| y"> | | | | how the local school should handle the bullying |
| Bullying is getting a lot of attention in the news. I | | | | situation. Having a bureaucratic organization |
| hear the talking heads talking about the pros and | | | | deciding such things from 2,000 miles away |
| cons of various approaches. What laws should be | | | | doesn't make much sense to me. |
| enacted to counter bullying and what actions | | | | Imagine if schools were private organizations, |
| should be taken. | | | | competing for our hard-earned money. How do |
| That approach to bullying reminded me of my | | | | you think bullying would be handled? Do you think |
| youth. Schools seemed much less complicated | | | | there would be as many attempts to ignore the |
| then. They didn't have as many regulations, | | | | concerns of the parents - the payers of the |
| requirements, diversity training, sensitivity training, | | | | administrators salary? Of course not, because |
| politically correct training, etc, that the have today. | | | | they could take their money elsewhere. |
| I remember that if you were picked on, you | | | | You see, part of the problem with dealing with |
| could defend yourself, or a teacher would step in | | | | bullies, is that Washington is modeling bullying |
| (if they over heard or became aware of it). The | | | | behavior. They direct much of what a school can |
| teacher would let the perpetrator know their | | | | and should do. And they have the power of the |
| bullying language or behavior would have | | | | purse. |
| consequences. Parents would be called if things | | | | Bullying in a private institution is handled much |
| got out of hand or crossed a line. Or parents | | | | better because the school has a vested interest |
| requests to administrators were dealt with | | | | in keeping the student and their parents happy - |
| effectively. This was my experience in private | | | | they are paying customers. When you remove |
| school, where my parents paid their 'taxes' | | | | the parents from the process, you remove a |
| directly to the school in the way of tuition. | | | | crucial dynamic in dealing with bullies. |
| My experience in junior high (a public school) was | | | | I recognize bullying can be a serious issue. It can |
| much different. It wasn't much different then | | | | have serious consequences. As a parent, I like the |
| what I read about today. In the public debate, | | | | leverage I have when I'm a paying customer |
| every talking head and interest group have a | | | | when a provider (a school) is worried I might |
| strong opinion on bullying. I look at it from a | | | | leaver and take my 'taxes' with me. By bringing |
| different point of view. First, this is what happens | | | | the power of the purse back to the local |
| when you centralize decision making. We have to | | | | communities (school choice - and tax choice) we |
| send our kids to specific public schools, where | | | | force schools and parents to be more engaged. |
| they are basically trapped to attend unless we | | | | I've learned that people tend to model what you |
| want to home school or pay for private school - | | | | do regardless of what you say. So, ask the |
| on top of paying taxes for public schools whether | | | | government to stop bullying schools on how to |
| our kids attend or not. | | | | handle these situations and give power back to |
| Since schools are more centralized, that means | | | | the parents. |
| Washington is getting directly involved in deciding | | | | |