Reply #73: That's just it, I can't describe them.

[proud2BlibKansan]

I can only report they happen. Just like Will described, a kid who has been bullied is moved to a new setting and before too long, the bullying starts all over again. Sometimes (not often) we have kids who bring it on in obvious ways. They lash out at the other kids or pick on the most popular kid in the class and then get bullied. I have one like that this year. He laughs at his peers when they make mistakes and then complains when they threaten him. That's an easy problem. The hard ones are the kids who keep getting bullied and we don't understand why.

There is so much to this bullying crap. I don't think we as educators have paid enough attention to it. But it has become a hot topic lately, which is a good thing.

As for what I do, I try to watch when they don't think I am watching and listen to how they talk to each other. And yes, I pounce when I hear anything that resembles bullying. But I focus on what is happening in the classroom and don't tell kids they are introverted or need to get involved in sports. That is just none of my business. But I do have a responsibility to teach them how to be working partners in the classroom and how to treat each other with respect.