Bullying is a major problem in our school system. Today, 1
in every 7 students k-12 has either been a victim of bullying or a bully. It
seems as though schools are always trying different approaches to stop
bullying. This issue is very important because so many young lives are effected
by bullying and we need to do everything we can to stop it.
In Austin Minnesota one school paid
20,000 dollars for the Scary Guy (his legal name) to help stop bullying. His
methods of presentation are quite unconventional and he seems to get the
attention of every student. The scary guy is a former tattoo artist, covered
from head to toe in tattoos. The artists admits that he lack a formal education
and credentials but and his look and teaching style is unconventional. His ways
consist of trying to teach children classical bullying behavior by demonstrating
it. His shock and awe method includes barfing up apples, groaning and rubbing
his belly. His ends his performances with fist pumping and a short phrase, "You travel
around on this world, and you put out hate and anger, and you cop an attitude,
you'll draw all this into your life wherever you go.” He claims that playing
the bully is a way to express his younger years where he would find fault in
everyone. He wants to teach kids with humor and putting a positive spin on
bullying. Some administers feel the scary's performances are just a bunch of
bells and whistles and aren’t truly the cultural change we need in schools so
desperately. When scary visited Juntunen's middle school his ways were viewed
as somewhat positive but so inappropriate the school says they will never
invite him back. In his attempt to show that handshaking is harmless he said to
a student, “that’s the best sex I’ve had all day.”
The principle of this Austin school claims
that he thinks scary ways work. "I think his credentials are stellar. And
we looked into them because this is risky," Schara says, when "you
bring someone in that looks like Scary Guy, that talks like Scary Guy."
Scary admits his lacks academic credentials and says his teaching are researched
based from his personal experience and that there is no one taking an approach
like his.
So what do you think, are unconventional
ways a good approach to bullying?
Sources;
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/us/scary-guy/index.html?npt=NP1
Sources;
http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/30/us/scary-guy/index.html?npt=NP1
This is a really interesting topic. You always hear about bullying and what different things schools are doing to discourage and eliminate bullying. Every school has a different way but you still hear about different cases where bullying has gone too far. This guys method is a very unique approach but clearly he is doing something right if he is getting that much attention. If his unconventional way works then I say go for it. I don't think bullying will ever be 100% eliminated but I commend the efforts of the schools to try to do so.
ReplyDeleteIf an unconventional way works such as this one, then I say go for it. But I do think that sitting down one on one with a bully and finding out why that bully does in fact bully other kids should work too.
ReplyDeleteBullying is an important issue to address and I would be willing to look at unconventional methods IF they work. However, this guys presentation looks like a scam. His "performance" is inappropriate for younger kids. I don't understand how a school would hire him and why a principal would think he is a good idea. I think just because he is interesting and provides a very different approach to stop bullying it interests schools but i dont think he is qualified. I dont believe you need a degree to be able to teach but he doesnt have a good reason why he will make a long lasting affect on kids.
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Justin. Bullying is very important, but is this guy worth $20,000. I feel like if a school is going to spend that much money on a person there better be some kind of evidence proving this method works. In my opinion this way of trying to reduce bullying may work in a more temporary way rather then a long term solution. This method seems more like a shock and awe sort of technique. I would relate this method to the tv show scared straight. The idea of the show is to scare troubled juveniles of the consequences of breaking the law by bringing them to a prison for the day. Although the teens may stop their bad habits temporarily, it has been proven that in the long run it does not actually work. Going back to the "scary guy" I would like to see more evidence of this type of anti-bullying working before I am personally sold on the idea.
ReplyDeleteBullying is a very hot topic in today's society. It is good that school districts around the country are deciding to tackle this issue. WARNING: I am about to make a very controversial statement here, but here it goes...Some bullying is good for children as long as it doesn't turn physical. I deal with bullies on a daily basis in my current occupation with the State of Illinois. My point in this statement is that bullying is going to happen when you are younger and when you are an adult. I think where school districts are missing the mark, is that they are focusing their attention on not being the bully. In my opinion, they would be better served teaching children how to deal with the bullying and developing coping mechanisms that can be implemented on how to deal with a bully. Additionally, it has been proven that "scare tactics" like this man's presentation are not effective past 24-48 hours. I am sure some of us have had the pre-prom week where the mock car crash was shown, with the life flight helicopter landing in the football field and all. Scary Mans presentation is no different and really doesn't work. My point is all of this is that more time needs to devoted to fixing the problem and less time needs to be devoted to the methods that are clearly ineffective (scare tactics, pro reenactments, DARE, etc.). We will never get rid of bullies, but we can learn to live with them and positively deal with their negativity.
ReplyDeleteBullying is a sore subject and really is a problem all around the world. It seems impossible to find a solution for bullying, but this seems like an innovative way to try and solve the problem. People I agree that we should teach kids how to deal with bullying more so then trying to prevent it. Bullying is going to happen regardless, so if we teach kids how to handle being bullied they will be much better off. Showing kids that what these bully's say or do is meaningless and really just reflects there bad behavior. This could help kids with their self esteem issues, and take away a lot fo the bully's power over these kinds of kids.
ReplyDeleteI dont believe that this style of bully prevention will work because the students at this age are paying more attention to the entertainment parts than the real message behind his delivery. They parts of scary's presentation that will stick are the shock and awe segments of his approach. however there is nothing wrong with trial and error. since bullying is a problem I think that trying new methods for prevention will only better our understanding of the topic.
ReplyDeleteThis is interesting to say the least! I strongly disagree with bullying and have a huge passion for people who get bullied. This guy is obviously doing something right because he is getting paid so much money to do the things he is doing but is he really worth that much and is he really making a difference? Obviously he is shocking the audience with his performances but is it going to help in the long run? Like when a bully is going to the so called "nerd" in the grade to make fun of him i don't think he is going to stop in his tracks and be like "Oh the Scary Man's assembly is changing my mind." But if the schools and the teachers think this is helping then I sure hop it will end bullying everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI do not understand how having a x-tattoo artist come into a school and talk about bullying and help stop it. I do not see how that person would even be close to worth $20,000, If you want me to come to your school and do all those same things I will for that much money... That is just insane, yes bullying needs to be stopped, but I do not believe their is any real way to fully stop bullying its almost like the DARE program it will work for some student and not all. It's not just the DARE that actually changes people its your family life and what you were taught, I think that goes for bullying too.. I think at a young age kids need to be told bullying is not okay.
ReplyDeleteI think anything at this point is worth a shot. Bullying has become an epidemic that needs immediate attention. The long time affects and damage that bullying has on children is many times irreversible. We have 8 year old children hanging themselves in their very own closets because they can not take the day to day ridicule from fellow classmates. And we as parents and school officials sometimes seem oblivious to the extent of the problem. The schools that are hiring this man obviously are taking a hands on approach to trying to solve the problem or at least take steps in the right direction that will make the lives of many children a little more manageable. No child should have to deal with bullying and if this man coming and talking to students at school can help at least one child not have to go through that then I say it is a job well done.
ReplyDeleteNice topic and blog.
ReplyDeleteI don't think bullying is going anywhere in the immediate future, however. Growing up, I was picked on quite often and that was only because I had red hair; whatever. That was 10-15 years ago, though and I can only imagine what these kids will be like 10-15 years in the future. If a person has a weakness, someone else will point it out and exploit it just to become "cooler" (and I'm referring to the 5th grade definition of 'cooler'). I'm glad we're finally raising awareness about bullying in schools because for as much faculty and people we have watching these kids, a lot of bullying goes unseen. I guess only time will tell
Bullying is a huge problem now a days in our schools, you're right. I think the solution stems from education. I think that the teachers in these schools have no idea how to handle bullying when they see it. I think there needs to be more discipline in order to get the message across to kids who decide to verbally and physically bully their fellow students. The message needs to be sent to kids at an early age that bullying will not be tolerated and quite frankly in the school systems right now, it does not seem to be a top priority.
ReplyDelete