I will be on NPR tomorrow to discuss bullying.

[WilliamPitt]

Back at the beginning of February, I wrote an article about my personal experience with bullying titled "Here There Be Monsters." While it dealt primarily with what I went through, it was inspired by the case of Phoebe Prince, a South Hadley MA high school student who committed suicide after enduring relentless bullying.

Yesterday, the students involved in that bullying were indicted on several counts (though school administrators and teachers, who knew it was happening, were not...for now).

Apparently, someone at NPR read my essay, because they have invited me to join a discussion about bullying for a segment called "Tell Me More." I'm to be at an NPR studio at 3:00pm EST on Thursday...but I don't know if I'm to be on live, or if it will be recorded for later. At some point, though, I'll be on NPR talking about this, and I wanted to let you all know, because the thread I posted with my bullying essay got such an amazing response.

So, yeah, still fighing that good fight here. Listen in if you can.

:hug:

Here There Be Monsters
http://www.truthout.org/here-there-be-monsters56756

Here There Be Monsters (DU thread)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7669873

9 Teens Charged In Girl’s Bullying
http://www.boston.com/community/moms/articles/2010/03/30/da_charges_9_teens_faults_school_officials_in_s_hadley_bullying_case/

[CBHagman]

1. And if you get an audio link....

...I hope you will post it here for those of us who won't be able to listen live.

Best of luck! :hi:

[Richard Steele]

2. K&R

[theFrankFactor]

64. This is Disgusting... Read this thread at FreeRepublic about William. Bullies Anyone?

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2355869/posts

BE WARNED: This is barf material.

[Initech]

74. Today's bullies = tomorrow's republicans.

Holy crap! :puke:

[Richard Steele]

78. I guess I'm no boddavhista: There is still much that is HUMAN that is ALIEN to me.NM

I CRY when I bury the tiny corpses of the mice
that occasionally infiltrate my home.

I don't set mouse-traps because I 'dislike' mice.

And I don't keep a loaded UZI carbine under my pillow
because I dislike human beings.

If I ever have need to use the UZI, I reckon I'll
feel just as SAD about the aftermath as I feel
on any day when the mousetraps are full.

Same shit, bigger hole.

[WilliamPitt]

81. Par for the course

I love that guy. That someone out there has dedicated so much time to tracking DU in general and me specifically...well...it bends the term "total fucking loser" into bold new shapes.

[EFerrari]

3. Break a lip!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. My dear Will...

I am really proud that you will be talking about this on NPR!

I hope that you will let us hear it somehow...

:hug:

[Tace]

5. Good!

Glad to hear it.

[LuvNewcastle]

6. Will that be at 3:00 Eastern?

[WilliamPitt]

8. Good catch.

Yes. Edited.

Thank you. :toast:

[LuvNewcastle]

14. You're welcome.

I'll be tuning in.:)

[will_in_chicago]

7. A very important topic

This is a crucial topic.

I am an educator, working currently as a substitute teacher. Bullying is a common event at middle schools and high schools. Anyone who differs from the perceived norm of the school (too brainy, not wealthy enough, wrong race, wrong religion, too short, etc.) may be targeted by bullies.

So, I look forward to hearing about the interview and I will try to tune in if I can.

[sonias]

9. Best of luck to you on the show Will

I hope people learn something from the show. We have got to stop this tormenting that kids do to each other. Educators need to learn how to spot it and how to stop it. Most of all kids need to know they can go somewhere safe.

Thank you for taking the time to do this.
:applause:

[applegrove]

10. The bullyonline website is a great place to go and get annecdotal information on many kinds of

bullying. Good luck.

[Midlodemocrat]

11. Hey, Will! Congrats! We've talked about this before and I sent you

a PM.

Feel free to tell me to STFU. :hi:

[TuxedoKat]

12. Wow! Good luck

and thanks for speaking up about this subject that affected both me and my daughter. Please post a link if you have one later in case I miss it.

[obxhead]

13. K and I wish I could add more R's.

During a bullying incident I went through the schools solution was to remove me from certain classes, not punish the assholes that were doing it. Fuck bullies and the terror they reign down upon people.

[Walk away]

15. I am sorry you were bullied. It's great that you have the chance to help others.

:grouphug:

[Cha]

16. KICKR

[chill_wind]

17. This is so important. Thank you for being someone helping

to make a difference.

K & R.

[Bonobo]

18. Curious what you think about the South Hadley decision to charge felony on the teens

Looking forward to your opinion.

[WilliamPitt]

20. They should have been charged with depraved indifference/negligent homicide.

JMHO.

[paulsby]

25. not even mccoy could pull that off

but you sound like a fan of such "creative prosecution"

i don't see how anybody can make a LEGAL argument for such a charge.

i'm looking forward to seeing you on the show, though.

[WilliamPitt]

26. Heh

Someone's been in the Lounge.

;)

:hug:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

39. I fay they fhould be burned at the ftake.

They are fome fort of witchef.

[Generic Other]

19. Good for you Will

This is an important discussion. And you are the right person to talk about it.

[HughMoran]

21. That's cool

There's been a big emphasis on bullying this year - the kids have been telling me about the new anti-bullying program at school (Mass). I hated HS - damn near killed one of the kids from Brighton who tried to bully me.

Good luck on the show - hope I can catch it at some point.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Great! As a person who was bullied I can say that some scars never quite go away.

[derby378]

23. Good luck tomorrow, Will

I probably can't catch it, as my wife and I will be celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary, but I hope it goes well for you!

:hi:

[aikoaiko]

24. I hope its a good experience for you.

I'm sure you will do well.

[hlthe2b]

27. All Things Considered or maybe Morning Edition

That was a great essay... Do that thing you do, Will Pitt and make some folks REALLY think for once...

[ClassWarrior]

28. You gonna bring this up?...

Hi, I'm Arednt15, and I'll be your non sequitor for the evening.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=8063952&mesg_id=8063966

:rofl:

NGU.

[BrklynLiberal]

29. Tell Me more is on at 2PM on AM and 9PM on FM here in NYC - WNYC

Michel Martin is the usual host.

That would imply to me that you will be recorded ..for the next day perhaps.

I look forward to hearing you..probably on the Friday show.

[WilliamPitt]

32. That sounds accurate

...and it may just be NYC NPR. Martin is the host for this show, so...

I will post an audio link if/when I can get one.

Thanks!

[MicaelS]

30. Good luck!.... please post a link tomorrow if you have one...

And that is a terrific essay.

[goclark]

31. Excellent ~ I was able to watch in horror the Girl Bullies

spring up in the '90's.

I taught many sessions on the topic and it needs to be TALKED about again and again.

Have you noticed that the Mom's of the Girl Bullies go into denial when confronted with the ugly acts? Most refuse to believe that their " little sweet darling" would do anything like what the Teachers were able to witness.

Good luck!

In the late 90's, the Michigan Public Schools had a fantastic program for school staff members on the topic.

[Old Troop]

33. Please mention

the fact that administrators ofter ignore a bullying case if the parents of the bullies are influential.

[Tarheel_Dem]

34. This is a very personal issue for my family. Do us proud Will. (nt)

:kick:

[BlooInBloo]

35. Hey dorkhead! Did you come to school wearing your dork clothes and with your dork lunch?

Yah!

[Captain Hilts]

36. There has been a huge anti-bullying campaign going on in Britain...

that's why all the Susan Boyle bullying stuff came up last fall. She got beaten by teachers on a regular basis as well as students.

[get the red out]

37. Thank you, from one who's seen and experienced

Children are permitted to do to one another, almost as a ritual, what adults would be arrested for doing to another adult. This is wrong.

[TheLiberalNovelist]

38. I thank you.

I'm glad people are finally taking this bullying stuff seriously. It is a dangerous thing that adults have looked over as "just growing up."

I was bullied my whole twelve years in grade school, for no other reason than the bullies needed something to do. I was called a faggot and many other derogatory names, and many people made fun of me (for the record, I am straight). It had been going on for a really long time with this one person who had been bugging me for about two years. I nearly committed suicide myself during that time period. Finally, I went to the principal about it. He said he would do something, but he actually just called the kid in there and sat him down. He did not punish him in anyway, and he did not even get a slap on the wrist. When he continued to tease me, I took matters in my own hands. I attacked the a$$hole in front of my entire class. Enough is enough. It is time for real action, and it's said that it had to come because of this.

I personally thank everyone who is stepping up and standing against bullying from the bottom of my heart.

[hunter]

59. I can't even count the number of times I heard "Get out of my way, faggot!"

Usually as I was being shoved aside, knocked down, hit, etc..

One of the great triumphs of my high school career was to whisper to a bully who'd just said that to me, "You want me."

He beat the hell out of me. In front of the vice principal. I wouldn't have said it if I'd not noticed the vice principal nearby.

Every bruise and scrape I got, getting my face smashed into the concrete, the blood, it was all worth it, even though I got in trouble too.

But it didn't stop the bullying in the slightest and probably made me a bigger target.

Now that I'm older and wiser and free of my childhood torment, I think my story is very sad.

Nobody was looking out for the odd kids who got bullied.

[SocialistLez]

61. I'll never forget

when some guy (who incidentally had a crush on me....) called me a DYKE about 10 times in front of the whole P.E. class (including our two gym teachers). I just wanted to disappear or crawl into a whole.

We had all these little signs around the school with the word bullying in a circle with a line through it but the majority of the teachers didn't enforce it. Theoretically, a kid could be punished for bullying another student but it hardly ever happened.

I did have one middle school principal who took bullying very seriously and one of my best friends and I are grateful for that.

[Matariki]

40. I really look forward to hearing that Will

Let us know if/when you find out the time it's going to be aired. Hopefully it will also be on NPR's website for people who miss it.

[ChicagoSuz219]

41. Did you know...

...that bullying is part of the Dept. of Peace's platform?

[Hekate]

42. Good for you, WIll. Best of luck with this experience.

:hug:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

43. Glad you linked to your Essay. WOW!

Powerful.

I hope you do more with the success you had turning around the bullying situation in that class - write a book, develop a pedagogy, something that will show others how it can be done.

I was at the bottom of the pecking order from kindergarten through college ( in college they're a little more sedate about it, at least).

There was no safe haven; not at home either.

[tavalon]

44. Will, remember to talk in a relaxed, slow voice

You are an incredible writer and well deserving of being heard on NPR.

[kentuck]

45. It's a very important issue...

and I am certain it is going on in schools all across America. Young girls are subjugated to these bullies that are not reprimanded or punished.

[Tom Rinaldo]

46. Great Will. Good luck, I'll listen if I can n/t

[supernova]

47. Please post a link when you get it

That program doesn't appear to be on our schedule here and I would love to hear you.

Good luck! :-)

I am glad people are finally waking up to the problem of bullying. I was bullied a in elementary school and then again in jr high because of a torso cast I had to wear (people saying they'd love to "tip over the turtle")

[hunter]

48. Thank You.

If I had a time machine I'd quit school in third grade. I could read and write and do arithmetic. I was curious about the world and able to do my own research. The library was my haven, school was my hell. I finally quit school in eleventh grade.

It took me nine years to graduate from college. Looking back I can see it maybe took that long to get past the scars left by bullies. Worse, it wasn't always the kids who were bullies. There were always adults who blamed me for my troubles and told me I simply had to learn how to fit in.

As a skinny clumsy Asperger kid wearing funny clothes and carrying a backpack full of odd obsessions fitting in just wasn't going to happen. Put me out in left field and of course I was going to watch the butterflies or clouds or pick hairs off my elbows and pay no attention to the game.

Why was it okay to torture kids like me?

[WilliamPitt]

49. UPDATE: the show will air Monday

...at different times depending on region, but the web feed will be available at noon EST.

[lumberjack_jeff]

66. Good to hear. Please post the link when its available. n/t

[Duke Newcombe]

50. Well done...

keep telling the story for others who can't or won't.

[AzNick]

51. Being bullied turned me into an angry feisty SOB

Anger has since receded but I have to admit that being bullied in the 6th grade turned me into a person I did not want to be.

[CoffeeCat]

52. Amazing.....just AMAZING.

I went back and read your "Monsters" article, and I was so moved and so touched. In
my opinion, it's your best work ever, Will.

Have you ever thought about traveling to schools and speaking about bullying? Obviously,
you could write a program/speech that could go a long way in helping to raise awareness
about the horrendous effects of bullying.

We need to put a stop to bullying. As you know, it is a serious issue, that is underaddressed
and minimized. Schools ignore bullying, and often treat bullying as an unfortunate
personality conflict between two students. Bullying is abuse. Bullies look for
people who systematically build abuser/victim scenarios that are useful to them. It's the same
dynamic we see in child abusers, domestic abusers and in psychopaths and sociopaths
who cause destruction and harm.

Why is this pathology ok--just because the perpetrators are in school? I will never understand it.

Will, my ten-year-old daughter has a lot in common with you. She was bullied in kindergarten
by a very emotionally disturbed child who practically stalked her. My child would return
home with bite marks and bruises. This went on for months, despite my repeated
trips to the principal's office. It was never taken seriously. The bully was finally
transferred and it ended, but in second grade my daughter was bullied again. She's
now in fourth grade, and last month she told me about a boy in her class who was being
tormented by a group of five girls. This boy is a martial artist and never fought
back. He was too afraid and too ashamed.

He endured beatings and humiliation from these girls for months, until my daughter told.
I called his mother, who raised hell and got the problem solved. Initially the principal
dragged his feet and tried to minimize. It's unimaginable to me. The mother told me that
her son, who is in the gifted and talented program, had been very unhappy. He said he
hated school and his mother would often see bruises on this legs. These girls pinned him
down and would kick him and beat him. These were forth graders.

It all ended because my child spoke out. I'm so proud of her. She endured bullying and
was not helped. Her school, her principal--and to some extent--I, failed her. Yet,
her heart was not hardened and she identified with the victim and wanted to help.

I know that what she did was significant. We'll never know what paths this boy would
have traveled, had the bullying continued--but I know she changed a life.

I'm just very proud of her.

What a blessing that you were able to turn your pain into understanding and empathy. You
didn't become a bully, or a Dick Cheney. I don't know how victims end up on right side
of humanity. Fate? Luck? Genetics? Temperament? I just know that we are playing
emotional Russian Roulette as we allow bullying to happen and as we minimized its effects.

Thanks for drawing attention to this matter. It is so critical to our children and to
their futures. :hug:

[blaze]

70. Sending a big hug to your daughter!!

You did good.

Your daughter did good.

We're all better for it.

Hugs all around!!! :)

[Nothing Without Hope]

53. Guess you're coming up in about 1/2 hour - break a leg! K & R

[WilliamPitt]

56. It won't broadcast until Monday

See UPDATE above.

And thanks!

[la_chupa]

54. I feel sheltered

I had no idea bullying was so common or so draconian. Until I started reading stories like yours I thought it was just kids being overly sensitive. Well not entirely I blamed part of this on the ability to hide behind internet anonymity so I thought it was a fairly recent phenomena.

I can't figure how I escaped this except that I grew up in a college town. My school was divided into 5 different academic levels. I was level 5 safely cocooned in a little world where it was not weird to make straight A's and actually do your homework. Of course it was also not weird to do some pretty serious mind altering drugs, but that's a whole different issue. (college town)

wow

Good luck on the show.

(No I do not have kids, don't worry I'm not one of those clueless parents with kids being bullied or bullying others while I ignore the problem. My kids are all the 4-legged variety so this isn't something I personally have to deal with.)

[tridim]

55. Good luck. Still have no idea how I avoided being bullied in school.

I was a prime target. Nerdy, skinny, artistic, etc.

[JuniperLea]

57. Champion!

Good for you, Will!

[caseymoz]

58. One thing young bullies don't know . . .

. . . is that the trauma of what they do in childhood will never be forgotten by their victim. If they were capable of knowing that many people in adulthood still do not heal from the trauma, and still hate the kids that bullied them, you would have far fewer bullies.

However, it's a quality of children and teenagers that the can't think that far ahead.

[Odin2005]

60. AWESOME! This bullying victim thanks you!

[LaPera]

62. Don't let up on the uninformed fascist.- Who are actually naive corporate tools - robots!

[Mithreal]

63. Congrats, with you in spirit.

:thumbsup:

[katty]

65. great, want to hear that

[johnnypneumatic]

67. I just wrote a screenplay about a gay teen who gets bullied

and pushed too far, and it ends like Columbine, only more so ... the Columbine propane bombs didn't go off as planned, mine do ...

People who've read it don't like the ending, they think the main character shouldn't have killed "innocent" kids. But that's the thing. To him, the ones who watched and did nothing to help were just as guilty.

[Jkid]

72. I would like to see that screenplay one day.

[Demoiselle]

68. I'll be listening, Will.

Your essay was wonderful.

[upi402]

69. k/r n/t

[LuckyLib]

71. Bullying survives because, like many things, it is not discussed and

is among the many issues of real life that go unremarked in schools. Most of what goes on there is not authentic, and kids know it. Talking about real issues, real feelings, and the kinds of relationships that make us better human beings is not part of the "curriculum". For bullying to stop the school has to create a climate of respect and mutual interdependence and adults have to be REAL -- to each other, and to students. Teachers have to interrupt every incidence of racism, sexism, homophobia, and name-calling that crosses their path and TALK ABOUT WHY IT IS WRONG! It takes guts. And has to be done.

[gvstn]

73. I'll tune in.

Your essay was very well written. I'm sure you'll do well on NPR. Good Luck! :)

[Dystopian]

75. Earlier, I silently recommended....

Will...

What an amazing man you are....You learned, and taught.
I know why I missed your initial thread...

Tonight I cried, and then lost it when I read your mother's post..
Now I need to come back and thank you for coming out for the children.
They are our future...
We all have scars....
Thankfully, some good will come from yours....

My heart goes out to all who were able to write of their pasts because you had the strength to do so.
Much love and light to you...


peace~

[WilliamPitt]

79. Which post by my mom are you referring to?

I can't spot it.

And thank you. :hug:

[Dystopian]

80. Will...

Will, went back to your original post, as I had missed it....That's where I read your mother's words..and wept even more.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7669873&mesg_id=7671201

As a mother with adult children, I would have died a thousand deaths reading your post....
I had to deal with minor issues involving my own children when they were young...My heart was broken to bits, and yet they endured nothing like you experienced. And so I felt your mother's pain...anguish...There are no words to describe this feeling..

As a preschool teacher, I was disgusted when others, even the play therapist would label children 4-5 years old as bullies. I knew their family backgrounds, they were lashing out because of fear and pain. And once the 'bullying law' was mentioned...I was appalled....
At this age, they don't have targets....they lash out at everyone....Sadly, I can see the future if there is no help for them...
But it's truth....they learn this behavior at a very young age...even the play therapist is perplexed...trying her best...getting nowhere.
How do we begin to heal the little children? I'm going to listen very closely to you on NRP.

Amazing that you got through to groups of older children....they were past their formative years, and you made a difference.
Your tormented past now makes you a precious gift for the future....
You're very gifted...I know you'll use this one well....
You may even save a life....

And I wonder...
Those who scarred you...have they read your words? Do they now have children....and have they wept in shame....

Once again, heartfelt thanks for sharing your life....and for being you.:hug:

peace~

[Quantess]

76. Great!

I'll try to catch it somehow.

[Ilsa]

77. Thank you... Thank you. nt