“Researchers believe administrators, teachers and parents need to work collaboratively to change the peer culture that encourages bullying.”
Not going to work. This is basic human nature. The whole “bullies are hurting inside” garbage was soft-brained psycobabble, but so is this.
Bullies bully because they can and it boosts their social status (except with some of the more mature females). This type of “understanding” and zero tolerance rules actually help THEM. The proper way to control bullies is to punish them for being bullies. It’s called “imposing consequences,” and it works.
PS When I was a kid, I was bullied. Until I kicked the snot out of one of the bullies. Then I became more popular...
Bullies may not be hurting inside but when you stand your ground and let them have it you find out 9 times out of 10 that they are just cowards projecting a false front.
The bullying /self-esteem uproar is a liberal tool to modify the behavior of the masses to their liking. City park and recreation departments across the country often do not keep score for young teams because the Marxist theorists don't like competion, not because they don't want to hurt someone's feelings. The bullies of multiculturalism and political correctness don't really care about the feelings of those involved, they just want to keep sensible people from calling a spade "a spade". If you step back and look, most of the liberal/leftist philosophies run counter to human nature - except when they are buttering the bread of those who support them.
Tax the rich to give to lazy bums. Be nice to countries and cultures who hate us and want to kill us and they will become our good buddies. Unilaterally disarm and no one will hate us or attack us. Raise taxes and increase regulation and expect a healthy recovery and a more economically productive country. Taking from citizens to finance more government spending improves the business climate and the economy. Government controlled healthcare will reduce healthcare costs. Profiling doesn't help catch terrorists. etc etc
Keep talking and writing good sense and we will finally shine a light on the evil that has slithered into our midst.