I saw this story on CNN http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19068363/ How far should a teacher go to stop "typical middle school behavior" is zero tolerance of "typical middle school behavior" (not just the Bullying) only answer, is there an aspect of "what doesn't kill me makes me stronger?" or somewhere in between I don't think it was "typical" but some behaviors which are "typical" are under attack, if we completely shelter students is that in the students' best interests? This post dose not necessarily express the views of the poster, he is just wanting to hear other views
What, Dave? what do you mean completely shelter students? She was getting beat up and tormented for having seizures. Am I misunderstanding you that you're saying is that this is a normal part of growing up? Don't yell at me, I'm just asking!
Her treatment was way out of line, not "typical middle school behavior" and should be stopped. It is "zero tolerance" that worries me. The story is just a writting prompt
It looks as though there was plenty of tolerance going on here, and not much protection. From the link you posted. By the way, there aren't many schools who actually enforce zero tolerance, not in my experience. So what is it you want to express about the subject?
Typical middle school behavior: there has been a movement for zero tolerance on many behaviors and items in schools and punishment has gone to the extreme. In regard to items there is one example of a 6th grader who took a plastic picnic knife to school to cut some chicken she had for lunch she was suspended. In regard to words, in lower grades a 5 y/o kinder student was suspended for calling a kid a "snot nose".
You're right, that is just silly--worse, actually. (the two incidents you referenced) But I don't understand how that connects to the incident you initially referenced? What is the connection? I'm missing it.
I think Dave is saying that the behavior in the link was clearly over the line. But where, exactly, is the line? Somewhere between "snot nose" and getting beat up. If schools claim to have "zero tolerance", what exactly will they tolerate or not tolerate. Is that close Dave?
Okay, this is not to sound judgmental. This is a real question, if you're interested in real justice. The girl whose story you referenced has had her psyche and body battered for at least two years by the harrassment she has suffered. God bless her. If someone steals a thing from me, it makes me mad because I work hard for the things I have and it's not right to steal. But, I can get over it. It's just a thing. That money will replace. I can get it back. A student stole a phone from you. You were understandably indignant. You pressed charges and asked for incarceration. If you're worried about zero tolerance and are looking for alternatives, there is a good one out there right now. Restorative justice. It is being used in schools in several different states and, because of it's voluntary participation, has a high compliance rate with offenders. It seeks to restore the victim's sense of safety and dignity to where it was before the incident, and it seeks to restore the offender to the community (this is not for extreme cases for example serial molesters, rapists, killers) after making amends to the victim and the community. My point of view comes from two places: 1) Reconciliation is more for you than for the offender, because it helps you to heal, and 2) After my mom died, I knew right then that only people are irreplaceable. If you really want to implement alternatives to the current crime/punishment model of schools and CJ, restorative justice is a good place to start.
Bullies have been around forever. I was tormented in middle school by one particular boy and his friends. I never told my parents but still remember his mean comments and actions. A few years ago one of my students became a target. His peers decided that he was gay and were cruel to him. All of his teachers and counselors did their best to stop the situation. It was impossible to control as the students were very careful to only say and do things when he was not around adults. If he had been my son, I would have moved him to a different school.
