Bullying, Good Stuff from Understood and ADDitude, Calvin and Hobbes, and More

BULLYING, 1. Newsweek reported on a UK study of bullying in children 8 to 13 which found this: “Kids who were at the greatest risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were also more likely to be bullied…. Children with a high BMI, likely meaning they were overweight, also had a higher chance of being targeted.” Interestingly, “children at higher risk of developing bipolar disorder, autism, obsessive compulsive disorder or demonstrating neuroticism did not have a greater chance of being picked on,” according to Newsweek. The study suggests that certain individualized, preventative strategies might be effective at warding off bullying. Find the article.

BULLYING, 2. At Education Week Teacher article revolves around a gifted young person who loved school until he started being bullied in 5th grade. The boy’s mom, who wrote the article, is also a teacher, giving her two perspectives on her son’s situation. Despite her credentials, she didn’t get results from elementary school… or from middle school. She shares what she’s learned from speaking out and advocating for her son, and some of it is not encouraging to readers here. For example: “Some educators are never going to change.” Read more.