"Victims of Bullies" is a rant written during my teaching years when I had a child in my classroom who was a sociopath and truly dangerous to other children. He did choke-holds on kids, used pencils as darts, and anything at all to intimidate and harass his peers and make them miserable. Yet, authority figures would not remove him from my classroom. Oddly, the child had a brilliant intellect and was capable of making top grades, but he sat most days like a predator, studying other students, doing things to disturb them and their school work.(The mother encouraged me to call the police--she was hoping they would remove him from her home.)
This site has the best definition of a sociopath that I've read and my student had all the symptoms.
http://www.hss.caltech.edu/~mcafee/Bin/sb.html
Victims of Bullies
Sweet child, my heart cries out for you
Who treads through the raging torrents of time.
You are so meek and timid; ever so innocent
Among those that would rob you of joy and hope.
You are not free. Already your mind carries you
Into a dungeon of darkness where light seldom enters.
You are ostracized by those who would mock you,
Because you are gentle and non-aggressive.
You are like putty in the hands of bullies;
Intimidated and spurned for politeness and gentleness.
You search for a middle road, longing for friendship, for acceptance.
The middle road disappears into the horizon as your little face
Sparkles with delight at a new friend who sees
Your gentle nature and heckles you unmercifully.
You cannot find yourself in the loneliness of your room
It is empty when there is only you.
Life is the others who can join you.
Where has your happiness gone?
Has it gone with those who would torment you,
Rather than extend a gentle hand?
Your gentle hands mold small animals made of clay,
Symbols of your innocent love.
They cannot love back, so you tire of them
Placing them on the shelf.
What is the answer to this dilemma of bullies
That bring suffering to gentle souls in schools?
They are the dignitaries and statesmen our country needs
Not the arrogant, aggressively-abusive upstarts
With no compassion for the feelings of others,
No sympathy or understanding for humanity.
Our country’s equal rights provide the right of
An education to all children.
Yet, when intimidation, threats and abuse
Cause a child to fear school so much they play sick
Staying home rather than face another trauma,
That child’s right to an education is denied them
Not by that child's choice,
But by bullies who feel power through
Making other kids miserable.
What is a student’s recourse when they are intimidated?
Do theyhave one? How are their problems addressed?
Isn’t there a fine line that can be construe d as law breaking acts by bullies
When a child’s rights to an education are threatened?
If a bully is depriving another child of an education, even indirectly
Through actions that create emotional or physical factors
That interfere with his gaining a rightful education,
Isn’t the bully breaking the law?
Should that bully retain his right to an education
If s/he is usurping another’s right to a safe,
Peaceful existence in the pursuit of an education?
Since the system can’t guard the innocent
Shouldn’t they consider removing the danger…..
This is so excellent. You've hit some raw nerves with this one. I was the victim of bullies. And for your though provoking question, what should be done with them. Well, thats a difficult one.
Jeanette,
You definitely raise many important issues here. That you got to see this firsthand adds to the power of this piece. I've read, from reliable sources (books/studies on serial killers), that most sociopaths and serial killers are near genius. It's their impatience with less gifted people that prods their reckless behavior. They feel all-powerful and think others are not smart enough to stop them. I imagine their behavior starts at a young age...like you witnessed. Unfortunately, the world is speckled with all sorts of bullies so sheltering kids from them in school is only a temporary solution. They will have to deal with them one day. Love the feeling of this poem - a plea for the innocent. Love and Hugs,
Sheila
A wonderful work on a subject that I feel so passionately about that most of my comments should remain unsaid. A bordering state to the one in which I live is trying to pass a bill to make bullying against the law. A law that I agree with in theory, as long as it isn't carried to the extreme. I remember the first time my youngest experienced being bullied. A little girl hit him in the stomach with her fist at school. When he told me about it he asked, "Why does anyone want to be so mean?" Good question. This incident was only the first of many from different children his first year of school and when I approached the teacher, she said he wouldn't be bullied if he'd fight back. This was true, but the standard policy in most schools is that if you fight back you're punished. I was never bullied much as a child because kids learned fast that I did fight back...hard. And I was punished many times for it. Thanks for sharing this.
My sister was the one in our family that was bullied because she had a disability...I was the one who felt compelled to protect her from the bullies. I have had a few black eyes, stitches, and detentions for taking up for my sister. My feelings were hurt for her, she suffered so much more. As a teacher I chose to leave the secondary grades due to so much violence and children's attitudes. I chose to make a career change and teach primary students in hopes to help as many students as I possibly could before they got so deep in trouble there was no return. I stress the importance of treating others as we wish to be treated, manners, consequences, and respect...many of the things that many parents today do not teach their children. They begin school out of control and if someone doesn't get a firm grip on them it becomes a snowball effect and the problems grows! I for one believe that children watch too much television and have no supervision and guidance with what they watch, too much violence on television, games, and music. I also believe that children are ignored and left alone to entertain themselves in anyway they can. The parents need to get their priorities in order and turn back to many of the old ways, teach their children about facing consequences weather it be a spanking, time out, grounding, or some type of punishment that teaches them the value of good behavior. When they are old enough to have a part time job, allow them to work, instead of handing everything to them. I worked through high school, my husband did, our son and our daughter and we have all turned out fine! Respect and disciplin has to begin at home, but I'm afraid that for the most part those days are a thing of the past, parents are too wrapped up in themselves to see that their children are crying for help and attention! A write that brings many thoughts to my mind, one that worries every educator and many children! Great write my friend.
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
Jeanette,
Awesome poem and much needed in todays society. It sounds like this child needs alot of help to deal with his problem. If he is this bad as a child what will he be like as an adult...a serial killer...a rapist? Something should be done NOW. Keep them coming, Jeanette.
Sounds like the mother was also intimidated by her own child. Hoping the teacher would call the police? When a child is as young, I take it elementary level,why didn't the parent, or parents bring the child in for some evaluation and tests. Perhaps at such a tender age the child could have been helped. Through your story it sounds like this child was being passed around and falling through the cracks. Enjoyed the write, but am left with more questions than answers.
There may not be a simple answer to this enormous problem in our school systems nowadays. But with this write, Jeanette, you have taken one step that might well be instrumental. Your background is as a teacher. Reviewers listed below were victims.
In our AuthorsDen alone, there are likely hundreds of teachers and victims. These are people who know and can write with first-hand
knowledge about the problem. Who better to lead the charge than professional writers with personal experience, many of whom are also parents at this time with children facing the same challenge?
Teachers, victims, writers, START YOUR ENGINES! "Unionize" yourself into a powerful force with an attack on state and national legislative bodies across the country demanding action. Send letters and emails to your political representatives and to newspapers, sending copies to your law enforcement officials: District Attorneys, elected prosecutors, school superintendents.
Would some teacher/victim/parent like to draft a letter and post it
on AuthorsDen so we can all get together and launch an attack that can't be ignored? We're talking to elected officials about enacting laws to protect our children. Elected officials don't like heat from parents and professionals about the safety of children.
Come on, let's start moving on a letter campaign. Draft a proposed
letter we can copy and broadcast it to your trackers, and we trackers in turn will broadcast it to our trackers. Within weeks, we can become an army that can't be ignored.
Jeanette, we all thank you for posting a greatly needed call to arms.
Now, let's see if we're melted cheese sandwiches or people with backbones and drive. Is there anything more deserving than our children?
Truth and wonder flow through these lines. The problem lies with the parents who raise these monsters, and the lawyers who defend them if schools deal out punishment.
Jeanette, my daughter was bullied just like you described in your poem, these bullies made he life miserable and 47 years later scars still remain from those bullies. I do believe permitting bullying in schools cause outbursts from the innocent students. I believe there should be a law passed to prohibit any student from bullying another. Actions need to be taken throughout the world to put a stop to it immediately. Some children who have been bullied seek some sort of repercussion whether it is from taking serious actions against others or resorting to some sort of pain to themselves. It's sad to see young students go through such hurt. Thanks for sharing this important subject through your poem.
I, too was bullied and abused, Jeanette; there is no easy answer. What stopped it for me was deciding that their teasing would no longer bother me; I moved past it and they bothered me no more. Maybe that's it...anyway, deeply moving, thought provoking, poignant poetry. Well done!
A detailed study of the origins of the New Alienation. The author labels it normative or postmodern ennui and traces its rise to cultural power over the last two centuries.
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This is so excellent. You've hit some raw nerves with this one. I was the victim of bullies. And for your though provoking question, what should be done with them. Well, thats a difficult one.
You definitely raise many important issues here. That you got to see this firsthand adds to the power of this piece. I've read, from reliable sources (books/studies on serial killers), that most sociopaths and serial killers are near genius. It's their impatience with less gifted people that prods their reckless behavior. They feel all-powerful and think others are not smart enough to stop them. I imagine their behavior starts at a young age...like you witnessed. Unfortunately, the world is speckled with all sorts of bullies so sheltering kids from them in school is only a temporary solution. They will have to deal with them one day. Love the feeling of this poem - a plea for the innocent. Love and Hugs,
Sheila
Blessings,
Joyce Bowling
Awesome poem and much needed in todays society. It sounds like this child needs alot of help to deal with his problem. If he is this bad as a child what will he be like as an adult...a serial killer...a rapist? Something should be done NOW. Keep them coming, Jeanette.
Many blessings,
~Linda
Be safe
Karen
In our AuthorsDen alone, there are likely hundreds of teachers and victims. These are people who know and can write with first-hand
knowledge about the problem. Who better to lead the charge than professional writers with personal experience, many of whom are also parents at this time with children facing the same challenge?
Teachers, victims, writers, START YOUR ENGINES! "Unionize" yourself into a powerful force with an attack on state and national legislative bodies across the country demanding action. Send letters and emails to your political representatives and to newspapers, sending copies to your law enforcement officials: District Attorneys, elected prosecutors, school superintendents.
Would some teacher/victim/parent like to draft a letter and post it
on AuthorsDen so we can all get together and launch an attack that can't be ignored? We're talking to elected officials about enacting laws to protect our children. Elected officials don't like heat from parents and professionals about the safety of children.
Come on, let's start moving on a letter campaign. Draft a proposed
letter we can copy and broadcast it to your trackers, and we trackers in turn will broadcast it to our trackers. Within weeks, we can become an army that can't be ignored.
Jeanette, we all thank you for posting a greatly needed call to arms.
Now, let's see if we're melted cheese sandwiches or people with backbones and drive. Is there anything more deserving than our children?
Richard
(((HUGS))) and love, Karla.
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tx., Karen Lynn. :( >tears! <