CBS: Bullying "Not Just a Part of Growing Up"

Expert Says Expressing "Utter Contempt" for Others Is Learned Behavior, and Schools Must Be Safe Harbor for Students

"I think some of the schools actually did," Coloroso said, "but my concern when I went back and talked to the kids and then talked in the community meeting was, again, going back to those three P's - how important it is that we don’t just write bullying off as 'Boys will be boys, girls just want to be mean, it's part of growing up.' 

"It’s not like a conflict - it's about utter contempt for another human being," Coloroso said. "And it's so important that we stop that in its tracks." 

She said there are three groups that need to be part of ending bullying: "The kids themselves, because bullying [often] happens under the radar of adults; the parents, because you have to be taught to put somebody outside of your circle of caring and make them an 'it' so you so can do anything to them and not feel any shame or compassion; and school officials. We have as educators a legal obligation to keep our schools safe for everyone."