
School systems in NC, across the U.S., and in other countries implement Restorative Practices.  

"The difference between the hero and the coward is that

the hero sticks in there five minutes longer."

~ Brian Tracy

 

Fortunately, all fears are learned; no one is born with any fears. Fears can therefore be unlearned, by practicing self-discipline over and over with regard to fear. Fears cause people to avoid risk of any kind and reject opportunity when it presents itself. Don't let a good opportunity pass you by because of fear.

Life Secrets

Courage Does Not Alway Roar

Watch Courage Doesn't Always Roar >>


Copyright © 2005 - 2012 Simple Truths, LLC

William Friday

William Friday, University of North Carolina system president from 1956-1986, was a tireless advocate for the mission and integrity of a public university system he helped to build, shape, and protect.

"Friday was a gentleman from the old school who saw social graces as gestures of respect and common courtesy. 'Courage, manners and decency cost a person so little,' he explained to the Associated Press in 1995."

Greensboro News & Record: A 14, Sat., Oct. 13, 2012

George Washington Carver

"How far you go in your life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving, and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."

~ George Washington Carver

Florida Anti Bullying Law A++

Florida Anti Bullying law

You +1'd this publUndoAnti Harassment and Bullying Prevention Policies. ... FLORIDA HB 669 - School Safety "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act". A++.

Because of Debbie Johnston's relentlessness, her family's significant financial sacrifices and the energized community of students, educators and legislators she mobilized, Florida's children have one of the toughest anti-bullying measures in the nation to help protect them.

The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up For All Students Act, passed by a rarely unified Florida Legislature in 2008, requires all school districts to institute anti-bullying policies that specifically ban harassment and intimidation; create a diligent reporting procedure; require prompt investigation of allegations; and outline consequences for students and school employees who violate the policy.
Bullies also must be referred to counseling and the proper authorities, and the victims' families must be notified about what's been done to protect their children.
The point, unlike prior unsuccessful bills that were drafted like discrimination statutes, was to "take the emphasis off the victim and put it on the bully," said state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R- Fort Lauderdale, a key sponsor of the act during her time in the Florida House.
Graded "A++" and called "the BEST Anti Bullying Law written to date" by the watchdog group Bully Police USA,

www.stopbullyingnow.com

www.StopBullying.gov

 

Safe Schools Week - National School Safety Center

www.schoolsafety.us/safe-schools-week

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The National School Safety Center, state governors and state school superintendents sponsor America's Safe Schools Week, October 21-27, 2012.

Victim's Father & Former Bully Teach About Suicide

"Andy Lehman was an honor student, scholarship semifinalist, musician, and math whiz. Andy was repeatedly harassed, pushed, called names, and not allowed to sit down on his high school bus. In September of 2006, he took his life.
The student who bullied Andy, Kirk Zajac, now teams up with Andy’s father, Nicholas, to talk at schools about stopping bullying as a part of their work with the Suicide Prevention Education Alliance in the Greater Cleveland area.
On Sunday, writer Regina Brett dedicated a column in The Plain Dealer to highlighting the experiences of the bully (Kirk), the victim (Andy), and the bystanders. I encourage you to read it — twice!
One section in Regina’s column is, in my opinion, very relevant to the ongoing national attention on bullying and suicide.

“Nicholas could have yelled or thrown him out or threaten to sue. Instead, he thanked Kirk for having the courage to come forward. Nicholas knew that the bullying pushed Andy over the edge, but depression, divorce and financial strains took Andy to the edge.”

It takes a strong father to reach out his hand to the bully who badgered his son. It takes an even stronger father to publicly acknowledge that while bullying was a stressor, there were other factors at home which made his son vulnerable to the point of one additional stressor pushing him over the edge.
While the focus by many is on getting anti-bullying laws passed, the real attention needs to be on providing better mental health support to prevent vulnerable kids like Andy from ever getting too close to the edge. Kids like Andy deserve more help, as do their families at times when they are struggling with the many life stressors coming their way."
Ken Trump

October: National Bullying Prevention Month

1. National Safe Schools Week & Bullying Prevention Month: Who ...

1. www.schoolsecurityblog.com/.../national-safe-schools-week-bullying...

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Transparency of GCS/NC Reporting of School Crime

"According to Guilford County Schools' policies for high school students, an incident that's considered an aggressive action includes hitting, biting, shoving, kicking, spitting or throwing objects toward a student or adult.
The student can be suspended from school for up to three days for the first incident.
Students committing more serious assaults on school employees can be suspended from school for at least 10 days or get reassigned to alternative education.
They will also not be allowed to return to that teacher's classroom unless the teacher agrees. Police will also be notified.
...
(GCS Chief of Staff Nora) Carr said assaults on school employees are rare in the district, and she was unable to cite a previous incident.
State data on school crime and suspensions shows that last school year, Guilford County Schools reported 84 assaults on school personnel, which includes volunteers.
Dudley High reported two such offenses, according to the state data.
Those assaults do not include serious injuries, based on how the state tracks assaults.
Guilford County Schools didn’t report any assaults that caused serious injury last year, state data shows."

www.news-record.com/.../teacher_assaulted_at_dudley_high_school

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By News & Record Sarah Newell Williamson


If you are threatened or feel unsafe, complete and file a police statement ASAP. Retain the original copy: needed if petition the court for a Restraining Order.

<- Click left page: Law Enforcement: School Crime/“Assault” definition www.saferschools.blogspot.com

Character Point Average (C.P.A.)

1. The Science of Good Character…Two Schools' Journey to Success ...

   www.learningfirst.org/science-good-character

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   Sep 20, 2011 – The Science of Good Character… ... students at the KIPP Infinity Middle School receive a C.P.A (Character Point Average) based on a two page ...
2. What if the Secret to Success Is Failure? - NYTimes.com

   www.nytimes.com/.../what-if-the-secret-to-success-is-failure...

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   by Paul Tough - More by Paul Tough Sep 14, 2011 – Wouldn't it be cool, he mused, if each student graduated from school with not only a G.P.A. but also a C.P.A., for character-point average? If you ...

   More by Paul Tough
   
3. Character Trumps Grade Point Average

   atlantablackstar.com/2012/09/.../character-trumps-grade-point-averag...

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   – Are you more interested in your child's grade point average or his or her character and sense of personal responsibility?
4. Moral vs. Performance Character (and Failure)

   marymeganhoward.edublogs.org/.../moral-vs-performance-character...

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   Sep 15, 2011 – You've heard of a Grade Point Average? What about a Character Point Average? As I read Paul Tough's article, I couldn't stop thinking of the ...

5. (Blog) Character Point Average: Grades Matter, But...

   www.ncld.org/new-on-ldorg/entry/2/317

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   Apr 26, 2012 – Director of LD Resources & Essential Information Sheldon H. Horowitz, Ed.D., reflects on efforts to evaluate student character development and ...

6. Character Point Average: Grades matter, but...

   www.ncld.org/ld-insights/entry/1/316

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   Apr 26, 2012 – character point average kids Parents, educators, and especially teenagers complain that too much attention is paid to grades and test scores.

Never Give Up (4:56 & 9:21 min videos)

We cannot place limits on what we are capable of doing, because we often don't know our own potential. Arthur Boorman was a disabled veteran of the Gulf War for 15 years, and was told by his doctors that he would never be able to walk on his own, ever again. They were wrong... 

  Watch Never Give Up >>

It Takes a Village to Raise Bullies

"I’m beginning to believe that bullying is not a problem of two parents and a child; it seems to be a problem of entire communities.

When a bully named Scott targeted me in junior high (middle school), it wasn’t just him. It was Scott, his six friends and the school’s principal.
One day, Scott informed me during the bus ride to school that he wanted to beat me up. His anger toward me was intense, but I never knew why.
Word got out by late morning that there was going to be a big fight off campus. Being shy at that age, I had told no one.
Toward the afternoon, the principal caught me in the hallway and told me that if I fought, I’d be suspended or thrown out of school. I told him that I didn’t want to fight, but that Scott and company planned to gang up on me at my bus stop.
“That’s your problem,” the principal said. “Just get out of the fight.”

I told the principal that if I avoided the fight, I’d be a target for the rest of the school year. The principal again told me that was my problem.
There was no kindness or concern in this man’s heart. He was just worried about the school’s image.
All during the bus ride home, I was taunted by Scott and his gang, mostly weak boys emboldened by Scott’s cockiness. I knew that if I fought Scott, they would never bother me again.
But despite my shyness, I loved school. I wasn’t about to get suspended or thrown out.
I also was the strongest runner in my school. So two stops before my own, I jumped off the bus and ran home.
Scott and his gang missed their chance. To my surprise, no one bothered me much for the next few weeks.
Then, while passing one of Scott’s lackeys in a vestibule where no one was present, Jan knocked all of the books out of my hands. The boy laughed, saying he “owned” me. “Wimp.”
Without thinking, I punched Jan in the chest, knocking him against the wall. I watched him slide to the floor completely winded. No one from Scott’s gang ever bothered me again.
After that, Jan stopped hanging around with Scott. The boy would even move to the other side of the hallway whenever he saw me.
But to be honest, I lucked out. I think Scott was having other problems that made him forget about me. In the end, I was more angry with the school principal.
Still, my experiences were nothing compared with what is happening to Billy White in Arkansas. This boy gets beat up on a regular basis, and the school has completely failed to stop the cruelty, reports The New York Times.
Several of the incidents, which have required stitches, were even caught on video. The Times posted photos of Billy’s abused body.
Perhaps most disconcerting to me is that Billy’s parents let him continue on at the school. I mean, there’s fighting the good fight, but Billy, who already suffers from learning disabilities, is growing up fearful of education.
Why does this family want to stay in a community complicit with torturing this boy? Some of the students even “started a Facebook page called ‘Every One That Hates Billy Wolfe.’ ”
After one incident, a school official refused to call police, saying Billy got what he deserved. Another school official complained that Billy’s demeanor was to blame. Gee, do you think a boy who has been getting attacked since he was 12 and fears going to school is going to act normal?
No, most of us know what the real problem is: parents and communities that encourage kids to pick on the weak like a pack of hyenas."

from DAD Talk: Dedicated to the Most Important People in the World

How do you know if your child is being bullied or if your child is bullying another?

Check out these warning signs compiled by StopBullying.gov:

Signs a child may be bullied

 

* Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
* Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
* Has unexplained injuries
* Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or feeling sick
* Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
* Has changes in eating habits
* Hurts themselves
* Is very hungry after school from not eating lunch
* Runs away from home
* Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends
* Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
* Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school
* Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when he comes home
* Talks about suicide
* Feels helpless
* Feels as if he is not good enough
* Blames himself for his problems
* Suddenly has fewer friends
* Avoids certain places
* Acts differently than usual

Signs your child may be a bully

 

* Becomes violent with others
* Gets into physical or verbal fights with others
* Gets sent to the principal's office or detention a lot
* Has extra money or new belongings that cannot be explained
* Is quick to blame others
* Will not accept responsibility for his actions
* Has friends who bully others
* Needs to win or be best at everything

Source: StopBullying.gov

Restorative Practices

Proactive win-win approach
Click & peruse left page: Restorative Practices... (includes videos)