Kids who watched bullying need help

I'm sorry to hear that one of our Scullen Middle School students in Naperville was mistreated by a bus driver. I'm glad to hear that the incident was handled quickly.

But I hope that none of us - parents, teachers, administrators, school board - consider the situation resolved because there is another issue to address: The bullying of the student.

The reported bystander student response implies a lack of empathy and caring. Without those qualities, bully behavior will flourish. So I'm writing in the hopes that District 204 will address this issue as well.

With the pending criminal bully behavior at Gregory Middle School and now this reported student abuse, my questions are: What is the anti-bully education component of our students' curriculum? Is there one? What is the District 204 policy regarding bully behavior? What are the plans for addressing this particular instance of bully behavior with the bully, the bullied and the bystanders? Do the students at Scullen (and all of our schools) even know that this is bully behavior or is it so prevalent that it is no longer addressed and therefore considered acceptable? Did anyone stand up for the student? Have our students been educated in how to stand up to bully behavior?

The students on that bus need, at the very least, a follow-up discussion. Some of them are feeling guilty; they know what they witnessed was wrong but did nothing to stop it, and today, with a bit of distance and perspective, are feeling self-loathing for doing nothing.

They need our help. Others wanted to stop the bullying immediately but didn't know what to do - they feel guilty for not knowing. They need our help. How many are feeling remorse for going along with the others, for joining in on the taunting? Let's educate our children and truly commit to the philosophy that no child is left behind.

Sue Black

Naperville