COVID-19 Era Introduces New Student Behavior Concerns:

Bullying is a harmful behavioral expression of potentially multiple emotional drives: fear, insecurity, anger, and even sadness—emotions that the bully has not developed helpful behaviors to express.

Most of us know the drill. Wear a mask. Protect yourself, Protect others however It appears a new bullying angle could be on the horizon: with the new novel coronavirus, bullies may have a new topic to add to their repertoire. Many schools remained in a virtual learning model due to the continued spread of the virus and on-going quarantines in many communities. However, the transportation of students with disabilities continues, and some school districts have fully opened.

It is critical for the adult who is pulled into a bullying situation to be an empathetic listener. That is the first step in building a trusting, respectful environment where bullying is less likely to happen.

Just getting back to school will be a relief, but it won’t fix everything. We all need to be honest with our- selves and each other; and perhaps, more importantly, we need to be kind and loving to ourselves and each other. This is all starts at home as parents teaching kids what's important. We are all going through a life change, and we are all going through it together.

Crossroads Opportunity

Charles Butler

Strengthening and Promoting Awareness

crossroadsopportunity.org

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