Bullying infects the school setting
IN HIS Jan. 30 op-ed "Thwarting the bullies in our schools," Jack Levin made some important points about the problem of mistreating children who are different. He accurately lists obesity, race, accent, and physical or mental disability as among possible targets for bullying.
But he left out an important category of children who are liable to be teased, humiliated, or harassed: those of high intelligence. Even though my school days are nearly half a century behind me, I still remember with pain the epithets ("brain," "Einstein," "teacher's pet"), the spitballs, the graffiti, the snickers and whispers. Responsible parents and teachers who want to protect students from bullying should remember that the intelligent are often targets.
VALERIE WHITE
Sharon
AS THE larger community struggles to understand the recent tragedy at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School, we believe it is important to look at the root causes of such incidents. We see what happened as part of a larger culture that glorifies violence, devalues people who are different, and encourages the use of force to resolve conflict.
John Odgren was reportedly bullied and teased in school. We see bullying and teasing as a direct result of this culture of violence. We also notice how we represent violence done by white young men as opposed to that done by young men of color. Violence from young men of color, who are rarely depicted as "set apart" from their peers, is viewed as the norm, their acts more often linked to criminality.
If we are to understand and prevent these tragedies, we must acknowledge the powerful influence of the wider culture. We must value all children and help young people and adults alike to treat each other with respect and understanding. Only then will we stand the chance of building peace in our communities and the world.
KRISTEN HANDRICKEN
ORA GRODSKY
Cambridge
The writers are members of the Peaceable Schools Group, Center for Children, Family and Public Policy, at Lesley University.
SOCIOLOGIST JACK Levin wrote an important op-ed (Jan. 30) about the serious problem of bullying in our schools and the "culture of silence" among students.
He was wise to suggest that readers keep their eye on the "larger picture" rather than on the current tragedy at Lincoln-Sudbury.
Unfortunately, the several indirect references to Lincoln-Sudbury throughout his piece might unintentionally lead readers to conclude that bullying and the culture of silence were involved in the brutal slaying of one of our students by another.
We all need to be concerned about the issues that Levin raises. In the case of Lincoln-Sudbury, we all need to wait until an investigation and trial establish the facts.
BILL SCHECHTER
Sudbury
The writer teaches history at Lincoln-Sudbury Regional H.S.
