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BCTF wants province to focus on cause of bullies
VANCOUVER/CKNW (AM980)
Alison Bailey Email news tips to alison.bailey@corusent.com
10/13/2012

In the wake of the tragic suicide of 15 year old bullied student Amanda Todd, the President of the BC Teachers Federation says it's not good enough  to simply intervene when there is a bullying problem.

Susan Lambert says bullying needs to be stopped from happening altogether.

"It's not a matter of trying to identify bullies.  What we have to do is stop the creation or the permission for that kind of behavior to develop."

Lambert says she'd like the province's E.R.A.S.E. Bullying program to focus on eradicating the problem by looking at the causes, rather than stop it once it starts.

E.R.A.S.E. stands for "expect respect and a safe education."

It includes training for educators on identifying and dealing with bullying.

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  1. commonsense posted on 10/13/2012 08:27 AM
    "Lambert says she'd like the province's E.R.A.S.E. Bullying program to focus on eradicating the problem by looking at the causes, rather than stop it once it starts."

    Ms. Lambert, I really hope you are not backing away from stopping bullying with suggesting you look at root causes. To be honest, both need to be done. Stop the bully before it starts and stop it when it does start.
    1. alf5892 posted on 10/14/2012 09:11 AM
      @commonsense Let's use some common sense, commonsense. Do you really think that's what she is saying, or is it just an opportunity to take a shot at the BCTF? I'm all for dumping on the BCTF when appropriate, but this isn't the case here.

      "Bullying needs to be stopped from happening all together" to me means addressing the issue at all times. Her point is that prevention before the fact is more effective than reaction after the fact.
    show more replies
  2. Jartann posted on 10/13/2012 08:47 AM
    Root causes, they standard dodge of the left. We are going to be told it is caused by: "income inequality", "unfair distribution of wealth", "low taxes on the rich", "too few teachers", "underpaid teachers", "education cutbacks", "Gordon Campbell", "capitalism", "George W Bush". These are just a few of the standard root causes advanced by the left.

    The causes are generations of parents who have taken the easy way out, a society and governments that take the easy way out, a society where anything goes is the norm. Bullies face no consequences and any parent who has had a child expereience bullying can attest to that.

    But by all means, lets blame everyone but the bullies, lets buy lots of t shirts, lets put the bumper stickers on right next to that great success "Free Tibet" and then we can all feel better about ourselves.
    1. AnneH_4 posted on 10/13/2012 01:21 PM
      @Jartann I fully agree. Lets first find these potential murderers and punish them severely.

      I am so sick of hearing how social workers are going to save everything - they save their pay cheques

      A 19 year old fellow told me that kids of his generation were fashion accessories for the parents. He said the parents did not have a clue what was going on so if one of the kids were doing disgusting things like they do to the kids who kill themselves, the parents would be so 'surprised' because they have no clue what is going on
  3. MikeC_3374 posted on 10/13/2012 10:01 AM
    And who better to comment about bullying than the BCTF. They are experts at bullying the public and especially their own members.
    1. noparty posted on 10/13/2012 11:11 AM
      @MikeC_3374 I agree BCTF only needs to look at any of their meetings to see how bullying works and stop it there.
    2. AnneH_4 posted on 10/13/2012 01:23 PM
      @MikeC_3374 The BCTF have thugs who ensure all of the teachers are in line with their philosophy. I know one teacher who would not toe the line and he got a visit late at night from the thugs who threatened him --- break arms and legs and if he still did not comply then the ultimate punishment
    show more replies
  4. SalV posted on 10/13/2012 12:06 PM
    I say if you are deemed a child then all your electronic communications can be monitored for hate speech, bullying and whatever stupid things kids do that cause harm to others. To let them know that, until you are a grown up adult, you will not let loose on all these social and communication tools without supervision.

    Whatever these kids communicate that it's deemed illegal their parents can be contacted instantly and automatically.
    1. AnneH_4 posted on 10/13/2012 01:24 PM
      @SalV A good start
    2. miltw posted on 10/14/2012 12:37 AM
      @SalV Carry it a better step forward. Post the names,addresses and results of each bully on every school hallway wall . Bullies are crying for attention so give it to them.
      Also hold any parent responsible for any criminal consequence arising from their little darlings actions.
  5. JasJ posted on 10/14/2012 10:31 PM
    Where is Facebooks and Twitters responsibility in all of this? If they are providing the open forum for these discussions they need to have some feature that allows users to report abuse and if they deem that the activity is warranted then they should delete the users account. I know the David Eby types won’t like this but I have no problem with the Zuck monitoring commutations through his product.
    1. JasJ posted on 10/14/2012 10:32 PM
      @JasJ Oh and I am surprised Lambert didn't mention hiring more teachers and increasing the current ones pay to help prevent bullying.
  6. speakup posted on 10/15/2012 11:45 AM
    ahhhh - Bullying comments from the HEAD BULLY herself!
    The irony is so ironic!
    ERASE - BCTF and let's get real!

    Check the stats at any schools in BC
    You will find NO BULLYING records -
    They ALWAYS find BOTH parties responsible - even if it is 2%
    which means - NO PAPER WORK - NO BULLYING ISSUES
    They will tell you the 'victim' is ALSO at fault since
    "they were also on the school grounds!' -
    even though they are not allowed
    - OFF grounds or IN school during recess/lunch
    (and when it happens OFF school grounds - phew!! -free and clear)

    THEN the worst part - they HELP the bully! awww poor Bully.......
    Leave the 'victim' to there own devices and NEVER talk to the parents!
    YUP keep on PAYING for these AWESOMELY USELSS BULLY BS!
    Just STOP allowing what is acceptable from kids with 'issues'
    STOP allowing bullies to claim they have 'problems'
    STOP giving them an OUT
    We are NOT helping anyone with these FAKE programs with fancy names!
    GET REAL - BE TRUE - ERASE BCTF and all their WASTE and BS tatics
  7. TedH_3 posted on 10/15/2012 01:09 PM
    When Christie Clark previously attempted to use Pink Shirt Day to prevent all bullying, the BCTF objected.
    A BCTF website contained these words of advice to teachers regarding "Think Pink Day," which was scheduled for April 14th (2010):
    "Discuss the true origins of the Day of Pink. It is not a generic day to stop bullying." Some of the rest of the suggestions on the same BCTF web-page would suggest that the purpose of "Think Pink Day" is as much or more about legitimizing homosexuality than about preventing bullying. Teachers of primary students were advised, "Talk with students about the real meaning of the word gay (i.e. two men who love one another and live together as a family)." Now that surely partakes more of the nature of deceitful propaganda than of enlightenment.
    We need to recognize that children of all groups can be bullied, and all need our protection.
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