Many of the people who see this documentary seem to react strongly too it. In some in strikes chords about their own experiences while in many it elicits a response of "The responsibility for preventing this lies primarily within the child's (victim's) family." While that is the major factor in most cases, the first thing to keep in mind is that the film is reflecting upon and reporting on a phenomenon, is not the phenomenon itself. In general, it presents the wide gamut of responses to the problem and the different viewpoints, varying from suicide, fighting back, finding additional means of support. The film's strength lies in the fact that it provides no easy answers but instead of plethora of viewpoints and several examples of kids who dealt with the issue unsuccessfully to somewhat successfully.
The central issue of the film is of course bullying. Most have encountered it, some have even been the bully and many feel that the only real means of combating the problem is from within the victim's family and instilling in him/her the necessity to fight back. The film makes it quite clear that the institution, other children or parents or even society as a whole is not particularly able or interested in dealing with the problem. On a larger scale, we often have environments where the contempt of people who are different is actually encouraged. In some states where a teacher can now not utter the word "gay," it is really hard for a child who is gay to seek assistance. An overarching theme throughout is that society as a whole actually promotes those who are aggressive and the subtext in the film is that school officials are often tacitly behind the abuse of kids who do not fit the mold or are completely inept in dealing with the situation, they themselves just cogs in a hierarchical machine.
While it is true that the first and only real line of defense against bullying is from the victim's family, there are a few problems with the above 1) What happens if for whatever reason the parents do not provide the support that the child needs to stand up for himself? It is like the child of an alcoholic or an abused child or a child who arrives to school without being fed. Yes, it is the parent's failing. But failure to intervene can lead to grave circumstances later, including the death of the child or their inability to be a productive adult, an abuser themselves etc. 2) Bullying can be the traditional form, bigger kid beats up younger kid but these days it can take other forms, e.g. older boy attacks younger girl, institutional abuse where the teachers themselves join in the abuse, abuse by multiple attackers. In all of these scenarios, the "just smack 'em back" rule doesn't work. 3) If left unchecked, the result can be for the bullying victim to lash out and there can be real violence; many see the tragedy at Columbine as being in part due to an environment where bullying was not addressed (but this greatly simplifies the issue)
The documentary also makes clear that the system is always ready to doll out the harshest punishments to the victims themselves. In the film, an African American girl almost goes to prison for brandishing a gun on a bus as a reaction to bullying, definitely a tragic and inappropriate response. But it's interesting that the same surveillance camera which caught her with the gun on the could "not possibly" be used to see the multiple attacks on her on the bus. In other instances, the harshest talking-to is reserved for the victim.
It is also interesting to note that lip-service given by the administrators to the problem. Do they not care or are just unable to do anything? It is interesting to note, if, for example, one of the parents did a similar act to the school counselor, smashing his head against the wall etc., the police would be called and if there was physical evidence, there would be immediate arrests or sanctions. Yet when the exact same act is perpetrated on children by children, no one acts.
The film is very good because it shows several different scenarios of bullying, from kids who committed suicide to those who are dealing with it. It is also of value in that perhaps it will encourage 1) Parent's to talk to their children about seeking aid/defending themselves 2) School districts to be more aware of what is going on, several have already enacted "zero tolerance" bullying policies and c) Perhaps some parents will ask their children how they are treating other children.
Many will say, "bullying has always been there". Yes, but now it has become a social phenomenon. Is bullying worse? Is government/society emphasizing aggressiveness more through its policies? Whatever the reason, more kids are killing themselves over the issue now. As Malcolm Gladwell notes in his book The Tipping Point, certain conditions have to be present for an epidemic to occur. In the late 90's there was a rash of school shootings, including that at Colombine. In recent years, this phenomenon has occurred much less. Why? Perhaps because schools, students became aware that conditions had reached a critical level and became aware of signs. The same could be try of bullying. Perhaps the film can appeal to the one kid not getting the support from his parents or the bully or the one kid to reach out to the unpopular kid or the school administrator to change a culture of aggression that sanctions bullying. As cheesy as it sounds, even it it saves a few lives or makes it easier for a few kids, making the epidemic a non-epidemic, it will be worth it.
The central issue of the film is of course bullying. Most have encountered it, some have even been the bully and many feel that the only real means of combating the problem is from within the victim's family and instilling in him/her the necessity to fight back. The film makes it quite clear that the institution, other children or parents or even society as a whole is not particularly able or interested in dealing with the problem. On a larger scale, we often have environments where the contempt of people who are different is actually encouraged. In some states where a teacher can now not utter the word "gay," it is really hard for a child who is gay to seek assistance. An overarching theme throughout is that society as a whole actually promotes those who are aggressive and the subtext in the film is that school officials are often tacitly behind the abuse of kids who do not fit the mold or are completely inept in dealing with the situation, they themselves just cogs in a hierarchical machine.
While it is true that the first and only real line of defense against bullying is from the victim's family, there are a few problems with the above 1) What happens if for whatever reason the parents do not provide the support that the child needs to stand up for himself? It is like the child of an alcoholic or an abused child or a child who arrives to school without being fed. Yes, it is the parent's failing. But failure to intervene can lead to grave circumstances later, including the death of the child or their inability to be a productive adult, an abuser themselves etc. 2) Bullying can be the traditional form, bigger kid beats up younger kid but these days it can take other forms, e.g. older boy attacks younger girl, institutional abuse where the teachers themselves join in the abuse, abuse by multiple attackers. In all of these scenarios, the "just smack 'em back" rule doesn't work. 3) If left unchecked, the result can be for the bullying victim to lash out and there can be real violence; many see the tragedy at Columbine as being in part due to an environment where bullying was not addressed (but this greatly simplifies the issue)
The documentary also makes clear that the system is always ready to doll out the harshest punishments to the victims themselves. In the film, an African American girl almost goes to prison for brandishing a gun on a bus as a reaction to bullying, definitely a tragic and inappropriate response. But it's interesting that the same surveillance camera which caught her with the gun on the could "not possibly" be used to see the multiple attacks on her on the bus. In other instances, the harshest talking-to is reserved for the victim.
It is also interesting to note that lip-service given by the administrators to the problem. Do they not care or are just unable to do anything? It is interesting to note, if, for example, one of the parents did a similar act to the school counselor, smashing his head against the wall etc., the police would be called and if there was physical evidence, there would be immediate arrests or sanctions. Yet when the exact same act is perpetrated on children by children, no one acts.
The film is very good because it shows several different scenarios of bullying, from kids who committed suicide to those who are dealing with it. It is also of value in that perhaps it will encourage 1) Parent's to talk to their children about seeking aid/defending themselves 2) School districts to be more aware of what is going on, several have already enacted "zero tolerance" bullying policies and c) Perhaps some parents will ask their children how they are treating other children.
Many will say, "bullying has always been there". Yes, but now it has become a social phenomenon. Is bullying worse? Is government/society emphasizing aggressiveness more through its policies? Whatever the reason, more kids are killing themselves over the issue now. As Malcolm Gladwell notes in his book The Tipping Point, certain conditions have to be present for an epidemic to occur. In the late 90's there was a rash of school shootings, including that at Colombine. In recent years, this phenomenon has occurred much less. Why? Perhaps because schools, students became aware that conditions had reached a critical level and became aware of signs. The same could be try of bullying. Perhaps the film can appeal to the one kid not getting the support from his parents or the bully or the one kid to reach out to the unpopular kid or the school administrator to change a culture of aggression that sanctions bullying. As cheesy as it sounds, even it it saves a few lives or makes it easier for a few kids, making the epidemic a non-epidemic, it will be worth it.