Return-Path: <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id i1HFGWI16176; Tue, 17 Feb 2004 10:16:32 -0500 (EST) Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 10:16:32 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <s031e36c.085@langate.gsu.edu> Errors-To: listowner@nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Daphne Greenberg" <ALCDGG@langate.gsu.edu> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-womenlit@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-WOMENLIT:2844] bullying X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII X-Mailer: Novell GroupWise Internet Agent 6.0.5 Beta Status: O Content-Length: 3435 Lines: 22 Have any of you experienced bullying in your classrooms? An incident occurred recently in one of my adult literacy research classes and it bothers me a great deal. There are two more weeks left to the class, and one student dropped out because she was bullied by two other students. Here are the specifics: There are 4 students in this class-three women and one man (all in their mid twenties/early thirties). All along, the teacher had to intervene between two of the women. Basically, Cindy did not know how to read social cues. She would say/do something that would normally not receive a negative reaction from most people. But Melissa would always react negatively. Unfortunately, Cindy would not understand, and while most people would back off, Cindy would continue addressing Melissa in such a way that Melissa would get more and more upset with Cindy. One day, Julie joined in and yelled at Cindy. Now with both Julie and Melissa ganging up against Cindy, Cindy decided that she couldn't take it anymore. When the teacher tried to talk to all three of them, Melissa, in front of Cindy said: I have been in jail before, my family knows how I can be when I am upset. Cindy has also told Melissa in the hall way that she will beat her up if necessary. Cindy decided that for her safety, she would drop out of this class, but continue attending her other class. She did not want us to talk to Melissa or Julie because she was scared that they would retaliate against her. Our approach with Cindy was a supportive one. We told her that we were proud of her that she is taking care of herself, that she is doing what she needs to do in order to keep herself safe. We also told her that we still considered her to be part of the class, we would therefore offer her everything that all the others would be getting-a chance to attend the end of class celebration, a certificate of participation, a chance to engage in two more testing points (there is a small stipend involved). We have also offered to meet with her one on one so that she can continue to get the same literacy instruction as the others. My problem-Julie and Melissa are being rewarded for their behavior. Cindy's behaviors/conversations/etc. bothered them and now she is no longer in class. This is problematic for two reasons: 1. Julie and Melissa are not being given an opportunity to learn that this kind of behavior is inappropriate/unacceptable. 2. Cindy, the victim in all of this is being punished-she dropped out of a class that she enjoyed. All three of these individuals have abuse histories. Two of the three have learned to cope in one way, the third in a different way. All three have repeated the pattern that they are used to in their interactions with others. Cindy has repeatedly said that she does not want us to talk to Julie or Melissa-she is very scared of them. Whether she needs to be or not-does not matter-she is scared. The only good thing that comes out of it for her is that she got out of the abusive situation, and was supported by others in her decision. She will also have an opportunity to get the material that she will be missing in the class. However, what about Julie and Melissa????? Any ideas? Thanks, Daphne Daphne Greenberg Associate Director Center for the Study of Adult Literacy MSC 6A0360 Georgia State University 33 Gilmer Street SE Unit 6 Atlanta, GA 30303-3086 phone: 404-651-0127 fax:404-651-4901 dgreenberg@gsu.edu
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