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Page 18 Clayton Pioneer • www.claytonpioneer.com October 22, 2010
Patty Flannery
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since 1986
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Bullying, from page 1
VICIOUS COMMENTARY
A few weeks ago, I had one
of those “what has happened
to the world?” moments. I was
checking Facebook when I
saw a picture of myself with
dozens of smiling kids from
Camp Sea Lab on one of the
kid’s Facebook pages. I smiled
as fond memories flooded my
mind – but then I read the
fifth-graders’ comments.
My joy turned to astonishment
followed by anger so
deep, I felt physically sickened.
I couldn’t comprehend the
utter barbarity of the words
these kids used to refer to their
peers. The worst attacks
focused on a disabled classmate.
At camp, I felt proud of
the way some of the students
had treated this child, but
behind his back, others found
the “courage” to call him
names. I wonder where these
10-year old children learned
this language – words I didn’t
even know existed when I was
in fifth grade.
Then I saw a comment
from one of the mothers.
“Leave him alone ... Be nice ...
I hope he is not your friend on
Facebook, cause if he is he
knows now you guys don’t like
him.”
That was it. Even after her
son had joined in on the commentary.
I wondered how a
parent could under-react to
such blatant bullying that was
continuing nearly six months
after camp ended.
Just because a child is
unaware of the hatred spread
behind his back doesn’t mean
he’s not suffering the effects at
school. One minute, he could
be friends with somebody, and
Travel, from page 17
restaurant has half-price specials
on drinks and food –
some starting at 11 a.m. and
going to closing. But the
majority of the places we visited
had a 4-7 p.m. timeframe.
We enjoyed some delicious
dishes such as mussels in garlic
wine sauce, crab sliders, chicken
pot pie, chopped salads and
mac and cheese with bacon
and mushrooms. All the dishes
were plentiful enough to share
and allowed us to try things we
might not order otherwise.
Certain nights will also get you
bottles of wine at half price.
After a week of indulging
ourselves in the pleasures that
Palm Desert and the surrounding
cities had to offer, it
was time for the trip home and
a plan to return soon to a
the next, they’re making faces
at him or calling him the
names created by the cyberbullies.
ESCALATING TREND
Retired third-grade
teacher Maxine Buxbaum,
who began her career in
Chicago during the 1950s,
stated in an interview that the
extreme nature of bullying
today mimics the extreme
nature of our society.
“The growing pressures to
have material things, drugs,
teenage drinking and more
permissive parenting go hand
in hand with the escalations in
our behaviors in society,” she
noted.
Perhaps parents are more
permissive nowadays because
they’re more concerned about
being “buddies” with their
children. Little do they know,
their permissive attitude could
lead to the demise of another
child.
According to a recent study
by the National Institute of
Health of 7,000 students,
cyber bullying can cause higher
levels of depression since
one may feel more helpless.
The experts state that messages
posted on the Internet
are difficult to remove and can
reach thousands of students
with one click of the mouse.
Often, the student being bullied
is unaware of why the
attacks against him are growing.
Sameer Hinduja, co-director
of the Cyberbullying
Research Center, says cyberbullying
is now the most common
form of bullying because
kids are attracted to hiding
behind a screen.
place that has become a new
favorite spot to visit.
Recently retired, Clayton resident
Peggy Bidondo is a tireless traveler with
a passion for travel planning and writing.
Send your questions and column
ideas to Peggy Bidondo at
timetogo@claytonpioneer.com.
Travel Tip
If you are flying to a new
city and don’t know where to
go or what to do when you
arrive, ask your flight attendant
for dining, shopping
and sightseeing advice. Most
crews have up-to-the-minute
recommendations gleaned
from layovers and they are
more than happy to share
the information.
FEW LEGAL OPTIONS
The California Department
of Education code section 4
8900(r) allows for suspension
or expulsion of a bully and
asks that parents report cyber
bullying to law enforcement
officials or the local Internet
service provider.
California passed renewed
legislation SB719 in October
2003 that treats bullying as a
punishable crime. However,
according to Clayton Valley
assistant principal Sharon
Brockman, it’s extremely difficult
to prosecute bullies.
“Because kids have trouble
getting enough evidence, prosecutors
have difficulty building
enough of a case,” Brockman
stated.
She advises students to
notify the school immediately
upon being bullied and to save
all evidence supporting the
accusation, including texts,
phone records and Facebook
page printouts.
A CALL TO ACTION
While schools have policies
aimed at protecting students
who have the courage
to report bullying and state
laws support citizens providing
sufficient evidence, I
believe there’s a giant, missing
link to solving a problem that
is claiming so many young
lives.
I’m reminded of a CNN
article about the suicide of a
13-year-old child from
Tehachapi. Seth Walsh, an
openly gay eighth-grader, had
been teased since fourth
grade.
“He was teased in fourth
and fifth grade and by sixth
grade the kids got really
mean,” said his mother,
Wendy. “By seventh grade,
Seth was afraid to even walk
home from school, and in
Church News
September, he ended his misery
and hung himself in his
backyard.”
At his funeral, which 600
people attended, his younger
brother, Shawn, remarked: “I
just wish people could have
been nice to him, like my
mom taught me.”
Considering 600 people
from this tiny town attended
this boy’s funeral, I can’t help
but wonder where they were
when the bullying was taking
place.
What will it take for us to
recognize our own accountability?
The giant, missing link
is each of us who turn a blind
eye to nasty remarks, hateful
slurs and physical attacks. It’s
those of us who don’t urge
children to stand beside the
bullied and not the bully.
Technology is here to stay
and we, as a society, must
respond to its rapid growth in
a responsible manner. Will we
be the next community to
show our support after a child
takes his life? Or will we, as a
community, stand beside this
child at the start of trouble?
Sarah Rosen is a junior at
CVHS. You can e-mail her at
sarah_rosen@claytonpioneer.com.
CONCORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The church will host its Bell Bazaar Nov. 5-6. The event includes
the sale of handmade items, crafts and home-baked goods, plus
tickets for raffle prizes. Lunch is served 11 a.m.-1 p.m. both days.
The bazaar will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Saturday. The church is at 1645 West St., Concord. For more information,
call 685-5260.
Ghost Walk, from page 1
Taylor moved to Antioch
with his parents from Kansas
in 1955 and then to Clayton in
1961. His parents were school
teachers drawn to the area
when friends relocated to
Martinez. Taylor is a teacher,
writer, illustrator and actor.
When he heard about various
shootings in Clayton’s past,
Taylor started collecting articles
and other tales about
town. He excitedly retells these
events, with one rolling into
the next – from creepy burial
grounds and bloody buggy
accidents to deadly bar fights.
Taylor tracks live celebrity
sightings as well, such as seeing
Robert Redford in a local
restaurant.
Spectators of the specters
are thrilled by guest ghost
Support Hotlines
The Trevor Project,
24-hour support for gay
youth, 866-4UTREVOR.
24-Hour Youth Crisis
Line, 800-843-5200.
Contra Costa Crisis
Center: 24-hour suicide
hotline, 800-SUICIDE or
800-273-TALK.
What’s happening in your place of worship?
New pastor or choir director? Special projects?
Active ministries? Send your news of community interest to
churchnews@claytonpioneer.com.
Recycle
this paper
appearances on the walk.
Taylor sets the macabre mood
by donning a top hat and cape
like an undertaker. Walk participants
receive an “I Survived
the Ghost Walk” certificate.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” says
Taylor. Because many regulars
take the walk, “I can’t leave out
any stories.”
For more tall tales of the
town, see “Ghosts and Other
Celebrities of Clayton” by
Richard Taylor at the library.
Be prepared to wait; copies
keep “disappearing” from the
shelf.
Gather for the Ghost Walk at
7:30 p.m. Oct. 31 at Endeavor
Hall, 6008 Center St., Clayton. The
walk is 8-10 p.m. Bring a flashlight.
Costumes are optional.