Let's stop the bullying

First off - very well written. While I am sure some will say that it is "Tradition" or "How it has always been," it should not be an excuse for the behavior you are documenting. It is never too early to stand up for you rights while insisting that changes must be made. Good luck to you in your next four years and hopefully it will get better....

Chance, I commend you for your very articulate letter. It is important that this issue is addressed, I am amazed that the administration has done nothing to protect the new students from these "traditions". The parents need to form a group (power in numbers) and have regular meetings with the administration to put an end to this cruel treatment to the new students, or any students for that matter. Those that partake in such activities need to be admonished and suspended. Why does the administration allow this to continue.....someone is not doing their job!

(Mom of Chance here) I agree. I am learning that this tradition of hazing is well-ingrained in the local culture, despite state law prohibiting it. While many parents have contacted me supporting my son, they are afraid of having their children singled out by peers. The administration may feel it is justified in taking no proactive steps because of this support for 'tradition.' On a positive note, parent June Wilson has initiated a movement to conduct an anti-bullying program called "Challenge Day" (but has yet to convince the school to host it.) This is a good place to post your comments because the district's very competent superintendent and school board can view it.

I want to commend Chance for a well written letter regarding bullying in high school. I also commend this young man for his courage. It is not so easy to speak up and address issues that may bring about further intimidation.
It is hard to believe that any administration of any school would condone such behavior as described in Chance's letter. My hope is that more people will be supportive of this thoughtful and courageous young man for speaking up. It is about time!

Maile Field wrote:

(Mom of Chance here) I agree. I am learning that this tradition of hazing is well-ingrained in the local culture, despite state law prohibiting it. While many parents have contacted me supporting my son, they are afraid of having their children singled out by peers. The administration may feel it is justified in taking no proactive steps because of this support for 'tradition.' On a positive note, parent June Wilson has initiated a movement to conduct an anti-bullying program called "Challenge Day" (but has yet to convince the school to host it.) This is a good place to post your comments because the district's very competent superintendent and school board can view it.

We held a Challenge Day for our 8th graders here in M-Town 2 years ago. I was fortunate enough to be one of the adults taking part. I HIGHLY recommend it to every district out there. I witnessed true compassion and empathy that day amongst children who were horrible to each other. Keep trying to convince your school. It was worth every second and every penny.

http://www.challengeday.org/our_program/schoo...

Maile Field wrote:

(Mom of Chance here) I agree. I am learning that this tradition of hazing is well-ingrained in the local culture, despite state law prohibiting it. While many parents have contacted me supporting my son, they are afraid of having their children singled out by peers. The administration may feel it is justified in taking no proactive steps because of this support for 'tradition.' On a positive note, parent June Wilson has initiated a movement to conduct an anti-bullying program called "Challenge Day" (but has yet to convince the school to host it.) This is a good place to post your comments because the district's very competent superintendent and school board can view it.

Perhaps Ms. Field, you would like to sponsor the $10,000 price tag for this event?
I would like to say that "booing" is a person's personal right of expression. Should this be "banned "in sports, politics, perhaps all facets of life? What do you have to say about a person's 1st amendment rights? Or because your family consider it "mean" it should be banned? I believe the ACLU would be on that in a liberal second!! Perhaps you and your family might put your protesting agenda towards something that is a serious issue in all high schools, say teenage drinking, drug use or pregnancy? I for one have read several commentaries from your son. It seems to me that Booing =bulling is just plain old "thought police" agenda. If one is indeed threatened physically, i.e. food being thrown, tied up to the flag pole, thrown in a trash can, that is indeed wrong. Has this happened to your son at CLHS? Has he indeed been thrown into a trash can? Has he been tied to a flag pole? I believe some food was thrown at him and that was addressed. Perhaps not to your liking, but you know it was addressed. Do you really believe that all students who boo at some one should be censored or even suspended?? I would recommend you look at home school. There your son can be protected from his self described "horrors" at CLHS. Or maybe he might attend Richmond high and find out that booing might be the least of the problems there.

I was a victim of bullying and ostracism in school, but my memories of Calistoga schools are not nearly so relevant as the description by a student about bullying that takes place today right in Clear Lake High School.

Congratulations to Chance for a well-written and honest commentary.

I hope that people pay attention to Chance's column and are willing to admit that bullying DOES happen and it IS significant. Too many times, people want to deny it or trivialize its impact, chiefly by blaming the victim.

country guber wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps Ms. Field, you would like to sponsor the $10,000 price tag for this event?
I would like to say that "booing" is a person's personal right of expression. Should this be "banned "in sports, politics, perhaps all facets of life? What do you have to say about a person's 1st amendment rights? Or because your family consider it "mean" it should be banned? I believe the ACLU would be on that in a liberal second!! Perhaps you and your family might put your protesting agenda towards something that is a serious issue in all high schools, say teenage drinking, drug use or pregnancy? I for one have read several commentaries from your son. It seems to me that Booing =bulling is just plain old "thought police" agenda. If one is indeed threatened physically, i.e. food being thrown, tied up to the flag pole, thrown in a trash can, that is indeed wrong. Has this happened to your son at CLHS? Has he indeed been thrown into a trash can? Has he been tied to a flag pole? I believe some food was thrown at him and that was addressed. Perhaps not to your liking, but you know it was addressed. Do you really believe that all students who boo at some one should be censored or even suspended?? I would recommend you look at home school. There your son can be protected from his self described "horrors" at CLHS. Or maybe he might attend Richmond high and find out that booing might be the least of the problems there.

Country Guber, I think you make a very good point. Where does freedom of expression end and institutionalized bullying begin? You have given me something to think about. Thank you.
Also, I commend the administration for quickly reacting to the abuse my son experienced, and I agree this point needs to be made. However, these were all REactive policies, not PROactive policies. And yes, I would like to sponsor the price tag for this event. I have made a donation and I hope others will too.

Chance has written a very well put together commentary about his experiences. And he put himself out there for more criticism by doing so. I find it sad that we should only protect our children from being "threatened physically", as stated by country guber. I want my children to feel okay being themselves. I don't think they should hide who they are due to fear of being ostracized or mistreated. Oh, and FYI country guber, homeschooling is illegal in the state of California unless you have a teaching degree.

Cynthia Parkhill wrote:

I was a victim of bullying and ostracism in school, but my memories of Calistoga schools are not nearly so relevant as the description by a student about bullying that takes place today right in Clear Lake High School.
Congratulations to Chance for a well-written and honest commentary.
I hope that people pay attention to Chance's column and are willing to admit that bullying DOES happen and it IS significant. Too many times, people want to deny it or trivialize its impact, chiefly by blaming the victim.

Cynthia, why don't you get a visitors pass and spend a day at CLHS? Check out the situation and get the facts from others, not just one 14 year old.

Leah Beezley wrote:

Chance has written a very well put together commentary about his experiences. And he put himself out there for more criticism by doing so. I find it sad that we should only protect our children from being "threatened physically", as stated by country guber. I want my children to feel okay being themselves. I don't think they should hide who they are due to fear of being ostracized or mistreated. Oh, and FYI country guber, homeschooling is illegal in the state of California unless you have a teaching degree.

You are wrong. You do not need a teaching credential to home school. Check out your facts, call the high school.
I didn't mean just"protecting our kids" from physical threats. The only non physical threat mentioned in the young man's essay was to do with booing. I guess we can just disagree that this is not a form of bullying. What about the other issues I brought up? especially teenage drinking. To address that issue would take just as much courage and be a far better place to start any reforms at a high school.
Are you aware that this young man wrote a blog with the handle "The next Columbine"? He had many students and parents thinking perhaps he was going to be the next Dylan Klebold or Eric Harris. Although the writings seem to be well written he has a flair toward the dramatic. It doesn't mean he has all the facts or has all the truth. It is opinion and that doesn't make it necessarily right. Why don't you go to the school. talk with the administration, talk to others at the school. See what is really happening. Maybe he's right. But it would take more a 14 year olds essay to convince most people. I do agree with you that our students have a right to go to school in a safe environment. I just don't think that booing is a dangerous thing.

First let me say that Chance wrote a very thoughtful and well stated letter and although I don't agree with parts I commend him for taking a stand. As the parent of 3 previous CLHS students I know they have a zero tollerence for physical violence. A child can not even "fight back" physically without punishment. But as for the booing and name calling I have to say it is time to put on your big boy pants....Sticks and stones, remember. Children of the past 30 years have grown up where everyone "wins" everyone gets a trophy. Everyone must like everyone else...wouldn't that be nice? Not reality though. Life is not always gumdrops and candy and kids need to learn to deal with adversity. Chance your freedom of speech to speak up against name calling and booing is your American right and good for you, but I think a better way of dealing with this would have been with a smile, a laugh and showing them that you are too strong to let it get to you.
I am a proud CLHS parent

I look down apon you Ms. Field. I feel bad for your son if he feels he is being treated unfairly. But you think so closemindedly about this matter. You should be the adult in this matter and be showing a good example. But so far I think you are neither. In fact I see you as a hypocrit because you judge people before you know anything about them. I belive you wrote a letter saying horrible things about cheerleaders when you obviously know NOTHING about them. I was a cheerleader for 8 years and dont regret it at all. It gave me confidence, teambuilding skills, best friends, great experiences, and the ability to stand infront of crowds. I am a very independent woman and owe alot of it to cheerleading. Infact i moved all the way across the country on my own and am currently living alone and paying all my bills. You would have never guessed a that from an "insult to intelligent women" cheerleader. And just so you know I ALWAYS had good grades in school. Just to set the record straight THIS IS A PERSONAL ATTACK. I assume you know nothing about what is actually going on at your sons school just like you know nothing about cheerleading. YES there are rallies, YES there is booing but everyone goes though it and you know what??? It builds character and it teaches students to stand up for themselves and have something to look forward to in high school and no im not talking about the booing. Im talking about being involved, whether its a sport, a club, band, theater, or organization. Believe it or not but your son is building character from it rigt now and he is giving himself a voice. Crazy right? I commend him for standing up for what he thinks is right. But he is also doing the same thing that the upper classmen are doing. He is creating a mindframe where he thinks he is better than everyone else. That is what makes the problem worse. As a former CLHS student and former CLHS freshmen who was hazed. Stop letting it get to you and have fun with it and get involved. Its high school, a time of trial and error. Hazing only lasts for so long so make the most of it and have fun. Just need to accept the fact that hazing will be around for a VERY long time and he should be happy its NOTHING like when you were a kid. There a MANY MORE IMPORTANT things both you and your son should be worried about.

Leah Beezley wrote:

Chance has written a very well put together commentary about his experiences. And he put himself out there for more criticism by doing so. I find it sad that we should only protect our children from being "threatened physically", as stated by country guber. I want my children to feel okay being themselves. I don't think they should hide who they are due to fear of being ostracized or mistreated. Oh, and FYI country guber, homeschooling is illegal in the state of California unless you have a teaching degree.

that is not true, he can very easily go on independent study. I know several students who did it when i was in high school....

Maile Field wrote:

(Mom of Chance here) I agree. I am learning that this tradition of hazing is well-ingrained in the local culture, despite state law prohibiting it. While many parents have contacted me supporting my son, they are afraid of having their children singled out by peers. The administration may feel it is justified in taking no proactive steps because of this support for 'tradition.' On a positive note, parent June Wilson has initiated a movement to conduct an anti-bullying program called "Challenge Day" (but has yet to convince the school to host it.) This is a good place to post your comments because the district's very competent superintendent and school board can view it.

Because of the student, a couple of years ago that was bullied on a continual basis up to the point of a physical beating...the ACLU stepped in and wrote a directive to the County of Lake Department of Education for the implimentation of a program to address this issue...typical bureaucracy...still not implimented but almost there,
http://groundspark.org/respect-for-all get in touch with these people...for your son I believe is a prime example (poster boy) for this program!

The booing is no big deal. It is what followed Chance's protest that is disturbing. In "the real world" where the grown ups live, throwing something at another person is a battery. Threatening to kill a person is a felony. Those type of actions ARE bullying or worse yet, crimes.

Let us not forget that bullying led to the death of a girl at Carle not very long ago and destroyed the lives of the surviving girl and all loved ones of both.

Chance, the world is a rough place. Nobody will ever pass a law requiring others to respect you. Respect is earned.

country guber wrote:

<quoted text>
Perhaps Ms. Field, you would like to sponsor the $10,000 price tag for this event?
I would like to say that "booing" is a person's personal right of expression. Should this be "banned "in sports, politics, perhaps all facets of life? What do you have to say about a person's 1st amendment rights? Or because your family consider it "mean" it should be banned? I believe the ACLU would be on that in a liberal second!! Perhaps you and your family might put your protesting agenda towards something that is a serious issue in all high schools, say teenage drinking, drug use or pregnancy? I for one have read several commentaries from your son. It seems to me that Booing =bulling is just plain old "thought police" agenda. If one is indeed threatened physically, i.e. food being thrown, tied up to the flag pole, thrown in a trash can, that is indeed wrong. Has this happened to your son at CLHS? Has he indeed been thrown into a trash can? Has he been tied to a flag pole? I believe some food was thrown at him and that was addressed. Perhaps not to your liking, but you know it was addressed. Do you really believe that all students who boo at some one should be censored or even suspended?? I would recommend you look at home school. There your son can be protected from his self described "horrors" at CLHS. Or maybe he might attend Richmond high and find out that booing might be the least of the problems there.

"Do you really believe that all students who boo at some one should be censored or even suspended??"
Yes. But a lot of their behavior is obviously, "learned" and sanctioned as acceptable.
It is not. It is harmful and hurtful without purpose or cause. To equate a football game and booing with direct verbal harrassment of another on campus via booing is at minimal ridiculous.
As for the ACLU backing your vocal rights...not!! You are on a High School Campus with rules and regulations paid for via taxes. Right there you have given up many of your "rights" to abide by the Boards set of Standard of Behavior. The Board also has to abide by the ACLU's directives. One such directive was set, June of 2008 due to harrassment such as the one listed here. the Decision was as follows:
– Parent/student handbooks will be revised to include the newly adopted anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, as well as an explanation of the process for filing a complaint and a description of the steps the district will take in response to the complaint.
– Each school site will identify a teacher, administrator or staff member to serve as the point person for employees on how to prevent school-based harassment.
At each staff meeting, administrators will inquire about incidents of harassment and review the steps teachers and staff should take to intervene.
– Experienced, qualified trainers will provide student training at least once each year at each school site to educate students regarding the harmful effects of discrimination.
– Experienced, qualified trainers will provide professional development to help all teachers and staff to understand the harmful impacts of harassment and discrimination and to learn intervention tools to help prevent and stop discriminatory behavior.
Learning to be kind to one another is harder than booing. All it takes is one person to make a change...that one is you

First of all I would like to commend Chance on your letter. It takes a lot of courage to stand up to what you believe in. Although I commend you I completely disagree with you. I am a graduate of CLHS, my husband is a graduate from CLHS, I have a parent who is a teacher there and my children will go to CLHS at some point. I was part of the “yelling at freshman” I will not call it hazing because I don’t believe that is hazing at all. On the first day of school my friends and I walked in the gym confident and with a smile on our face. We mad it through the day unharmed and unscarred. If you want the respect of the upperclassmen don’t go in looking for trouble. Sitting in the quad “to make a point” is the wrong way to get respect. Respect is earned and you are asking for the target on your back. My daughter will be at CLHS in two years and I promise to you she will not be writing letters like this because she is a happy and confident child. Chance and Mom.. Put your big boy pants on.. You aren’t in a fairytale this is the real world. Don’t criticize others for the life you have made for yourself…

Chance:

And you thought you were being bullied before...

Because you are young and idealistic, I will cut you some slack. However, sooner or later you will have to take a long look in the mirror and decide whether or not you truly wish to martyr yourself for the right to sit at a picnic table.

It's a big world, and an unjust one. Set your sights a little higher.

As a former Clear Lake High School Student. These actions are not a tradition at Clear Lake High. The Quad was never off limits to under classman, or any other place on campus. I f this is really happening to extent that was described, Shame on the administration. I can remember very little hazing activity as a freshman. And this was over 30 years ago, when hazing was widely accepted.Back then the administration planned activities that actually brought the students together. We all seniors assigned to a freshman. They had to spend an week with them to show them the school and what Clear Lake high was all about. We also had slave day, which I am sure is politically unacceptable today. But it was alot of fun and well supervised by the teachers so no one got out of hand. But it got hte freshman and upper classman to get to know each other, and not keep them seperated as it seems they are doing now. Plus many more activities that included all students. It is the administration and teachers responsibility to maintain a fun, civil and safe atmosphere for everyone. It is impossible to remove all the hazing that goes on. But that is a part of high school. Clear Lake High School is a great school, at least it was when I went there. And I believe it still is." Can't just everyone just get along".