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OpinionTime to take stand against bullyingTo the editor: We read with interestÝMaryHelen Swansonís article ìBullying could be prohibited by new policyî (1/21/04). It is clearly time to take a firm stand and approach to address ìhostile school environment harassmentî and bullying. Current initiatives follow in the footsteps of a more than two-decade struggle in the workplace to end not only the instrumental and procedural forms of employee aggression but to also eradicate the more subtle interpersonal hostilities that create an atmosphere of disrespect. What can we take away from this history to guide us in the effort to improve the climate in schools? We are psychologists with a specialization in harassment and discrimination ñ in the workplace and in the schools. From more than 25 years of experience, we know that teaching employees the doís and doníts is not a very effective way to change culture. Students are still more complicated: Children and adolescents are not just ìlittle adults.î It takes more than policy to change behavior. We know, because we have been doing it. Steven Dranoff ©ECM Post Review |