The Devastation of School Beatings
Embarrassment. Shame. Disgust. These ugly words don’t begin to describe the horror of what it felt like to be beat up as a 14 year old. I can still remember my classmates gathered around cheering for the ones delivering the powerful blows. As the beatings continued, I looked for a place deep within myself where I could pretend that the beatings weren’t happening to me.
I didn’t know what I had done to be hated so much. As an adult, I still don’t know. I didn’t understand why tormenting me was such a fun event for everyone else. The beating seemed to last forever and finally I was left laying on the ground. Beaten and bruised, I stood up to make my way back to the school building. I knew this day would forever change my life.
In the years that followed, I went through a lot of pain because I disliked myself so much. So much hurt could have been avoided if I would have dared speak out. I was convinced that no one would hear me if I did. Now, as an adult, I can see that my thinking was wrong. I did not deserve to be beaten-up. I had done nothing wrong and if I had gone to someone in authority they would have helped me. I was not as along as I felt. School beatings have been in the news a lot the past few days. How can students and adults stand aside and watch as children are tortured? Why are people cheering and not standing up for what is right? What can we do to stop this abuse? What if the student was you or someone you loved?
2 Responses to “The Devastation of School Beatings”
Leave a Reply
Start a Conversation
Media
Do you crave destiny? (Part 2)
Destiny? Is this really me? Was I really born for great things?
>Watch
We have to educate our children from the time they are toddlers, that no one ever deserves to be bullied. Everyone deserves to be loved and respected. My brother has started a program for elementary school aged children called the “No Bully Zone”. He has presented his program in lots of schools in Manitoba and in Saskatchewan. It is well received and the message is clear: If you don’t stand up for someone being bullied – you are just as much to blame as the bully him/herself. Everyone deserves to be loved and accepted. This horrible cycle of bullying must be stopped!
Has anbody ever heard of Dr Gordon Neufield? He’s a well known Canadian author, speaker and psychologist from BC who’s book and materials are very helpful on this subject. As a teacher and parent I have attended his conference and read his work on bullying which is excellent. His basic developmental theory is that many of today’s problems (violence, bullying, opposition) are the result of frustation in not having primary needs of proximity with signifiant adults (parents) met. Our peer oriented society produces bullies.
He has the approach to the problem that I consider the closest to a solution I have ever read. His book (Parents Hold on to Your Kids)and his materials can be ordered on http://www.Gordon Neufield.com.