Zero Tolerance Policy on Bullying

Today I stumbled upon the issue of zero tolerance policy on bullying in CQ Researcher.  In reading this article, I have learned that zero tolerance policy is ineffective when preventing acts of bullying.  Susan Limber, a professor at Clemson University's Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life who also studies the crime of kids in the 21st century.  From Limer's research, she states that zero tolerance policies, group treatment, peer meditation and too- simple solutions, such as a singe school assembly that are common will have no effect on changing school safety and their students.  The professor suggested to use a sustainable and comprehensive program to combat the situation.  The program she is endorsing is called the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.  The program was developed in Norway and their method in promoting anti- bullying is by including a prevention- coordinating commmittee, regular classroom meetings on the crime, and immediate intervention and follow- up.  Many of the schools that use the program say that it reduced bullying in to 50% and achieved significant reductions in vandalism, fights, and thefts.
This program can be a breakthrough in wiping out the mess that bullies create in their schools and community and make it better.  But some experts are not convinced that bullying can be reduced especially for agressive older kids.  A study from the American Association of University Women found that while anti- bullying programs and policies have increased, the harassment still remains intact.  When bullying rises, it is best to stress early prevention, helping potential victms protect themselves (because they are more motivated to change behavior than the bully),  and teaching kids to "problem solve" - which is at least as effective as punishing bulliying according to Rigby.  Ken Rigby is an associate professor of social psychology at the University of Souther Australia.
Another way is to teach bystanders to deescalate the situation by standing up for the victims and not letting bullies win and overpower victims and not letting it happen in their community.  Bystanders are the perfect cures to stop bullying because they are trained to notify teachers and police officers.
Experts believe no matter what program you use to enforce bullying, its effectiveness depends on the school adminiostartion's commitment.  Right now it is still a heated argument on how to stop bullying with the best and most effective program known to man.  And experts are trying to find the program that stands out from the rest to make this deadly disease history.

Bully Proof

For my campaign and product, the topic that I want to talk about is bully prevention.  To get myself more familiar on how to stop bullying and bullying in general, I watched two videos from CNN and read informational documents about bully prevention from CQ Researcher.  The first video I watched was called, Fighting Back Against Bullies.  The video shows a school called, the Gracie Jiu Jitsu Academy, teaching kids how to step up to bullies with self defense and confidence.  Their program is called, "Bullyproof"  The motto of Rener Gracie, the co- creator of the Gracie Bullyproof program, is "Fight fire with water."  In other words fight back to defend and stop a bully, but not to the point of beating the bully to death.  Over 60 kids have been on the program and most of them were victims of bullying.  Because of the program, the kids have gained confidence when standing against a bully both verbally and physically.  And because of the training beoing provided to them, the bullys never harassed them again.  But the program has had a number of complaints by schools because their methods violate the zero tolerance policy.  The reporter asked Gracie how can his son go up against a bully but not go againts the school.  Gracie's response to his question was that the bullies violate the rules and when they harass the victims, they are both on the same boat.  The best way not to get suspended is to avoid confrontattion and have confidence.
The next video I watched was the interview called The Bully Pyulpit. Thed person being interviewd was Kirk Smalley, another victim who lost his child from bullying.  He is a man on a mission to end the crime that took his son's life and evry child's life in American schools in the 21st century.  Smalley lost his 11 year old son, Ty from bullying.  Ty was bullied for 2 years since his final year in elementary school.  Until one day he had enough being harassed and decided to retaliate.  Ty and his perpetrator were both suspended.  But that suspension was Ty's breaking point and decide to take his own life.  Ty was Kirk's only child.  In the inter view Kirk said, "I hold myself responsible for his death."  And he further says, "It was my job.  It was my job to protect him.  No matter where he went it was my job to protect him."  Since Ty's death, Kirk has made a promise on his son's grave  that on Father's Day hwe will "make bullying history."  So no parent would bare the pain of losing his or her loved one that he or she loved so dearly.  He further states that parents of biullies should also be held accountable for their childrens crimes.  Possibly the reason for this is because the oarents have failed to teach their children how to be role models, behave and be good students in school.  So parents are known as an asset to their children's crimes.  The same away parents arwe assets when their kids drin with their friewnds in their household.     The reporter asked Kirk if he wanted to sue the school and his response was, "Money will not bring my son back."  In the final minutes of the interview smalley told the reporter that he never washed his son's last load because he wants to rememeber his son by smelling his clothes and his bed everytime he goes to Ty's old room.
The final piece of information I found was from cq researcher and the article I read was called Preventing Bullying.  Tyler Clementi, a former student from Rutgers University, took his life when a webcam was secretly recording his sexual encounter with another student. The video went live on cyberspace by his own roommate and another student.  Both students were charged for invasion of privacy.  After his death, the big issue by debators is that victim's free speech rights are violated by the anti bully laws.  But the law reamain unweighed for the crime known as bullying.  Bullying has been around from the beginning of time but the new strain of bullying started when two Columbine students created a massacre on campus by killing and injuring students and staff and themselves in the end.  The Columbine Massacre became the deadliest school shooting in history in an American High school.  The cause of the attack according to experts was that the terrorists were victims of harassment and they held a grudge against their enemies. Then Missouri teenager Megan Meier's suicide triggered the call for stricter laws on Internet harassment.  Then the deaths of Phoebe Prince and Tyler Clementi helped their states to pass ne anti bullying laws.  The current situation on bullying is that lawmakers and states are still working on passing more anti bullying laws to Congress and some politicians believe differently of creating laws to stop the crime. 

American Son Blog 5 and Conclusion

In the final chapter of Brian Ascalon Roley's book, the final events showed that the whole family's relatives came to visit.  And when Ika was with her relatives, she becomes the total opposite of her usual self.  She was all happy and having a good time especially when she went to Disneyland and bought a sweatshirt for herself.  Later one her relatives shows off to all of them how great and successful her children are.  Like, "Soon, though, my mother's cousin Tai Pei starts talking about her son who woroks in Silicon Valley, how he bought a new Mercedes and plans on building a guest cottage behind his house for her to live in her old age.  Somehow, the conversation gets on to all their children, the colleges they go to, and their jobs.  I pretend not to listen.  Mom quietly fingers her empty wine glass, her head slightly lowered.  Father Ryan notices this."(192- 193).  This means that his mom is embarassed that her kids did not turn out the way they should be and felt that her relatives are looking down on her on how her kids are a bunch of nobodys.  Conversations like this tends to happen a lot in my family and to be quite honest, I feel the same way Ika and Gabe felt hearing that conversation.  My cousins inherited their parent's very high intellected minds and went to the top schools in the Philippines, graduated with top honors, and worked at high end jobs that make them earn significant amounts of money.  And I am jealous of them because I am everything that they are not I am smart but not as smart as them and I never inherited my intelligence from them as well.  It is really frustrating to hear the conversation over and over again and it makes my ears want to explode.
Later on Tomas comes in not well dressed with his tattoos showing to the family.  One of his cousins comes in and notices that he was stoned, in other words, got high from drugs.  This disgusts Tomas' cousin so bad and that Tomas is now out of control.  Then Tomas was seen forcing his younger cousin to hold hos colt pistol and trying it out.  Tita Dina, the mother complains to Ika of what she saw.  Ika explains to Tomas how disappointed she is on him and Tomas kept on denying what he did and asked Gabe for support but he does not do anything.  Later on the mother that was hit by Ika's continues to harass her by demanding 800 dollars to pay for the damage.  Tomas tells Gabe that they arrived at her house and her son, Gabe's friend, was there alone at the house.  And later, both brothers beat him up and Gabe felt better and stronger about being Tomas's accomplice and he knew that the taste of it was bitter.  Then Tomas theatens the child when he said, "If you tell anybody about this we will come by and beat your mother... Listen to me.  When people ask you who did this, and you are dying to talk, I want you to remember this conversation.  I want you to remember the things you said about my mother and how much we hate you for it.  And I want you to imagine all the things we could to your mom."(215).  After leaving the place, the story ends leaving the fate of the family especially the brother's fate uncertain.
From reading this book, it represents the darkness of embracing gang culture in America and how it can take you away from being successful and being in school.  Blending in with this culture can lead to consequences that cannot be undone and will follow you for the rest of your life.  That's the privilege you get for being influenced by this culture of America.  If you keep your morals and virtues intact and strive hard in school by putting a little bit more effort even through the tough times, you will become successful and you will become a champion not only in school, work, home, but in life. 

American Son Blog 4

Just earlier, I read two more chapters of American Son.  It is revealed that his grades have been slipping up ever since he has almots embraced the dark side and become like his brother.  Father Ryan, the priest and head of the school were Gabe attends, was a missionary from the Philippines and knew the customs of the country, talked with Gabe about it.  Father Ryan asked further questions if his grades were caused by life at his house and the way Tomas treats him but Gabe denies all of it.  Later, Aunt Jessica takes him to the new Catholic school that he will be enrolling in.  Not only does the school have better conditions inside and out, but it was really expensive.  But something made Gabe feel anxiuos about transferring to the new school and I guess the reason why he is anxious is because there were a lot of rich kids who are white and that would judge him for his socioeconomic status.  It is also revealed that only he and Aunt Jessica knew about Gabe's grades, not his mom.  If his mom ever knew, it would devastate her completely because he was the only son she can depend on.  Then Aunt Jessica explains to him, "Look.  Gabe.  Your mother had hopes when she came to this country.  In America you can becomne successful.  You can rise above. You can get education.  That's what she was taught by those nuns the Amercan Catholics sent over... But it's too late for her Gabe."(166).  Then she furtherly explains, "Anyway, Gabe.  I don't think she for anything for herself anymore.  She hopes everything for you... And let me tell you something more, Gabe.  Your mother has been talking to me.  Her brother, Betino- your uncle- has been nagging her to send you and your brother to the Philippines.  To stay with him and go to school over there.  You know what that place is like- the soot, the crime, the crowds, the people, the kidnappings, the humidity?  Do you remember?  How old were you when you came over here- eight, nine?  He wants you to live in his house where he can watch over you.  And why do you think he is offering to do this, Gabe?  Do you think it's because he wants your company?  To take you away from your mother?  No.  he says all this because he believes that you are not turning out right, and the reason he thinks that?  Well, he talks with your mother, and he can hear in her voice how worried she is.  How much it hurts her.  Are you listening to me Gabe?  Gabe?  Do you understand?  He can hear on a phone from five thousand miles away on a bad connection that your mother is in pain and lonely and disappointed and scared.  Behind a curtain of expensive static.  You and Tomas are everything to her.  You think she has dreams of her own?  What, to open up a shoe making business?  To become a millionaire?  To remarry or something, go dancing, live it up, have a good time? Like some young, happy-go-lucky single mother?  Come on.  You know what she's like.  She came to this country in the first place, Gabe, even back then, because she had dreams that her kids could have a better life than the caste droven slum you come from."(!67-168).  The whole passage shows that Gabe ios finally opening his eyes to how much his mom has been in agony for so long.  Even to the point that Ika is considering the advice of her brother Betino, to come to the Philippines.
In the next chapter, it seemed that Romas has gone soft on Gabe and decided to bring him to the parties where the bad kids go.  At onme point, one pof the parties was at a friend's house who's mom is in her 30's and let's everyone come to her house.  What's strike is that she allows people to smoke marijuana and have sex at her own living room.  This shocked me because moms are supposed to be mature, have values, responsible, and being a role model to their children.  Then the chapter shifts to the new school where Ika accidentally bumped on to a new and luxurious car that one of the mother's owned.  The mom embarassed Ika in front of everyone and never knew how to fight back.  This made Gabe uncomfortable.  Later they drive on to the mall and she nnede Gabe to help her out in the customer service line.  The sales lady was rude because even thoughboth Gabe and Ika needed help, she was still talking to one of her co- workers.  So Gabe talked with her about how frustrated he was and it was shown that he can be tough and firm but he has to apply it in life.  And it also shows that her mom is total opposite of her children because she could not talk and felt embarassed and was too dependent of them both.  And in the end, Ika showed a different side of her when she conversationally talked with a random woman who had so much common with her.  It showed that she was longing to be with her family and that wioth her family, she could be happy.  This happens to be the beauty of family because in Filipino families, we tend to watch over and help our loved ones and that getting together with relatives makes us overjoy with happiness.  

American Son Blog 3

Later I read the the next two chapters of American Son.  In reading the first chapter, it seems that both Stone and Gabe have made it to Meridan, Oregon.  They decide that they should spend the night in a motel to rest and continue tomorrow.  When they go to the hotel, Gabe noticed that Stone knew where he was going and which one to stop at because they passed so many motels.  This made Gabe uncomfortable because he felt betrayed and used.  In the hotel, Stone signed the papers and told Gabe that it was paid.  This makes Gabe curious on who paid it and what is going in so after asking the same question several times, Stone said that Gabe's own mother paid for it and she flew to Oregon earlier today.  So Gabe wanted to apologize to Stone for making assumptions on him.  Later they went to Denny's to meet his mom but Gabe never knew that her aunt, his step father's sister, to be there.  Both Gabe and his aunt were not getting a long because she was frustrated on Gabe following on the fotsteps of his brother, Tomas and then when his mom comes in, Gabe tells Stone that that's their maid.  But Gabe calling his own mother a maid created a big misunderstanding between Stone and Aunt Jessica.  Later Stone left and the rest went back to the motel.  gabe and Ika were the only ones in the hotel in the final scene.  At this time Ika asked Gabe he told Stone she was their maid and gabe continues to deny it.  She cried eventually and did not want Gabe to comfrort her.  This shows how disappointed she is about her own son who has traformed from a sweet and caring to to Tomas.  Filipino mothers tend to not be comforted after heated argument that hurt them in the inside.  I know this because my mother was like that everytime we disagree on something.
Betino then sends a long letter urging Ika to bring her children to the Philippines were they will be disciplined and have values by a real private catholic school.  He even said that it is no too late to take the offer.  Betino continues to explain thta the people continue to overexaggerate the crime in the Philippines but in reality, they are right.
In the next chapter, Tomas got a new explorer and already knew abouty Gabe's incident with his car and Buster.  Gabe promised that he would get Buster and pay Tomas back so Tomas runs errands for him so he can pay it off.  One of them was vandalizing the car of Eddy Ho, a former friend of Tomas, it did not work well because Eddy tried to stab Gabe to death.  But he was aved just in time by his dog and Tomas.  After that Tomas developed a soft spot for Gabe and they eat pizza and he tells Gabe that mom will make the same dinner and that we should lie that a client made them dinner.  But when they got home, she made dinner and it was something different.  What I have seen in this chapter is that it was rare that Tomas would care for gabe after disrespectinghim, insulting him, and beaating him to death once.  Also it shows that Ika is hurt that she was not being appreciated as a mom and she is not toough to stand her ground and be firm in disciplining her kids and in life.  A mom should be firm and strong and wiser has to be more respected when it comes to kids and in life in general.

American Son Blog 2

Earlier, I Read the next two chapters of Brian Ascalon Roley's book, Americam Son.  In the first chapter, Betino sent another letter to Ika to tell her that hid daughter's are about to graduate from Ateneo and one of them is getting a degree from Harvard.  Betino continues to express his concern with Ika's two children not only for Tomas but especially for Gabe.  In the letter he said, "I think you are right to worry about Tomas's influence on his younger brother.  It is with great anxiety that I read both of his imitation in dress of his older brother and of their increased fighting."(57).  From looking reading this letter, it is implied that Gabe is gradually becoming a disrespectful rude, mean, and wannabe Mexican gangster in LA.  The letter thorouhly shows that Betino is continuing to offer her sons to come back to the Philippines where the boys can go to a private school with supervision and be disciplined.  Not like the ones in America that are permissive according to Betino. Betino continues to explain that the kidnapping cases in the Philippines are extremely exaggerated but the crime their is still bad but they live in a secluded area.  I have lived and grew up in the Philippines for 9 years and even though I lived in a seclude place, crime happens a lot every day near where I lived so kidnapping cases may be exaggerated but the crimes being commited in the country is something not to ignore at all. 
In the third chapter, the date was 1993 and it was somewhere in another California.  Gabe woke up early in the morning stole Tomas's car and his favorite dog, Buster, to sell.  This was probably a method of revenge to get back at Tomas for selling Johan in the previous chapter.  After malking the deal, he makes a stop at the gas station to fill the car with gas.  Gabe then said, "As I pump gas a family in a white BMW with plates that tell me that they bought it in Newport Beach regard my brother's Olds suspiciously.  Which tells me they have had encounters with gangs before.  They look sporty, the blond boys back with their colorful windbreakers, crusted with slat and rolled up to their pale knobby elbows.  Probably they werere on their way up to Mammoth for camping.  They look like they might bv nice people, but the oldest one mad- dogs me while the gentle- faced smaller one holds on to his brother's arm, then buries his face shyly into his brother's shoulder.  They probablythink I am Mexican.  I hook the pump before the car is filled and pay the attendant and leave."(61- 62).  Gabe's observation shows that wealthy Americans particulalry white people, make assumptions of people who are different than they are both in class and in color.  This may not be a big issue in America but its still a continous social issue because Deerfield's population is mostly white and wealthy and they judge peopel for all the advantages they do not have in life.  I wish rich people should be considerate that what they are doing is wrong.  They think that they are more superior than people who are in poverty but they are not as they seem to be.  Judging makes you a monster both outside and inside and people who live in poor neighborhoods tend to strive hard to success and it is a fact that happens a lot in life.  Later on he goes to a small town on the way to Oregon with motels and diners in the area.  At first he did seem anxious that people will judge him on his appearance but it was not the case.  They accepted him for who he is possibly because he came from a tough life environment just like the folks in the in the diner.   
Later on he made to another smal town and needed help in fixing his brother's car that broke down that night and so he got a guy to tow the car.  His name was Stone and at first Gabe was a little bit mistrusting to him but after offereing a drink and lunch, he did not seem so bad.  Stone later recommends Gabe to move his family to his town somwhere in California where its safe and non violent because Stone took pity for his family especially for Ika who was scared of drive by shootings.  From learning from these two chapters, there are a lot of misconceptions that people make of other people so it would be best that they should get to know the person first before judging them.

Race in America

Race in America has been an issue for several years.  Even though slavery has been abolished and the Civil Rights movement changed the face of this sacred country, nothing has changed.  In reading a few of these articvles in both CNN and Exploring Race in the Chicago Tribune, what I find most striking of them all was that Americans wanted churches to be segregated on Sundays.  This makes me upset because not only is racial discrimination a never ending battle in the country, but also some African Americans and whites had to say who does and who does not go to church due to the fear of a hostile environment because of racism.  In the US alone, only 5 percent of churches are integrated  and its only for the sole purpose of not errupting racila tension in a religious institution.  What I do not understand about this issue is that that can they just get a long especially in worshipping the same God.   These match up with Andrew Hacker and Tim Wise's articles because it shows that Blacks cannot have the privilege to have an integrated church the same way they cannot live in suburbs or neighborhoods that have a major population of white Americans.  There was no difference in this issue but the big change was that it had to be also about a place to worship.  My "hidden bias" did not have any impact on this case because I had no preference between African Americans and white Americans.