Bullying

[jenny_ravenclaw]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., Jennifer Boggess Ramon <boggles at e...> 
wrote:

> as a teacher who has had to deal with the question of bullying on 
both a personal and professional level, I feel obligated to 
(pedantically, I'm afraid) point out that this is not at all true in 
the real world.  At best, it encourages the bully in question to pick 
another victim, but it's often unsuccessful; at worst, it marks the 
current victim for far worse treatment.>

I have to disagree with you here.  I also am a teacher; I believe we 
actually teach the same kinds of kids.  Most of my students must learn 
to defend themselves or accept being subjected to endless bouts of 
being bullied.  Not long ago, my boyfriend's younger brother was 
having a problem being bullied at his school.  My boyfriend encouraged 
his brother to fight it out.  I am not saying I agree with this, but 
my boyfriend's brother not only beat up the other kid, but they then 
became good friends.  

Bullies get away with bullying kids who they see as weaker.  I have 
yet to see a bully go after someone bigger OR after someone who has 
smacked them back, hard.  I have other stories to share about students 
of mine who defended themselves, but they're all the same: in the end, 
the bully backed off.

--jenny from ravenclaw, too tired to keep writing now 
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