Anti-bullying rally in Lansing

Hundreds of students, parents and teachers rallied Wednesday at the state Capitol, asking lawmakers for help with an issue they experience at school - bullying.

[Jon]

In my experience, school policies against bullying are in-effective. I found them relying on specific words or actions that don't mirror the fluidness of words and actions in the school. I was told that a bully would have to challenge someone, while in the presence of others, using the word "fight". This is something most bullies, in my opinion and experience, find easy to get around. Try explaining to a small statured child that the school can't stop the bully and if your child tries to defend them selves, they are punished. So defensive martial arts doesn't help solve the problem either.

[Gen]

I fully agree with Jon. I have a child in the Belding middle school. About 2 weeks ago I was waiting in my car to pick my son up from school. Their was a group of kids standing n playing around outside the school, when this other kid came walking out. One of the kids in the group started chasing this other kid n saying "I'm gonna get you". Well, the other kid whent running and a cus word came out. A kid in the group ran n told that this other kid swore. A school worker came out & talked to this other kid about his swearing "you cant be saying that or you are going to be in trouble". This kid told the woman about the kid in the group chasing him & what he said. This woman got in her car & left. She said nothing to these bullys. I was shocked. the kids that get bullied are getting in trouble but the bullies get nothing.

[4o4err0r]

I've seen it working... but it was a Christian school so there (conceivably) is a higher standard of morality you can teach.

With hyper secularism, you don't have any moral standard.

Yep, I said it. Ready, aim... shoot.

[not a golfer]

Boo hoo....these liberal knee-jerk responses to a problem ARE THE PROBLEM. Everyone must learn to deal with a bully sometime in life. Better on the school grounds than later in life. How are we preparing kids for life with this whiny hand-ringing attitude about our precious little snowflakes?

[Just Curious]

not a golfer wrote:

Boo hoo....these liberal knee-jerk responses to a problem ARE THE PROBLEM. Everyone must learn to deal with a bully sometime in life. Better on the school grounds than later in life. How are we preparing kids for life with this whiny hand-ringing attitude about our precious little snowflakes?

So tell us how do kids handle the big bully on school grounds?

[Julie]

I thank Mr. Kuipers for recognizing that the wording is crucial for this, or any, legislation. In fact, I believe there are plenty of laws already on the books, which I discovered when serving on jury duty, and saw all the variations of assault, etc.
I've been told that this is another approach, similar to so-called "hate crimes legislation", that seeks not equal protection, but special protection, by homosexual activists. They are sneaky!

[Jonny]

"So tell us how do kids handle the big bully on school grounds? "

Same way it's been done since the begining of time! Kids need to quite hiding under the protection of there parents blanket. Like was said earlier, this is all a part of growing up!

[not a golfer]

Just Curious wrote:

<quoted text>
So tell us how do kids handle the big bully on school grounds?

nonviolent protests....heheehee

Didn't you see "The Three Amigos" everyone has their "El Guappo?" to deal with in life.

[Just Curious]

Jonny wrote:

"So tell us how do kids handle the big bully on school grounds? "
Same way it's been done since the begining of time! Kids need to quite hiding under the protection of there parents blanket. Like was said earlier, this is all a part of growing up!

You did'nt answer my question How do kids handle the big bully? Please be specific spare no details.

[not a golfer]

Julie wrote:

I thank Mr. Kuipers for recognizing that the wording is crucial for this, or any, legislation. In fact, I believe there are plenty of laws already on the books, which I discovered when serving on jury duty, and saw all the variations of assault, etc.
I've been told that this is another approach, similar to so-called "hate crimes legislation", that seeks not equal protection, but special protection, by homosexual activists. They are sneaky!

Isn't Kuipers one of the only Republicans to vote for the big 4 hour tax increase for us in MI. Lost ALL CREDIBILITY and support from me then.... There are more important issues to solve now here in MI.

[rval2]

a one-day anti-bully rally really makes no sense to me, as it is doubtful it will have any long term success in stopping the bullying;
how about if the parents participating in this parade, instead, volunteer in the schools as security personnel?

long term...consistency...

just a thought

[not a golfer]

Just Curious wrote:

<quoted text>
You did'nt answer my question How do kids handle the big bully? Please be specific spare no details.

The same way a country handles their bullies, through showing confidence and overcoming thier mostly unfounded fears. Diplomacy first and ongoing but we see that with the less civilized, that does not get us far. Stand up to them and challenge their behavior not them personally or you will just end up fighting a fight to defend their honor which is not your concern. Don't respond to their trash talk or fall for their bait but show strength by standing up to them as their peers look on and never striking the first blow but willing to back up your diplomacy and strength with action...

[chad]

not a golfer wrote:

Boo hoo....these liberal knee-jerk responses to a problem ARE THE PROBLEM. Everyone must learn to deal with a bully sometime in life. Better on the school grounds than later in life. How are we preparing kids for life with this whiny hand-ringing attitude about our precious little snowflakes?

Typical right wing nonsense. Maybe the kids getting bullied should be allowed to carry concealed weapons? That outta take care of it. Shoot-outs on the playground.
Schools are where kids should feel safe. Anti-bullying laws are long overdue.

[just curious]

not a golfer wrote:

<quoted text>The same way a country handles their bullies, through showing confidence and overcoming thier mostly unfounded fears. Diplomacy first and ongoing but we see that with the less civilized, that does not get us far. Stand up to them and challenge their behavior not them personally or you will just end up fighting a fight to defend their honor which is not your concern. Don't respond to their trash talk or fall for their bait but show strength by standing up to them as their peers look on and never striking the first blow but willing to back up your diplomacy and strength with action...

Good Answer...

[Been there]

A day at school without being bullied was a good day. Most days were not good days. The victims of bullying learn quickly to keep as low of a profile as possible. This means not hanging out with friends because nobody wants to be humiliated by the bully in front of his friends. Really, that is what most bullying is. I'm not talking about getting physically beat up, but rather, the relentless verbal and very public tormenting from a certain group of individuals who seem to seek out those who are the slightest bit different or weak. "Not a golfer" writes that everyone must learn to deal with a bully. I compare that philosophy with throwing your kid in the middle of the lake and walking away so that he can learn to swim. A few might learn from the experience, but most would drown. So it is with bullying. Some learn to deal with it, while others who do not. They disengage to the extent that they become disinterested, and then they drop out. While I have no proof, I will always believe that at least half of the kids who are regular victims of bullying eventually drop out of school. I was, and I did.

[Mark]

not a golfer wrote:

<quoted text>The same way a country handles their bullies, through showing confidence and overcoming thier mostly unfounded fears. Diplomacy first and ongoing but we see that with the less civilized, that does not get us far. Stand up to them and challenge their behavior not them personally or you will just end up fighting a fight to defend their honor which is not your concern. Don't respond to their trash talk or fall for their bait but show strength by standing up to them as their peers look on and never striking the first blow but willing to back up your diplomacy and strength with action...

Amen.

How did you all that think this stupid liberal feel good BS handle bullying in school? It isn't like this is anything that just popped up 5 years ago.

It's rather simple, stand up to them and they will then respect you because they know you aren't afraid of them. Worked for me numerous times. Got into some fights, never went and told the teacher or my parents, I handled it myself. Even when I got beat, they still respected me afterwards, because they knew I wasn't a coward.

And rval, won't work, then parents would actually have to be involved instead of shoving their kids off on the schools to solve all their kids' problems. Might even have to spend time with their kids if they volunteered. And we all know that it's quality time, not quantity. Another load of liberal BS.

[Mark]

chad wrote:

<quoted text>
Typical right wing nonsense. Maybe the kids getting bullied should be allowed to carry concealed weapons? That outta take care of it. Shoot-outs on the playground.
Schools are where kids should feel safe. Anti-bullying laws are long overdue.

Typical left wing stupid answer. Have a rally and another law. Lord knows we don't have enough laws.

Would this be considered a hate crime? What about race, do we need wording on whether it's a white on black bullying, black on black, hispanic on black, Martian on Martian?

Laws are not the answer moron, parenting is the answer.

[Another Mom]

Even if you don't respond and continue to ignore these days the bully will continue.
If you even if you are just defending yourself from getting punched, you participated in the fight you are in just as much trouble as the bully. Sometimes the bullies will be suspended an extra day more than the other but that is up to the principal handing it out.

[Sand Lake Ken]

Bullying is a form of terrorism is it not??
Send em to Cuba for a while ..........or come up with tougher "ENFORCED EQUALLY LAWS". Tri-County MS and HS states "they will not tolerate Bullying" although when reported, the reporting kids are to to "Quite tattling and toughen up". It makes it hard for some kids to learn.

[Sand Lake Ken]

OOPS kids are 'told to quit'