Fifth grade students at Zeman Elementary School in Lincoln, Neb., were recently sent home with a “flyer” outlining how they should handle bullies. The instructions were apparently deemed so ridiculous by parents that the school district quickly issued an apology and the “inaccurate information” was pulled.
That was after the nine “rules” for dealing with bullies went viral, of course.
Here are some of the more questionable ones:
• Rule #3 Do not be afraid.
• Rule #4: Do not verbally defend yourself.
• Rule #7: Do not tell on bullies.
• Rule #8: Don’t be a sore loser
• Rule #9: Learn to laugh at yourself and not get “hooked” by put-downs.
After seeing parents’ reaction to the flyer, Lincoln Public Schools issued an apology on its Facebook page.
Things have certainly changed since I was a kid. I don’t remember any of these being on my Dad’s list. His was short.
1. Make sure you get in the first punch.
2. Aim for the nose. It takes all the fight out of them.
I had the normal experience with bullys . Dad’s advice worked every time. It worked just as well when I saw someone bullying another kid. We policed our problems in my era and it seemed to work. I don’t remember any suicides.
Are we lesser people for solving our own problems? Are kids today restricted so much they can’t solve problems the old-fashioned way? I have lived my life not being intimidated by big loud obnoxious people because I know one thing about them. For the most part they are cowards and if you can’t avoid them, confront them. My daughter when confronted by a large angry female bully in college used my dad’s advice and some self-defense I taught her and she sent the bully and her three friends scurrying away.
I hope my grandkids would do the same.
