http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/bullied-ny-bus-monitor-hopes-parents-video-16618916
This link is to the sad video of the kids making fun of a bus monitor last week. I am sure you have all heard about it. They said horribly mean things to her–for no apparent reason that I have heard. It was awful and contemptible.
It was an example of poor parenting.
When I was growing up, I was taught to respect my elders. Even if I didn’t like them, I was supposed to treat them with good manners and, if I had a problem with an adult, I was told to come to my parents and tell them. If I had been one of the perpetrators on that bus, I still would not be able to sit on my backside.
My children were raised the same way–that they were to treat adults with courtesy and respect. It is obvious that these kids were not taught that life value. Are they some of the kids I hear speaking disrespectfully to their parents and getting away with it? My guess is that they are. It is shameful that so many children these days are allowed to say anything, do anything, have everything, and be accountable for nothing.
I have not seen anything about what punishment they have received at home. And it is a personal thing. At least the school district has reacted firmly–expelled for one year, not allowed to ride on the bus system, and community service hours for each of the kids who participated in this disgusting display.
If you were the parent of one of them, what would you do? I have considered a few options–feel free to respond to this post with your thoughts:
- Matching the community service hours that was mandated to the students with an equal amount of hours under my supervision.
- A visit to the woman for a heartfelt apology in person
- A set number of hours, over and above the community service hours, for service to her–lawn mowing, raking, gardening chores, running errands for her, and so forth
- No social events for the entire summer–no trips to the mall, no movies, and so forth
I would also like to say that the parents of each of these kids owes that poor woman a personal apology for not raising children that are respectful and could behave in such an abhorrent manner.
Another point to mention is that no where in the video tape did I hear one other student speak up on her behalf. No one defended her or confronted the other kids. They all just sat back and let it happen. That also is a sad commentary about our youth. If one of my kids was on the bus and said nothing, I would have been very upset.
This is an important teaching moment for every parent. Our children need to understand that they can either be part of the problem or part of the solution in life. To do nothing is a waste, and in this case, a silent approval of the behavior.
