Wooly Bully


Ex-superintendent of two Georgia School Districts (Cobb and Fulton Counties) has drawn fire and ire for allegedly threatening a state official investigating wide-spread cheating on state exams. James Wilson railed against the inquiry, telling Kathleen Mathers she would "pay dearly" for her use of "Gestapo tactics." The poor Gestapos can't get a break! Here we have the best of high stakes testing...cheating, coercion, bullying are but the tip of the "testberg." Underlying our blind faith in standardized test results are the loss of...recess, Physical Education, Art/Music, innovation and creativity. Imagine if all students across the nation sat for these exams and just filled them out randomly as a form of protest...every school would fail to make AYP... then what?

STORY: James Wilson, Former Georgia Schools Superintendent, Caught On Tape Bullying State Official Over Cheating Probe


Come out come out where ever you are...except Tennessee



Once again into the abyss of the far right.. Tennessee GOP State Senator Stacey Campfield has sponsored the Don't Say Gay Bill for consideration. Here are just a few of his intellectual arguments for such legislation:


  • "Homosexuality = Bestiality"
  • "Bullying is the biggest lark out there."
  • "50% of theaters are based on something about homosexuality."
  • "AIDS- started with one guy screwing a monkey...it was an airline pilot if I recall."

Recall indeed...can anyone organize a recall campaign against this genius? Finally, which theaters is Stacey patronizing?

STORY: Stacey Campfield, Tennessee Senator Behind 'Don't Say Gay' Bill, On Bullying, AIDS And Homosexual 'Glorification'


Going Post-IT


Eighth-grade Middle School student Samantha Bremmer believes in positive messaging. In response to what she saw as mean-spirited bullying, she spent her holiday break composing 820 positive messages to be posted on classmates lockers. Mill Creek Middle School teacher Val Berryman said its nice to see student's encouraging each other. We love random acts of kindness and caring. Way to go Samantha...please consider teaching as a career! Our profession needs people with their hearts and minds in the right place.

STORY: UPDATED: Mill Creek Middle School Student Inspires Classmates Through Posts on Lockers


Tea Party gains momentum in Michigan



Politics schmolitics…the Tea Party rules at Hastings High near Grand Rapids. A teacher reportedly poured hot tea on two boys to break up a fight. Tea for two as they say. The boys received minor burns from the Spanish teacher’s actions…mucho gusto!  Tea Party supporters are touting this teacher for a congressional run in order to lure more latino voter support. In the meantime, the school may be looking into some behavior management models that do not require deadly force!!

STORY: Teacher pours HOT TEA on students to break up a fight following escalating texts over a girl



VIDEO: Bully Gets Owned



This scranny kid walks up and punches another kid in the face twice, unprovoked. He then gets body slammed. All caught on tape.


Red-haired boy beat up on "Kick a Ginger Day"


Story: Attack on Calabasas boy probed for tie to Facebook group

The cartoon South Park inspired teens and preteens to start a Facebook page targeting redheads. November 20th was the official "Kick a Ginger Day." It resulted in red-haired school children getting beat up, punched, kicked and harassed all day. Something this silly was able to spread so fast and inspire kids everywhere to inflict random violence on innocent classmates. If only educators could capture the power that social networking holds over our youth...


Student Suspended 180 Days For Facebook Message


Story: Student Suspended 180 Days For Facebook Message

A couple girls at his school were threatening to fight each other via facebook messages. Keshaun Harley chimed in and posted, "You're not going to bust a grape." While I'd like to believe he was just quoting an LL Cool J song, the principal is chalking this up to "cyber-bullying" and suspending the boy an entire school year. Oh, and let's remind everyone that none of this took place on school property. The principal allegedly spent the night looking in a mirror flexing and saying "You're the man!"


"Slut List" rocks top-ranked N.J. school

Story: A Rite of Hazing, Now Out in the Open

Part of being a freshman at Millburn High means you are subject to some senior hazing, as well as the ever-popular Slut List. The principal openly speaks about the fact that his students produce a guide for upperclassman so they know who the freshmen sluts are. The sad thing is, some girls get upset when they don't make the list. In a recent survey, this school ranked #1 in the state. So to all you administrators, take note of how to run a top-notch program.


Flap over flag, hijab leads to suspension of Hernando student



A Muslim student did not stand up for the Pledge of Allegiance. A classmate of her decided to confront her in the hallway and demand she take her hijab off. She went on to explain that she plans to enlist in the Army so she can go to Iraq and fight against other enemies that look like her. The parents of the 16-year old feel that this hateful, racist, and threatening harassment falls well within her freedom of speech. Just when you think we're making progress after 9/11, you hear a story like this that sets us back another ten years.


Congress Urged to Take Action Against Bullying in Schools

Story: Congress Urged to Take Action Against Bullying in Schools

Name-calling has a new word: bullying. And it's not the sticks and stones that are breaking bones, it's the nooses that children use to hang themselves as a result of getting teased. Bullying is nothing new for a school-aged child, but many are arguing that it is the cause for some of these tragic side effects. So..who or what is to blame? We'd like to hear the readers thoughts.


Two arrested in igniting student's hair

Story: Two arrested in igniting student's hair

The mother of the victim, who is understandably not happy with the situation, is more concerned that the principal did not contact her until five days after the incident. Now, there are two sides to every story, but if I ever went home from school ablaze, I would hope swift action be taken. We will wait and see what they ban first- lighters or long hair.


Dad says son 'not racist bully'



Though many of the details are not being released, here is my (probably) accurate description of the incident: The victim was allegedly making remarks toward an Asian student, so the Asian student kicked the crap out of him. Ready for the irony? More than likely he made at least one comment about 'karate' or 'kung fu,' and a broken nose later he realized that sometimes there is a price you pay for pushing someones buttons. Sorry dad, you might have raised a punk.


School district pays $400K to settle Muslim suit



Getting bullied does pay! The girl dropped out of school after a series of threats and harassment from other students. The school did nothing to prevent it. Now she can take her almost half-a-million and drive any car she wants to attend any school she wants. No word if the prinicpal feels guilty yet.


Football players cited in alleged hazing incident

Story: Lorena High School football players cited in alleged hazing incident

Somebody better get a memo out to athletes everywhere that this kind of stuff isn't seen as "innocent fun" anymore. People have been known to press charges over name-calling incidents. Hey, a swirlie never hurt anyone. I'll bet those seniors are wondering if they should go back file assault charges against the old upperclassmen when they went through freshmen hazing.


Web site invites kids to snitch on bullies

Story: Web site invites kids to report bullies incognito

PRO: Students will not be embarrassed or shy to report bullying
CON: Bullies will become outraged at snitches and begin targeting them even more
PRO: The school can keep tabs on behavior patters among students
CON: Students can report false information, causing a lack of resources for faculty to investigate each case
PRO: Some students will feel safer knowing that problems have been reported
CON: Students will not develop natural social skills like the previous 25 generations


Student Suspended in Peanut Butter Bullying Case

Story: Washington High School Student Suspended in Peanut Butter Bullying Case

Kill them with protein, that's what we always said. But seriously, if you haven't been around kids in a while then it is news to you that tons of them are somehow allergic to peanuts nowadays. So wiping peanut butter on a child with this allergy, is the equivalent to poisoning them with cyanide. Who would have thought lunch time can be the most dangerous place in schools?


School bully problem? Send in the clown

Story: School bully problem? Send in the clown

Really? A clown in the rodeo is the most qualified person we can find to educate youth about bullying? I almost interpret this as the schools way of treating the issue as a joke. I applaud the fact that we are not ignoring this epidemic problem...even though bullying has existed FOREVER, but since kids are wimps nowadays we have to treat every situation delicately. If only the boys from Columbine could have had someone make them balloon animals first, history could have been different.


Sikh Girl's Hair Cut by School Bully


Story: Girl's Hair Cut by School Bully

I guess we're still not teaching tolerance in some schools yet. Yes, the girl was punished, but she most likely would have gotten the same consequences had she cut anyones hair. Get ready for rallies, because they're on their way. And rightfully so because the story doesn't mention that attacks like this have been going on at this school since Sept. 11, 2001.


Parents sue school after bullied son commits suicide


Story: Parents sue school after bullied son commits suicide

When we allow video games to raise children into believing that there are no consequences to bullying, this is what happens. Teachers are even guilty of picking on kids, we all know that. And at a school of less than 300 students, EVERYONE knows when it's going on. Does this mean that not one person took it upon themselves to create a comfortable environment for this boy? Hmm, makes you think.


Bully Tries To Poison Student With Peanuts



Interesting tactic. I always thought bullies just pushed kids up against fences and broke their glasses. But I guess it's now 2008 and they are using advanced stealth techniques to conquer their enemies.


 
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