Youngstown News, Downturn in economy brings uptick in bullying, officials say

Youngstown News, Downturn in economy brings uptick in bullying, officials say
Barbara Coloroso is recognized as a national bullying expert and wrote the book “The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander.” She said bullying is not as simple as mean kids picking on the outcasts.
“Part of the problem is that we fail to discern the difference between normal, necessary and natural conflict and bullying,” she said. “This is not about conflict but utter contempt ...Once I feel contempt for someone, I can do anything without feeling compassion.”
Coloroso said that behavior can be traced to parents who make offhand comments about people of another religion or race, meant seriously or not.
“Kids learn very young that people are different, but they have to be taught that they’re less than you,” she said.
Coloroso cites dozens of examples of extreme bullying in her book from across the country. Many were ignored by authorities, went undetected by parents or teachers or resulted in suicide.
“We ignore this at our children’s peril,” Coloroso said, adding that every complaint should be taken seriously.
“If it’s reported and affects the school climate at all, we have an obligation to deal with it,” she said.
It is going to take a long time to decrease bullying in our schools, but if we do not address it we will suffer the consequences in our homes, streets and communities.