Are you a Bully?

[Guest guest]

I received this from another listserv.

Thanks, Heidi Fernandez

Rick Tallman on the Restraint Info. listserve sent this. Thought it wouldbe of interest:Are You a Bully?A Connecticut school administrator, commenting on his district’s decision toinclude teacher behavior in its anti-bullying policy, complained that itwould be difficult to distinguish between bullying behavior and classroommanagement strategies. Avon and Hartford, Connecticut, are believed to be

the first districts in the nation to include teacher behavior in their

anti-bullying policies. One Hartford administrator, however, expressed doubt

about including the behaviors of teachers under this policy , claiming itwould be hard to distinguish between bullying behavior and classroommanagement strategies.Classroom management, according to education expert Harry Wong is the“practices and procedures that allow teachers to teach and students tolearn.†Bullying, according to Dictionary.com is the practice of being“habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people.â€In other words, those who can, manage their classrooms.Those who can’t, manage their students.The former are educators; the latter are bullies.EDUCATORS let students know they care.BULLIES let students know who's boss.Educators teach self-control.Bullies exert their own control.Educators diffuse minor disruptions with humor.Bullies use sarcasm to turn disruptions into confrontations.Educators are judiciousBullies are judgmental.Educators, aware of the power they wield over their students, choose theirwords and actions carefully.Bullies wield their power recklessly, frequently resorting to anger andintimidation.Educators help all students feel successful.Bullies punish students for being unsuccessful.Educators see each student's uniqueness.Bullies compare children to one another.Educators treat all students with respect.Bullies make it clear that not all students deserve respect.Educators are proactive; they create classroom environments that minimizestudent misbehavior.Bullies are reactive; they blame students for the lack of order in theirclassrooms.Educators educate.Bullies humiliate.Adapted from:http://www.educationworld.com/a_issues/issues376.shtmlArticle by StarrEducation World®Copyright © 2003 Education World