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Victim-blaming. Just because abuse happens commonly, and has happened to all of us at one time or another (to varying degrees; and I was certainly on the receiv

Victim-blaming. Just because abuse happens commonly, and has happened to all of us at one time or another (to varying degrees; and I was certainly on the receiving end of plenty of abuse and bullying, as a kid), does not make it OK. So many responses here are of the form, "Toughen up! I did!" Would you not have rather had a safe, non-abusive, school experience? I certainly would have. Would you not rather girls (and boys) in school today have a better experience than you? I would. There are techniques teachers can use to address these kinds of behavioral problems in their classrooms. And, there are ways for schools to help prevent them in the first place. Smaller class sizes consistently reduces behavioral problems and increases success among students, for instance. I don't think it's useful to merely blame the teacher...the system as a whole is culpable (and, society as a whole is culpable on some level, if our budgetary priorities place making war over education). But, the teacher could certainly be better educated in his job and more responsive to a child who is being singled out.

scotty79 13y ago
> Victim-blaming. Sorry. It was unintended. I was just describing my own experience as almost-victim. Personally I mostly place blame on lack of teacher training in detecting and properly reacting to harassment. I hate "Toughen up!" advice. I even hate term "bully". It sounds tolerant, even affectionate. I'd go with thug or hooligan. In my language there isn't even a word for bullying. It's called beating, name calling, stealing, breaking someones stuff, persecution. > Smaller class sizes consistently reduces behavioral problems That's because it's easier for the teacher to pay attention and react. Above some limit it's no longer leading the class, it's crowd control. > I don't think it's useful to merely blame the teacher I'm far from blaming teachers personally. For me it's mostly about what teachers don't get. Like psychological training, smaller classes, framework.

scotty79 13y ago

> Victim-blaming. Sorry. It was unintended. I was just describing my own experience as almost-victim. Personally I mostly place blame on lack of teacher training in detecting and properly reacting to harassment. I hate "Toughen up!" advice. I even hate term "bully". It sounds tolerant, even affectionate. I'd go with thug or hooligan. In my language there isn't even a word for bullying. It's called beating, name calling, stealing, breaking someones stuff, persecution. > Smaller class sizes consistently reduces behavioral problems That's because it's easier for the teacher to pay attention and react. Above some limit it's no longer leading the class, it's crowd control. > I don't think it's useful to merely blame the teacher I'm far from blaming teachers personally. For me it's mostly about what teachers don't get. Like psychological training, smaller classes, framework.