At the next roundtable there will be a presentation on bullying. During the February Roundtable, when the presentation was first presented, it was decided that this was an important enough topic to be given again with plenty of advance notice. So I invite all of you to come to the Patriot District roundtable on March the 11th and listen to this very important topic. To answer the question "Why talk about Bullying?"….here are some thoughts…
•An alarming percentage of young people encounter bullying at one time or another during their school years. Estimates range from 10 percent who report being victims of severe acts to 75 percent who have reported at least one incident of bullying during the past year. The fact that bullying is so common does not change the fact that it can cause serious harm.
•Loss of self-esteem and self-confidence can result from being the victim of bullying. In addition, the National Education Association estimates that 160,000 students are absent from school every day simply to avoid being bullied. Low grades, depression, and withdrawal from social situations are other potential results of being victimized.
•During the past decade, school shootings, suicides, and other acts of extreme violence by individuals who endured years of bullying have highlighted the fact that bullying is not a harmless and inevitable part of the experience of growing up.
•The values of Scouting make it clear that bullying cannot be tolerated, and we in Scouting have a unique opportunity to teach respect and acceptance of others and to create an environment that is safe and healthy for learning. In keeping with the Scout motto, we have a commitment to assist young people to Be Prepared to handle the difficult situations they are likely to face.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Thanks
Steve
smithfamilyzoo@cox.net  |
