Bullies Suck

What is it about human nature that causes people to feel the need to dominate over someone weaker than themselves? Is it old evolutionary biology and survival of the fittest? Is it a need to feel powerful and controlling? In our American society the people that are admired most tend to be the rich and powerful--those who dominate over others. Value needs to be placed on every unique person, for their own unique talents. Too bad society doesn't see that.

I get to see evidence of bullying often at the elementary school and it isn't just with a certain age of kids. I know that you can find evidence of bullying when little toddlers are playing together: one kid steals the other's Matchbox car or smacks the playmate when they don't get their way. But I think the worst kind of bullying happens starting in about 4th grade and lasts until midway through high school. The type of bullying may change from physical to more verbal as kids get older, but it is still bullying. Of course bullying happens when you're an adult also, but I'm going to just focus on kids for this post.

Bullies target kids who they perceive as weaker or different from them. I see a lot of kids bullying the sensitive boys: the boys who cry easy or who feel things deeper than others.  I also see kids bullying the kids that are different from others like the kids with Asperger's Syndrome. The girls tend to be snippy and verbally abusive to other girls who might be the shy and quiet ones. Usually bullies make their attack without any real reason, except that they see their target as a victim. 

What makes me furious is knowing that the bullying happens and no single adult puts a stop to it. It seems that the adults out on recess duty just look the other way, hoping a different duty teacher will do something about it. They don't want to confront the bullies because it is a hard situation. But that is our job!! It can't continue. These kids need to learn how to interact with others in a positive way, not in a dominating way and we adults are the ones to model that behavior. Tell the bully that you know what they're doing and that it will not be tolerated. Of course, it helps if you have a principal who has a zero tolerance attitude on bullying. If so, send the bully to the principal, but if not, deal with it yourself! There are many incidences at recess where I've witnessed bullying taking place and I know another teacher has seen it too, but walks the other direction, leaving it for me to address.

Many schools or individual classrooms do have an anti-bullying programs in effect. Our district does have one. The key is to enforce the program instead of looking the other way in hopes that someone else will take care of it.

2/27 P.S.  Neighborhood bullies suck also!

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Neat

Middle of Winter

February, when the days of winter seem endless and no amount of wistful recollecting can bring back any air of summer.

-Shirley Jackson, Raising Demons, 1956

I always have a difficult time in the middle of winter. It's the February Blues for me.  I'm tired of it being cold (since November) and I think I tend to hibernate a bit. I stay indoors as much as possible, switching walks outside to walks on the treadmill (not the most motivating way to stay active). I have to do lunch recess duty when the wind is blowing fiercely cold, causing the wind chill factor to make it miserable even in the sunshine. I thought that getting out to go on a hike on Monday with some friends would help the blues, but it was a cool, windy morning on a trail that I doubt I'll go on again.  The Mitchell Trail wanders through the burned area between two mountains for a while and I'm sure it was beautiful before the fire. All that is left now are broken off tree trunks and deadfall. Maybe in the spring when the plants start to bloom, it will be prettier. Then the trail starts to wind up the mountain in a series of switchbacks. Not my idea of a fun hike, but it did get my heart rate up. A friend had a GPS watch and recorded a hike of about 3.25 miles in 90 minutes. At least we finished off the morning by going to the Coffee House Cafe for lunch and a small birthday celebration.  That was fun.

So I do still get out of the house, even though it is February, but I do have to force myself. This morning I went to the dentist for my cleaning and then met some friends at Starbucks. I love these Wednesday mornings since they give me the charge to make it through the rest of the week. Even if it is cold outside.

The turtle is still hibernating, but she does a whole lot of sleep walking. I guess it would be called "sleep digging" since she wanders to another part of the tank and digs into the bark as deep as she can go. Once she wakes up, I guess that will mean spring has arrived. Our household's version of Punxsutawney Phil.

One thing I've noticed is that my daffodils and hyacinths are peeking out of the ground on the sunny side of the house. At least they think it is time to wake up from this winter and I look forward to seeing their pretty colors blooming in the yard.

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Neat

A Sweet Song for Valentine's Day

Give me more loving than I've ever had
Make it all better when I'm feeling sad
Tell me that I'm special even when I know I'm not
Make it feel good when it hurts so bad
Barely get mad
I'm so glad I found you
I love being around you
You make it easy

It's as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4
There's only
ONE thing
TWO do
THREE words
FOUR you...
I love you
There's only
ONE way
TWO say
Those THREE words
And that's what I'll do...
I love you

Give me more loving from the very start
Piece me back together when I fall apart
Tell me things you never even tell your closest friends
Make it feel good when it hurts so bad
The best that I've had
And I'm so glad I found you
I love being around you
You make it easy

It's as easy as 1-2-1-2-3-4
There's only
ONE thing
TWO do
THREE words
FOUR you...
I love you
There's only
ONE way
TWO say
Those THREE words
And that's what I'll do...
I love you
I love you

(repeat)

Lyrics Link Here
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Neat