To stand up to bullying is to be a real-life superhero. To put yourself out there like that takes courage, inner strength, smarts, and determination. Which is why I’m about to reveal the full depths of my nerd-dom by telling you about my favorite superhero. When I first picked up a trade paperback of The… Read more »
There are many examples in daily life of how not conforming—of how making yourself visible by acting different from others—is to do the hard thing. Is it any wonder that, when the majority does something troubling or onerous or cruel, many of us just… let it slide? Go along? But to be an individual—to speak… Read more »
Last time we posted an excerpt from Let’s Erase Bullying, we touched upon the issue of what it takes to be a responsible bystander. This next lesson takes things a step forward, teaching students how to stand up when they see harmful behavior in the spirit of fostering a safe learning environment. And being able to create… Read more »
Earlier this year, Netflix released the 13-episode, original TV series 13 Reasons Why, a drama-mystery about a high school student who commits suicide after a series of bullying incidents. While the show received positive reviews from many critics, it also brought controversy, with many viewers criticizing its portrayals of teen angst, depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation, warning… Read more »
I have—as of late—been researching programs that allow women to reclaim their sexuality, and to push back against those who would marginalize them and sexualize them against their will. Among these programs are those on bystander education. It’s a form of social justice advocacy that intrigues me, and which focuses on more than just the same… Read more »
Last time we took a peek into the Let’s Erase Bullying manual, we saw how we might enable teens to puzzle out alternative means of dealing with the drama of their lives. Sometimes, however, problems are too large for them to handle themselves. And they shouldn’t have to. Which is why the second lesson in Let’s Erase Bullying concerns reaching… Read more »
This past November, the Center for Sex Education released Let’s Erase Bullying, a teaching manual containing suggestions and resources educators can use to empower both victims and bystanders of bullying, and tips on how to educate bullies on the devastating impact of their actions. It’s a hot button issue at a time when bullying behavior is being legitimized… Read more »
