Bad Zwischenan Unit News
Barbara Treleaven School of Dancing
Bay Brewing
Bayland Baskets
Blueprints Jewelry Design Studio
Brilliance Dental Care
The Butcher's Corner
CNIB
Cambrian Insurance
Cribz Baby Furniture
Clear the Air HR and Eco Consultants
Dr. Erick Vesterback
DRD Distributing
Ethier Chiropractic
Gymtrix
Hats Off To...
Heart and Stroke
Heatmor
Home Remedies
Ivy Home Staging
J. Brooks Academy of Music
JJ's Scrapbooking
Ken's Fresh Cut Meats
Kidney Foundation of Canada
Krown Body Maintenance
Made in Normandie
Marceau's Martial Arts
Mathews Automotive
Meals on Wheels
Mully's Farm and Supply
Nature's Harvest: Vitamin D
North Bay Astronomy Club
North Bay Canoe and Kayak
North Bay Police Service
Notice for Student Volunteering
Poetry Corner
Positively North Bay and Area
Rubber Side Down
Runway Romp 2010
Sacred Art Skin Graphix
Scrapbooking At Photo Metro
Selena Vesterback
Smile a While
Southside Pool and Spa
Stix and Stones
Sunshine Foundation
The Academy of Fine Sewing
The Ancestor Investigator
The Mayor's Corner
The Next Step Life Fitness Centre
The Powassan Dragons
The Quilter's Corner
Three Gables Studio
Tuesday Morning Coffee Group
Warriors of Hope
Wet Basement Corner
BULLYING
North Bay Police Service
Community Programs
Ted Whittle
497-5570
Bullying seems to be more prevalent this summer and several day camps and summer programs have asked me to speak to their charges. I don't know whether there has been an increase or if it just appears that way because the number of supervisory staff in the summer programs are higher than those in the schoolyard or at home. It may mean that more eyes and ears notice what is actually going on. Bullying is abuse. The victims of bullying are no different from any other victim. When you are on the receiving end you always know. Some types can be criminal in nature. Repeated conduct can fall into the category of harassment. Bullying includes but is not confined to:
*Punching, shoving and other physical acts
*Spreading bad rumours about people
*Teasing in a mean way
*Keeping certain people out of a group (shunning)
*Getting people to "gang up" on others
*Name calling and belittling
*Sending mean text, email or instant messages
*Posting nasty pictures or messages about others
Continuous bullying has a profound effect on victims and is not confined to just children. Bullying is common in families, workplaces and adult social situations. Somehow we as a society seem to accept this type of behaviour, believing that the adults can look after themselves. This attitude is wrong. We always tell our children that they have to tell a responsible adult when they are bullied. We assure them that this adult will do something about the abuse and it will stop. In the same way adult victims have to hold their bullies accountable by telling someone in authority. Theory is a wonderful thing but it does not always work. Complacency in parents, teachers and other people in authority perpetuate the belief by victims that nothing will change. Some adults believe that this type of behaviour is normal regardless of age and is necessary to establish a functional hierarchy in life situations. This again is wrong. Studies have shown that the long term effects of bullying can be devastating to victims and even detrimental to the bully.
It is time to get serious about an age old problem that appears to be getting worse. Education seems to have worked for other social problems and there is no reason why it should not work here. Parents, teachers and other persons in authority have to take every victim's complaint seriously and hold the bully accountable. Failure to do so could be considered neglect of duty on our part, making us responsible for tragedies in the future.