I have been called an idiot, a quack, a sociopath, pathetic, a loser, a libtard, spouting crap, hogwash, nuts, this womans horses$%t, the fool "expert," a joke, etc. And we wonder where kids learn about bullying.
(Hey guys, I’m a 75-year-old grandma with 7 children and 21 grandchildren who love me. )
These readers are ready to crucify me and they haven’t asked one question about how much of the article was a true depiction of what I said in the interview. The reporter didn’t even spell my name correctly.
Actually, I thought that much of the article was excellent—and, much of what I said was left out.
The reporter didn't include what I said about brain research and the importance of connecting before correcting, so kids can learn from their mistakes. Punishment (which is very different from discipline) simply increases power struggles and revenge cycles (as in wars), or blind obedience out of fear. One purpose of Positive Discipline is to help kids learn to do what is right when no one is looking.
She didn't focus on all the things I said about helping kids explore the consequences of their choices and then focusing on solutions (and making amends). Helping children explore the consequences of their choices is much different from imposing consequences (punishment) on them. When kids explore the consequences of the their choices (in a non-threatening atmosphere) they are often led to true remorse and a desire to make sincere amends—not forced and false apologies.
She didn't mention the importance of creating an atmosphere where all kids feel a sense of belonging and significance and then teaching kids about respect and problem-solving skills in regular class meetings and family meetings.
Most readers of the article assumed that Positive Discipline advocates that nothing would be done to the boys who were involved in the bullying. This is partially true. I don’t think anything should be done “to” the boys, but I think a lot should be done with the boys. This would be an excellent time for curiosity questions with the boys:
- What happened?
- What do you think caused that to happen?
- What were the results of what happened?
- How did it affect others?
- How did it affect you?
- What did you learn from this experience?
- How can you use what you learned to make amends?
Another possibility would be to invite the boys to create a program that would help other kids learn from their experience. They could be invited to show the video to kids in other classrooms and/or assemblies and share what they learned from the curiosity questions and invited discussion from other kids on how to avoid their mistake. Note I said, “invited,” not forced. Sharing their experience would be most effective if they had the support of adults who would understand (and help them understand) that it would take a lot of courage to use their mistake to help others.
Some people have assumed that the apologies made by the boys were forced and not sincere. I don’t know for sure, but I believe they got caught up in mob mentality and were mortified when they saw what they had done. Positive Discipline teaches that mistakes are opportunities to learn. In this case, the mistake could be an opportunity to learn—and to help others learn.
It is my wish that adults would remember that kids learn what they live, and that we need to look at the bullying model we provide for kids when we bully kids. As Haim G. Ginot said:
- When a child hits a child, we call it aggression.
- When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility.
- When an adult hits an adult, we call it assault.
- When an adult hits a child, we call it discipline.
6 comments:
The LA Times link doesn't work, so I can't comment on the LAT site, but this whole thing makes me sad. This is the 2nd incident that I am personally aware of where a reporter was, in my opinion, unethical in their reporting by not sharing the full story or all of the details of a situation.
As far as the actual incident goes, it is just heartbreaking. I am so scared of my kid going to kindergarten in the fall.
Kids need to be taught, and they need to be taught from DAY 1.
Great post. I found the article at the LA Times and made a comment. Hopefully, you'll be getting some traffic to your website, as I included 2 links to it! No matter what all the ignorant commenters believe, I KNOW that PD totally rocks, and I thank you so very much.
I am so sad that you were treated this unfairly. In all of the years I have read your books and used the PD tools in my classrooms, I have known you only to be a caring and openhearted person.
Please know that so many of us recognize what a difference you have made in the lives of children and their families. Please keep sending your bright light out into the world!
At this point in my life, you are the person who has made the greatest impact on my life. I've been able to accept my own unhappy childhood, learning from my parents mistakes and building an atmosphere of respect, trust and love with my own children. Thank you for what you do!
Jane,
I am a reporter at Deseret News in Salt Lake CIty. I am writing a story on positive discipline without spanking.
I would love to hear more about these topics you say this LAT reporter did not include. Perhaps I could further delve into what she did not.
Let me know if you are interested.
Rachel
801.237.2128
rlowry@desnews.com
Most readers of the article assumed that Positive Discipline advocates that nothing would be done to the boys who were involved in the bullying. This is partially true. I don’t think anything should be done “to” the boys, but I think a lot should be done with the boys.
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