First, the origins of the this program were "developed by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, which is seeking to ensure that schools safely accommodate students of all sexual orientations.(source)" Is it really proper for a Christian school to adopt a program where the main purpose is to promote sexual sin as normal and acceptable? I think not!
The whole concept is supposedly based on a fiction book called The Misfits by James Howe with the express purpose of "raising awareness" among children of how destructive name calling can be. When we investigate the issue, though, we find that the main character, Joe, is gay. According to author, he wanted The Misfits to put a more positive slant on being gay in middle school.
“I wanted him to be a kid who sees himself as cool, who sees nothing wrong with being attracted to the boy who sits next to him in art class as opposed to the girl on the other side of him. He understands, as do the other "misfits" in this story, that the problem isn't with himself, it's with the attitudes and ignorance of others.Since the origins are tainted, then it would be in everyone's best interest to drop this program from their calendars.
The second reason to drop this kind of program is that it promotes the idea that what a person thinks and says is something that can governed. This runs counter to the most basic right of a man to have liberty to think and say what he will. The freedom of speech and freedom of thought means that all speech and philosophies are protected, including name calling. While I have no problem with a private, Christian school setting behavior standards that include no name-calling provisions, it is wrong for a government run school to do so. The government has no right to tell people what they are allowed or not allowed to say.
"But Randy," you say, "Bullying is a big problem in schools and we need do something about it. Why just today I read a story about how two boys (ages 9 and 10) in Florida had to be dragged out of school in hand-cuffs for the horrendous act of drawing violent stick figures. The stick figures depicted two stickmen stabbing a third stickman, a classmate. Doesn't that child have the right to 'feel safe' while at school?"
I would like to deal with the ludicrousness of arresting 9 and 10 year olds, but will have to save that for another post. The argument that since bullying is a problem and needs to be dealt with is a red herring when it comes to this program. One can teach children that bullying is wrong without an official, government-ordained program.
I think that it is much better to teach children that they have a duty to wield their tongues in a responsible manner using a God-ordained program. The Bible spends a lot of time talking about how people should guard their speech and control their tongues. This kind of change requires more than a government/social program. Guidelines printed from the Internet will not change bullying in schools. Truly stopping bullying/name-calling requires the transformation that comes by the Spirit. A private, Christian school has a great opportunity to give children the moral foundations on how to treat people, that include no name-calling.
These principles extend beyond one week. These are principles that must be reinforced daily by the administration, faculty, parents, and other adults who encounter the undesirable behavior. A week-long program causes harm because it gives adults the illusion that they are doing something useful.
Finally, it is important to note that we live in a fallen world. Therefore, bullying and name-calling will never be eradicated from the schoolyard. Children, therefore, need to be taught how to stand up for themselves to bullies. Children also need to be taught that name calling is not as destructive as people make it out to be. As I was researching this topic, I was shocked when I saw that the classic rhyme about "sticks and stones...words will never hurt me" has mutated into "Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones, but Names Will Break Our Spirit."
This is what we are teaching our children??? With mottos like that, it is no wonder that kids have no defense against bullies and are growing up to be wimps. Children must learn that they can not let their perceptions of themselves be modified by outside influences.
I know this will be a shock to everyone, but I was bullied in school, a lot. I was called all sorts of names in school. I remember one instance where I ran out of the gymnasium in tears after being harassed. Another time I was cornered on an elevator and terrorized by a peer. Name-calling, teasing, taunts, and other forms of ridicule were a daily part of my life as other kids tried to exercise dominance over me. Sure, some days I was humiliated. Yes, I would not want any child to face the trials that I did. But the fact is, those hardships formed me into a strong person. Today I am confident in who I am. I am sure of my ideas. Those values were molded in the furnace of teasing. I would not want any child to miss forming those same values. Adults must learn how to guide children through the fire of peer mistreatment, not shield them from it.
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