Why Bullies Are Cowards

Research shows there are three styles of discipline, passive discipline or ignoring a child’s transgressions and assigning no consequences, authoritarian discipline or utilizing corporal punishment such hitting or spanking to reinforce that a child should stop a transgression and not do it again, and authoritative discipline, which requires that the disciplinarian explain to the child why he or she should stop a negative behavior and replace it with positive one.

Research has also shown that of the three styles of discipline only the authoritative style promotes learning and understanding as it provides reasons why a child needs to stop a negative behavior and replace it with a positive one.

Drawing on her twenty-five years of experience as a special education teacher, this educator mastered the authoritative style of disciplining her students and was able to motivate them to change their lives by teaching them the following:

- the difference between a person’s personal and public space.

- how to protect and defend one’s personal space.

- what constitutes a community.

- how unified like thinkers can form an anti-bullying community.

- the strength and power in numbers.

- how an anti-bullying community provides a safe place for all.

- the difference between snitching and telling.

- why a student who snitches is a rat and a student who tells is a hero.

- why those who prey on others who are weaker, smaller, or less able to protect and defend makes them a coward.

As bullying statistics continue to escalate, it’s now time to ask all parents and public school teachers, "Have you been taught or are you willing to learn how to discipline authoritatively so you can help teach your child or your students how to stop being a bully’s victim, a perpetrator, or a bystander?

-- Diane Bonner