Some days

[attackfish]

We were talking about bullies and I listened to my fellow teaching students just not get it in so many kind, well meaning ways.  And then my teacher asked about our own experiences with bullying, and everyone in the class talked.  Most said they had never been bullied, the rest mentioned isolated incidents, and talked about how standing up to the bullies really worked!  And I looked around at this room of earnest faces, and realized none of them had a clue.

Most people want to become teachers because public school was a place of joy for them.  I feel a little alone right now.

Comments

[grandiose666]

I only had some isolated teasing/mean girls incidents but not a whole encompassing experience like you did. Reading about your experiences on your journal has made me more aware of the dynamics between children (even very young people can be pathological and more than any child can deal with). I also thought about Atla and Azula and her whole set of relationships in an expanded light (already knew she was a bully and kinda sociopathic).

Maybe they cannot identify with your experience in any way, but could still learn from you.

[attackfish]

I hope so. If teachers know what to look for and know how bad it can get, they're much more likely to effectively handle it and protect their most vulnerable students. If they don't...