TELL US: Does 'Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer' Condone Bullying?

Does the lovable children's holiday classic send the wrong message? Tell us your thoughts.

In October, Patch asked readers how they felt about one parent's view that "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" condoned bullying. Specifically, blogger DadCamp wrote that the show sends the wrong message to children because of its "continuous teasing and bullying" It's not the first time a parent has spoken out against a classic children's program with such a claim. Last December, news spread that author and special ed professor George Giuliani said that "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" was also a program laden with the theme of bullying, considering how much Rudolph was an outsider due to his glowing red nose. Giuliani, as such, wrote a book titled "No More Bullies at the North Pole," which re-tells the story of Rudolph. What do you …

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Betty Smith

8:10 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012

I do see your point.   more ›

THE WAY I SEE IT

Facing My Fears Because Of My Ears

In the third edition of his treatise on bullying, the columnist divulges his experiences with his personal fourth grade tormentor.

I had my bully, and it was excruciating. Not only the bully, but the intimidation I felt. ~ Robert Cormier Today is the Fourth of July and in my 40-plus years in the communications industry, mostly the newspaper business, I’ve learned there is one great truth above all others for those of us who pen words for a living; and that truth is this… On July 4th, no one reads your stuff! Of course there are those who hunker down beneath their beach umbrella with a good book, but this isn’t a book and not too many people are dumb enough to take a laptop to the beach – sand! I suppose there are those who may tap into the Norton Patch’s site on their smartphone or IPhone or whatever [my cellphone is just a phone – imagine that?], but still; it’s a …

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THE WAY I SEE IT

Crossing The Line

The columnist resumes the discussion on bullying.

I have many regrets, and I'm sure everyone does. The stupid things you do, you regret... if you have any sense, and if you don't regret them, maybe you're stupid. ~ Katharine Hepburn In my June 6 column, I asked, “What's so new about bullying? Is it different now than it was when you were a kid?” and I chronicled many of the differences between life when I was in school back in the fifties and sixties and life for kids today. One reader said… There’s teasing and there’s BULLYING...HUGE difference!!! If there had been computers when I was being bullied, I don’t know if I’d be here today. I was so depressed. Cyber-bullying has made it so much worse for the kids today. My heart goes out to anyone who has to endure that torture. Another …

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THE WAY I SEE IT

Bullying Or Just Plain Bull?

The columnist is baffled by the focus on bullying in our schools. What's so new about bullying? Is it different now than it was when you were a kid?

Georgie Porgie pudding and pie,        Kissed the girls and made them cry. When the boys came out to play, Georgie Porgie ran away. I graduated from Mansfield High School in the mid-60s; 1966 to be precise. Those were good times – simpler times. There were no computers, so there were no social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and the like. Email wasn’t even a word, never mind a reality. And the only thing resembling cell phones were the telephones at the police station so those arrested could make their ‘one phone call’ before being locked up in their cell – not that I would know anything about that. A website was a place in the corner of the room where a Daddy Long Leg’s hung out, and blogs were, well, to be honest blogs were …

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Norton Schools Sees Increase in Bullying Reports

Majority of students opting out of telling school staff members.

The latest bullying survey results at Norton Public Schools revealed an increase of reports over last year. This year five incidents were reported at Norton High School, 27 at Norton Middle School, 16 at Henri A. Yelle Elementary School, 12 at L. G. Nourse Elementary School and one at J. C. Solmonese School. In all cases this is an increase over last year, in which zero incidents were reported at Norton Middle School, High School and L. G. Nourse Elementary School. Three were reported at Henri A. Yelle Elementary, and five were recorded at J. C. Solmonese Elementary. Curriculum director Jennifer O’Neil said that these results were expected as students became more aware of bullying definitions and reporting procedures. “I can’t really say …

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Kelly A. Mello

4:32 pm on Sunday, May 20, 2012

Hello Phil Pyron, your last comment was removed because it contained expletives. Feel free to repost if you keep it clean.   more ›

Parent Talk Q&A

Teasing: Harmless vs. Hurtful

This week's Parent Talk topic tackles the fine line between joking around and bullying.

Each week, our council of experts and smart parents take your questions, give advice and share solutions in this parenting column. This feature will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in as we start the conversation today with a topic and question: Bullying has been a hot button issue for some time now, though kids have been teased since the dawn of school. In fact, per the recomendation of a lawyer, Norton Public Schools recently made a change to their bullying policy to include adults. People of all ages "bully" others without even realizing it. Sometimes it's all in good fun, but other times it's hurtful. As parents, you don't want to embarass your children if…

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School Committee Studies Bullying Survey Results

Findings show that bullying not being reported at higher level.

At Monday’s meeting, Norton school committee received results from an anonymous bullying survey that was issued last month. Zero incidents were reported at Norton Middle School, High School and L. G. Nourse Elementary School. Three were reported at Henri A. Yelle Elementary, and five were recorded at J. C. Solmonese Elementary. In the entire school district, 67 percent of students said they have never been bullied, while 2 percent say they are every day. Nineteen percent said that they experience bullying one to two times a month, while 6 percent say they are bullied one or two times a week. When it comes to students talking about these incidents, 22 percent say that they don’t tell anyone while 15 percent say they tell a parent. Nine …

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Bully Prevention Plan Revised and Analyzed by School Committee

Revisions to narrow loophole.

It has been about three months since Norton has implemented the Bully Prevention Plan in public schools, and though the effects are still being analyzed, the School Committee has revised the policy to be more inclusive. Changes were made in the policy to make sure that students are protected from not only students, but the staff as well. The policy modification also clarified that those inciting others to bully are equally culpable as those doing the bullying. “It doesn’t matter who does it, it’s not OK,” said superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay. Ansay said that the school is collecting monthly counts of incidents and analyzing results. A survey was also sent out to students “What we need to do besides just having this policy is educate the …

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Hazing Policy Brought Before Norton School Committee

Though there was a section on hazing in the handbook, a policy had not been brought before the school committee before.

Norton School Committee formalized a hazing policy Tuesday night. Hazing, according to superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay, is defined as any conduct or method of initiation into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other person. Such conduct shall include any brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or other person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep or rest or extended isolation. The school has a section on hazing in the handbook, but a policy was never brought…

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