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Sikh teacher's book on bullying may help many
parents, teachers
WSN Bureau
 MASSACHUSETS:
Khalsa brings out A Springfield educator SiriNam S. Khalsa has
authored a book "Break the Bully Cycle: Intervention Techniques and
Activities to Create a Respectful School Community". Khalsa is a
Professional Development Associate of the Massachusetts Teachers
Association, and offers anti-bullying seminars throughout
Massachusetts.
Khalsa has been a teacher himself for 25 years.
Based at the High School of Commerce, and sporting a turban and
beard, Khalsa enunciates his view that bullying not only hurts
others, it also hurts the bully. "A child who is a bully at age 8 is
three times more likely to be convicted for a crime by age 30 and is
less likely to hold a job or find a meaningful profession," he says.
In addition, girl bullies are more likely to raise children who are
bullies. "It's a learned behavior," says Khalsa. Identifying the
bully, he says, is the first and most important step in this
direction, though it is not as easy as it sounds and requires a
joint and cooperative effort by teachers, parents, rest of the
society, and (do not wonder) even the bully and the bullied. A
respectful school community requires this and much more, but the
fact remains that it is eminently achievable.
A bully is in need of help and the very action of bullying is often
an SOS for such help. The bully perceives the people around him as
part of a negative environment, and the school must make sure that
such children see the school as a secure place, free of hostility.
Parents are advised to be good role models by behaving in ways that
are "kind and inclusive."
Some of the wisdom is actually common place but of course
increasingly becoming uncommon. Turning off the violent TV shows,
having dinner together, participating in family activities etc are
all part of the regular therapy.
Adult supervision is more important where parents or teachers are
themselves not present as these are the spots where bullying happens
more often. The after hours at the school, the gym, the school bus
are all examples cited by Khalsa. Dysfunctional families, violence
in the media, access to cell phones and the Internet for purposes of
cyber-bullying are all factors adding to the problem.
(Break the Bully Cycle: Intervention Techniques and Activities to
Create a Respectful School Community; Good Year Books, $20)
12 December, 2007
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