School Bullying Council

PARIS –  A 12-year-old boy was beaten outside his Jewish school in Paris by youths reciting anti-Semitic slogans, school officials said, amid high security and tensions in France following killings of Jewish children and a rabbi last week.

The boy did not suffer serious injuries.

Both the school shooting and this week’s beating involved the Ozar Hatorah network of Jewish schools.

Emotions have been raw in France, especially within the half-million-strong Jewish community, since a gunman shot a rabbi and his two sons, 3 and 5 years old, and the 8-year-old daughter of the principal of the Ozar Hatorah School in the southern city of Toulouse on March 19.

A radical Muslim gunman named Mohamed Merah claimed responsibility for that attack and killing three French paratroopers, before he was shot to death by police.

The 12-year-old boy was hit and punched in the back of his head Monday afternoon as he left the Ozar Hatorah School in southeast Paris, the school’s human resources director, Katia Normal, said Tuesday. She said the aggressors were two boys a couple of years older than the victim who recited anti-Semitic slogans.

It happened about 100 meters from the entrance and therefore out of sight of the police officers guarding the school.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy ordered security increased at Jewish and Muslim schools and synagogues after last week’s shooting.

An official with the Paris police said the school reported Monday’s incident but did not elaborate on what happened because it involves a minor.

Jean-Paul Amoyelle, president of the Ozar Hatorah network in France, lamented Monday’s beating.

“There was a feeling of solidarity for our schools after this drama (in Toulouse),” he told The Associated Press. “Now I fear that this has provoked a hostile reaction, shown by the attitude of these boys who called him dirty Jew and beat him up.”

“We have to be vigilant, because this could lead to more aggression,” he said.

France is deep in an election campaign that has touched on questions about the French identity. Jews are shaken by last week’s killings, and France’s large Islamic community — estimated at 5 million — fears a backlash because the killer was Muslim.

Sarkozy and other politicians have called for unity and tolerance.

Merah’s shadow hung over a ceremony Tuesday commemorating a somber anniversary: 70 years since Nazi-occupied France deported its first convoy of Jews and others to concentration camps during World War II.

Famed Nazi hunter Serge Klarsfeld and a French government minister were among those present at the ceremony in the Paris suburb of Drancy. It honored the 1,112 Jews sent March 27, 1942 from Drancy to the camps at Auschwitz. Only 19 survived.

Authorites went onto send 76,000 people from France to Nazi camps, most from Drancy. Most died.

“The anti-Jewish hate that led these tens of thousands of victims to an atrocious death remains, alas, persistent and alive, even if it has changed its vector and Hitlerian ideology has been substituted by the most extremist fringe of Islam,” Klarsfeld said.

Junior defense minister Marc Laffineur, speaking at the ceremony, said, “In attacking, with incredible cruelty, children and soldiers of the nation, Mohamed Merah was targeting each one of us.”

Referring to France’s motto, he said Merah targeted “the heart of all those who demand liberty, equality and fraternity.”

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/03/27/boy-beaten-near-paris-jewish-school-amid-tensions/

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http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/bullying-witnesses-need-to-stand-up/story-fn7x8me2-1226309975342

Over three days, 10-year-old DeWayne Banks Jr. was called names and beaten up by other kids at school.

Growing up living in Section 8 housing, E.B. “Holiwud” Hunter, now 36, was teased by classmates because of the clothes he wore and the money he didn’t have.

Lawrence Brewton, who hasn’t walked the halls of a high school as a student in almost two decades, candidly admits he was once a bully.

All three gave personal testimonials Friday night before about 100 people at a Stop the Bullying program at the Emmett Scott Recreation Center.

The event, meant to raise awareness about bullying in the community, featured guests who sang inspirational songs, like “I Am Beautiful.” Praise dance and step teams captivated the audience with performances encouraging confidence and self-assurance.

Skin Deep, an improvisational performance group from Winthrop University, delivered several skits showing the negative impact of bullying.

One skit showed a bullied teen committing suicide. The other scenario depicted a teen taking matters into his own hands and arming himself with a gun.

Natasha Jones, who organized the program, said bullying is aggressive, repeated behavior.

Judging from his speech, Brewton was quite familiar with the definition.

Though ashamed of the teen he was, the 35-year-old was able to offer words of wisdom: “If you’re getting bullied, it’s not fair to you; it’s not fair to anybody.”

Growing up, Brewton said, relatives mocked him because he was chubby. The ridicule followed him to school.

Brewton “transformed” in middle school, he said, and became a bully out of rage.

“I would try to pick on people smaller than me,” he said.

Brewton – like most bullies – was ashamed of himself even then, he said.

Chances are, if Brewton went to school with Miliyah Fitts-Prudam, she would have been one of his victims.

The petite 10-year-old Ebenezer Avenue Elementary School student took center stage and boldly admitted that yes, she had been bullied.

“People bully me because of my eyes, and they call me fat when I’m really not,” Miliyah said. “I don’t even ask questions in class because people bully me.”

In the crowd to support her goddaughter, Miliyah, Amina Abdullah, 27, recalled her own experiences with being bullied.

There weren’t many.

Not because kids weren’t cruel, she said, but because she fought back.

“You shouldn’t have to fight everyday at school,” she said.

Jasmine Armstrong, 20, wants kids to know they can talk to their parents if there are problems with peers.

The mother of a 6-month-old said parents also shouldn’t wait until their children are badly hurt before realizing there’s a problem.

“Parents need to ask,” she said.

Bullying no longer wears the face of the mean kid in the sandbox or the jerk that steals lunch money, like it was in the days Juanita Adams was a student.

Adams, 63, attended the event to support her granddaughter, Megan.

Last year, Megan had problems with bullies because of her size, Adams said.

“It’s sad, but it’s good for people to hear” how bullying impacts children, she said.

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/news/local/rock-hill-program-looks-push-back-against-bullying/nLb3P/

If our children behaved privately like our politicians behave publicly, I would imagine many would run the risk of violating school district policies against bullying. Bullying is all about exerting power or influence at the expense of another. This is exactly what we see every day in the unfettered bickering of politicians.

One might argue that political candidates share information about their opponents as a civic duty, so that the voting public can make informed choices.

If it were only a matter of sharing factual public information, then why would fact-check organizations be needed to determine who is telling the truth, partial truths or “pants on fire” tales? These political strategies are not much different from the social media character assassinations conducted by teens who want to beat down their opponents.

Bullying should be connected to the behavior of people we elect to public office. I am waiting for stricter anti-bullying legislation to go into effect, and for a noble lawyer to charge a high-profile politician and his or her election campaign team under these new laws.

USATODAY OPINION

Letters to the editor

USA TODAY receives about 300 letters each day. Most arrive via e-mail, but we also receive submissions by postal mail and fax. We publish about 35 letters each week.

We often select comments that respond directly to USA TODAY articles or opinion pieces. Letters that are concise and make one or two good points have the best chance of being selected, as do letters that reflect the vibrant debate around the nation on a particular subject.

We aim to make the letters platform a place where readers, not just writers representing institutions or interest groups, have their say.

• How to submit letters

Rick Varner; Catonsville, Md.

Parents are responsible for kids

With all the headlines about how to solve the bullying problem, I would like to suggest a solution. Let’s assign responsibility where it belongs: the parents!

Poor parenting is often the root cause of bullying. Until the bully turns 18, let the parent share the legal responsibility. This would be a sure way to focus the attention where it is most needed.

Knowing that they will eventually be held responsible for the behavior of their children might motivate parents to do a better job in raising more tolerant children.

David M. Lipkin; Pittsburgh

Embrace respectful debate

The lack of civility in public discourse in the United States is increasing the polarization of its leaders and people. We are failing as a country to listen with respect, understand others’ views, analyze and formulate constructive responses.

Sharp opinions and propaganda are not new in political rhetoric. However, today the methods to spread and promote divisive dialog have increased tremendously through media such as Facebook, Twitter, TV, radio and YouTube.

Many politicians are so concerned about promoting their own agendas that they feel a need to vilify and belittle their opposition, creating animosity on both sides of the debate. There may come a time when this country and its leaders will need to pull together rapidly and decisively, but they’ll fail because of the crippling foundation of resentment that has been laid through an enduring lack of civility.

I call for a conscientious effort on the part of all politicians, pundits and the general public to embrace the fundamentals of respectful debate, promote civility and preserve amicable working relationships. They should agree to disagree when necessary, so that we can work together to solve the major issues of our day.

Paul Hauwiller; Arcanum, Ohio

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/story/2012-03-22/bullying-politics-schools/53712832/1

If our children behaved privately like our politicians behave publicly, I would imagine many would run the risk of violating school district policies against bullying. Bullying is all about exerting power or influence at the expense of another. This is exactly what we see every day in the unfettered bickering of politicians.

One might argue that political candidates share information about their opponents as a civic duty, so that the voting public can make informed choices.

If it were only a matter of sharing factual public information, then why would fact-check organizations be needed to determine who is telling the truth, partial truths or “pants on fire” tales? These political strategies are not much different from the social media character assassinations conducted by teens who want to beat down their opponents.

Bullying should be connected to the behavior of people we elect to public office. I am waiting for stricter anti-bullying legislation to go into effect, and for a noble lawyer to charge a high-profile politician and his or her election campaign team under these new laws.

USATODAY OPINION

Letters to the editor

USA TODAY receives about 300 letters each day. Most arrive via e-mail, but we also receive submissions by postal mail and fax. We publish about 35 letters each week.

We often select comments that respond directly to USA TODAY articles or opinion pieces. Letters that are concise and make one or two good points have the best chance of being selected, as do letters that reflect the vibrant debate around the nation on a particular subject.

We aim to make the letters platform a place where readers, not just writers representing institutions or interest groups, have their say.

• How to submit letters

Rick Varner; Catonsville, Md.

Parents are responsible for kids

With all the headlines about how to solve the bullying problem, I would like to suggest a solution. Let’s assign responsibility where it belongs: the parents!

Poor parenting is often the root cause of bullying. Until the bully turns 18, let the parent share the legal responsibility. This would be a sure way to focus the attention where it is most needed.

Knowing that they will eventually be held responsible for the behavior of their children might motivate parents to do a better job in raising more tolerant children.

David M. Lipkin; Pittsburgh

Embrace respectful debate

The lack of civility in public discourse in the United States is increasing the polarization of its leaders and people. We are failing as a country to listen with respect, understand others’ views, analyze and formulate constructive responses.

Sharp opinions and propaganda are not new in political rhetoric. However, today the methods to spread and promote divisive dialog have increased tremendously through media such as Facebook, Twitter, TV, radio and YouTube.

Many politicians are so concerned about promoting their own agendas that they feel a need to vilify and belittle their opposition, creating animosity on both sides of the debate. There may come a time when this country and its leaders will need to pull together rapidly and decisively, but they’ll fail because of the crippling foundation of resentment that has been laid through an enduring lack of civility.

I call for a conscientious effort on the part of all politicians, pundits and the general public to embrace the fundamentals of respectful debate, promote civility and preserve amicable working relationships. They should agree to disagree when necessary, so that we can work together to solve the major issues of our day.

Paul Hauwiller; Arcanum, Ohio

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/letters/story/2012-03-22/bullying-politics-schools/53712832/1