This has to change.....

[Bornteach]

For those of you who do not know, I am an Assistant Principal in a large elementary school in Suburban Boston. I was sent this video today and I feel SO STRONGLY that EVERYONE should see this.

This has to change. FIRST GRADE?!?!?!

Please pass on.....


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg&feature=share

 

[DisneyKevin]

I've watched Jonah's video several times and it hurts more every time I see it.

 

[Mickeyflower]

I could only watch it once. I lost my beautiful niece to suicide (see my signature) I wish I could go to this boy and just hug him! Then find the bullies and knock their heads together! I know what its like to be bullied for years. I am thrilled this boy, no young man, has the strength of character to know that by not giving in, by returning year after year, he is TRULY THE STRONGEST of them all!

 

[disneyquilter]

We live about 40 minutes from this boy's family. I heard about him in our local paper. I finally saw his video today. I cried. I have two daughters who are 12 and 14 (7th and 9th grade) and I am all too familiar with the bullying that can happen. I weep for my children's generation. I am 35 y/o and I remember how hard school could be and how difficult it was, and I don't envy my children. Every day I hear about things going on in their lives, or their friends lives, or even "a friend of a friend of a friend's" life, and sometimes it's heartbreaking. It's hard. Bullying seems so easy anymore with texting, Facebook, and Twitter.

I am not the model parent, by any means, but there are a few things I have learned and that I am really trying to teach my kids.

Hug your kids. Teach them to be kind-hearted and loving to everyone. Talk to them, don't talk down to them. Allow them to open up to you. Just let them talk. Teach them to stand up for kids who are having a hard time at school or anywhere for that matter. Just love them.

And most of all, be an advocate for your children. No one else will do it for you.

Here is the article, for those interested:
http://www.ocregister.com/news/video-330259-posted-first.html

 

[safetymom]

So sad. I just wanted to hug him. What is wrong with people that bully people???????? Parents need to be involved and teach their children that they don't bully others.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

Bullying is prevalent in schools. I don't think this is very new... back when I was a kid, it wasn't something we talked about like we do today. I was bullied. I can't remember a lot of kids I went to school with now without having to think about it but I do remember the names of the kids who bullied me 25 35 years ago. I still remember the things they said and did. Clear as watching a movie. Today their are new ways that bullies use, cell phones, computers and of course the usual face to face, behind the back and words on the bathroom wall scenarios. I watched this video. It broke my heart. I remember. I am so glad for Jonah that things have turned around for him. HE is the voice of so many. This kid is going to go far!

Now unfortunately I have seen my daughter go through the same thing that I did. The difference is she tells me. I never told my parents until I was grown. Bullying is humiliating. As much as it hurt me to be bullied. It hurts me more to know that my daughter has experienced the same thing. There are all sorts of anti bullying programs in the school and in my opinion they are mostly ineffective. If they were effective we wouldn't be seeing all this bullying in the schools. Bringing the kids together and making them "talk it out", say "I'm sorry" doesn't solve anything. The thing is bullies are sly, they rarely if ever get caught in the act of being cruel and hurtful. They have no accountability. And they know it. I don't know what the solution is, I do know that kids shouldn't have to go through their childhood feeling trodden upon by their peers or even adults in their life. Every kid needs to feel valued and supported.

 

[eeyorethegreat]

So sad. I just wanted to hug him. What is wrong with people that bully people???????? Parents need to be involved and teach their children that they don't bully others.

This is true- the thing is many times the parents are bullies themselves or were when they were kids and many times see nothing wrong with what their child is doing. "it's just kids being kids" mentality. That is what makes bullying even sadder.

 

[PeterPan09]

I could only watch it once, it broke my heart-but what was even more upsetting were the people on YouTube who decided that he was faking the whole thing!!!

Bullying was bad enough when I was a kid, but at least when I got home from school I got away from it. Now it follows them 24/7, they never get a break.

I'm glad he's doing better, and my prayer is that his story has given hope and courage to other bullied children.

 

[THE3jsmom]

So sad, I will not watch b/c I know how hard it is for kids, I was bullied and so was my ds in middle school. It is a serious problem and I really wish parents would check on their kids and build up their self-esteem. I wish I could just hug all bullied kids and shelter them from the ugliness.

 

[disneym2m]

Like everyone else, this video touched me as well.

Bullies suck and we probably all have dealt with a bully or two in our lifetime. But because this kid was able to put together this video, he helped a lot of people. Something in him made him a little stronger. And with a little strength he accomplished so much.

I wish all the bullying could be stopped. And I wish we could help these kids realize that it won't last forever.

I hope Jonah is doing well and if I could hug him right now and tell him things will get better I would.

 

[WorldWacky]

I could only watch it once, it broke my heart-but what was even more upsetting were the people on YouTube who decided that he was faking the whole thing!!!

Bullying was bad enough when I was a kid, but at least when I got home from school I got away from it. Now it follows them 24/7, they never get a break.

I'm glad he's doing better, and my prayer is that his story has given hope and courage to other bullied children.

That made me furious!

What a difficult thing to have the courage to do. I really feel for Jonah. I hope he continues to get the support he needs.

 

[DisneyKevin]

I bet most of us could / would say that we were bullied when we were kids.

This is not new, but as someone pointed out.....the bullying stopped when we got home (hopefully).

Things have changed.

While the internet has improved our lives in many ways, it's a double edged sword.

Pinheads, that would never say the things they post to your face, have internet anonymity and therefore feel empowered to spew their hate.

Look at the comment section under Jonah's video. Look at the comment section under any story on CNN.com. These are just two examples.

I'm not sure we can stop the bullying. There will always be someone who has more power or feels that they need more power and that belittling / hurting others is the way to get it.

People who bully others are not happy / healthy people. They are people with low self-esteem and issues of their own.

I think the emphasis needs to be on saving / helping / encouraging / empowering and being on the watch for the kids that aren't handling it well.

I'm guessing that because we are all here and posting about this, that we have all made it through and that our wounds are not life threatening.

The same can not be said for many young people today. We need to be aware of them.

The chubby kid.

The girl that's too tall.

The kid with a distinguishing feature (ears, teeth, breasts, speech issues etc).

The gay kid.

The kid that small for his / her size.

The non-athletic kid.

The shy kid.

I know it sounds like I'm naming most of the kid population, but as adults.....it's our responsibility to keep our eyes out for them.

Please don't think I'm saying this is ever going to be easy.....or even always possible....but we have to try.

Kids are killing themselves over this stuff.

There have to be other answers.

 

[*NikkiBell*]

I couldn't agree more or have put this so eloquently as Kevin did above. Bullying is rampant in schools, work places, relationships, social networking sites, message boards, blogs, etc. all around the world. I think that this child is doing a great public service by bringing it to light and hope he found help to cope with his feelings. It concerns me that this was made only four months ago yet he is now claiming to be happy and carefree. Issues like this are not solved overnight.

 

[Dian-er]

I cried too,still am in fact. How sad & I'm sure he's not alone. I experienced a little bullying in 3rd grade. My mom had the opportunity to swirch to a different elementary school in 4th & it was MUCH better there.

 

[DeltaDiamond001]

I only wish I had seen this video when I was that age.

Very, very powerful.

Thank you so much for sharing.

 

[Lynn57]

Children used to be able to escape bullying by going home at the end of the school day. With the internet and social networking, bullying follows them day and night, and permeates throughout every aspect of their lives. Cyber bullying has become part of third grade anti-bullying curriculum at my school (same school as bornteach) to help students understand that bullying is bullying no matter what form it is in.

My heart breaks to think that Jonah has spent the majority of his life as a target of bullying. Growing from this abuse will be a long road, which I hope he can follow with a support system to surround him... I worry about all the children and young adults who do not feel that they can speak out or share their problems with anyone. Hopefully watching Jonah's video will give some of the children the courage to do so.

 

[SamSam]

As others have said, the new internet age has seemed to make the problem worse. People of all ages will say things via social networking that they would never say in person.

I think it's such a good thing that bullying has been being brought out in the open these last few years, hopefully that will help all of us be aware and be watchful of it. We can all certainly watch our own behavior, and teach our children that bullying is never okay.

I was not bullied as a child but I was abused by a family member and I think because of being abused and feeling 'different' because of it, I was always very aware of my peers that were on the receiving end of bullying, and I would always be a friend to them.

 

[cj9200]

Well said Kevin and everyone else. I was never subjected to bullying. Sure I encountered jerks but it wasn’t as intense as other kids went through. My daughter hasn’t either but has friends that were subjected to it at school and at home. She knows kids that are “cutters” including a very close friend.

Hope this kid and others get the help and counseling they need. They need to know that life is precious and as bad as things are now, they can and will get better. Too many of these kids decide that ending their life is the only escape. Check out and consider giving to organizations to groups like the Trevor Project. They offer a lifeline to kids that are suffering.

 

[darrengs]

My son is also in 8th grade and is bullied and continues to be bullied daily. Yet, the schools response is always to talk to the boys and "put this incident behind" them, this sweep it under the rug mentality is ridiculous. Last year he was even bullied by a teacher, I honestly didn't believe it until I spoke to her, at which time I knew my son was telling the truth. When your child tells you that he does not feel safe, and the school is obviously just looking to downplay and ignore these issues, you feel helpless. I was hopeful when NJ passed the Anti-Bullying law, but it has done nothing but give the schools a way to make it look like they care. I am so disgusted with our towns school system that we are now looking elsewhere for his education.