Have you noticed that common sense, decency, and politeness have gone the way of rotary phones and dial-up Internet? The presidential elections of 2016 have me feeling some kind of way!
Raise you hand if you took a break from social media after being berated, verbally attacked and finding yourself curled up in the fetal position after arguing over your opinion. The level of hate that our cyber lives have indigested has been overwhelming. We as adults have hopefully unplugged and looked for a more meaningful perspective on current events. Sadly the children of our nation have not been able to do so.
Current news media has labeled Trump a bully, and the real life consequences have filtered down into high schools and playgrounds. This has been labeled the Trump effect. Politicus USA (2016) ran quotes from teachers across the nation explaining the affect this election has had on their students.
“In Virginia, an elementary school teacher says students are “crying in the classroom and having meltdowns at home.”
In Oregon, a K-3 teacher says her black students are “concerned for their safety because of what they see on TV at Trump rallies.”
In North Carolina, a high school teacher says she has “Latino students who carry their birth certificates and Social Security cards to school because they are afraid they will be deported.”
Another nationally discussed incident happened in a Texas high school, where Hispanic students were singled out. The press is putting stories like this at the forefront of their nightly broadcasts.
Children experience varying degrees of insecurity and during primary school years. High school can be even worse. There are victims and perpetrators. What precedence for discipline can be set if kids are hearing hate speech from the highest office in our country? Will they receive discipline if bullying is now rewarded? How de we answer these questions? I have chosen to take an introspective look, sticks and stones are not the only threat, and words will always hurt us.
It is embarrassing, it is shameful and it has opened a can of worms none of us are ready to deal with. Personally I believe this year’s shopping season couldn’t come sooner. We can drown out our fears with consumerism, over consumption, and possibly some holiday cheer. Hopefully the fears and uncertainty that children are experiencing can be cured with a visit from Santa. If only life was that simple.
References
AP Reuters. (2016, November 13). Post-Trump victory bullying, harassment reported in schools. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/news/post-trump-victory-bullying-harassment-reported-schools/
Jones, S. (2016, October 03). Teachers alarmed that Trump’s behavior is causing increased bullying in US schools. Retrieved from http://www.politicususa.com/2016/10/03/concerned-teachers-speak-alarming-trend-bullying-call-trump-effect.html
Holley, P. (2016, November 17). White Texas teens chant ‘build that wall’ at Hispanics during high school volleyball match. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2016/11/17/white-texas-teens-chant-build-that-wall-at-hispanics-during-high-school-volleyball-match/
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