Faculty response

Much better than expected....my biggest concern, however, is that the kids who are the meanest to others do not see a problem in the school. I know. Big surprise.

Bullies

Finished conference today. Very enlightening. Maybe we can make a difference. Maybe.

So tired of egotism.

Get over yourself. Really. No one cares.

Ruminations

So I was discussing recent events, which I have mentioned here, with a colleague today. She feels frustrated and does not see where our efforts are succeeding. The fact that she will stop and converse with kids, though, may reach even one of them, and they will stop their hurtful behavior. It is frustrating when kids find humor in being cruel to other kids, and I as well as you have heard the lame mantra, "It's always been like that." "It happened when I was a kid, too." Blah, blah blah. Just because it happened when you were a kid doesn't make it right. Someone needs to stop and say, "Even though it happened when I was a kid, it isn't going to happen anymore." Where is that guy? Well, maybe WE have to be that guy. Atticus Finch had it right when he said, "Look at things from [another's] point of view. Crawl around in his skin for a while and see it from his perspective." I am paraphrasing, but the sentiment is sound. We all need to stop turning a blind eye to the bullies and the self-labeled hotshots. We can't pretend it's not happening; it is. And this mentality that teasing and picking on kids is some kind of bizarre rite of passage I don't buy. When you have done nothing to another person, you do not deserve that from anyone.

Because really...

There's no way that athletes can show the heart and soul that they do, the utter will, commitment, and drive to win, be successful and be outright jerks at the same time. I believe that sooner or later the jerks get weeded out. Or beaten up in the locker room.

Another item that made me sad today.

I was informed by someone that I like and respect that in order for certain sports teams to be successful they must have a certain percentage of jerks upon them, vicious, uncaring individuals who will go out there and beat others down. I cannot believe that this has to be true. I cannot believe that in order to behave as a top athlete on the field you have to be a top-notch jerk off it. And I will continue to rail against this.

I have started this blog because I am tired.

I am tired of people being mean to people. I am tired of people thinking it's funny to hurt others' feelings. I am tired of the careless cruelty that people show each other. There is so much good to be done in the world, and so many people wanting to do it. Why is it that the people whose sole purpose is to diminish others have so much power in this world? USE YOUR POWER FOR GOOD, PEOPLE!