When the Hype about Cyber-Bullying Takes Our Eyes off Schools

While cyber-bullying has become an increasingly disturbing
problem among both adults and children, conventional school bullying—from being
ostracized to being gossiped about, to being teased, taunted, or physically
pushed around—is still a major issue.

I contend, and I wonder if you agree, that No Child Left
Behind is part of the problem here--A program that has forced schools to take away all semblance
of character education, non-academic, and social skills building programs from
gym to music to drama, have been discarded.

As a previous victim of bullying myself I remember clearly
not knowing what to do. But worse yet, I
remember that the teachers had no clue either.
Unfortunately, I still don’t think they do.

I’ve been called upon to do some bullying programs in
schools and I don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth. The problem here is that they want me to do a
“wham-bam-thank-you-ma’am" version of bully education so that the requirement is
fulfilled, the complaining parents are shut-up, and, of course, so the problem
can cease (or at least they can pretend that they did what was needed to be
done).

So, what are we supposed to do? Shall I continue to do “bully education” to
put the proverbial band-aid on the gaping wound—or something else?

Calling on all of you to give me your take on the
topic. It’s serious and it must be
discussed, don’t you think?