Title: Bullies

Author/pseudonym: Sentarla

Rating: G

Status: Finished

Date: 25/07/99

Archive: Yes ohhhhh PLEASE do!!!!!!

Series/Sequel: Non

Spoliers: Umm, I guess there are some implied in the story <g>, but it is set after TS by BS.

Notes: Okay, Believe it or note, I'm in a writing slump after seeing TS by BS. This story came about because I am in the process of writing a children book on bullies for a Uni. assignment, and while researching it, a muse demanded that I write this. Personally I'm not to sure if she thought Ellison is a bully, but it is up to the reader. Now that I have got this out of my system, I can go back to the children's book. Thank you soo much to Bonnie my beta, back within 1 1/2 days, I'm impressed. <bg>

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By

Sentarla

Sociology in Education SE1001

Lecture One

May 99 Rainier University

(Lecture notes for the library, student's use only)

Hi, and welcome to Sociology in Education. My name is Sentarla and I will be your lecturer this semester. Now, first off, I would like to stress that this is not a simple subject just taken to make up points. I expect you all to work hard, complete all assignments and extra marks will be awarded for deep insightful comments.

In your subject prospectus is a list of all the topics we will be studying and my contact details. If you miss any lectures, they will be on closed reserved. Okay, now that the housework is out of the way, let's start.

Today's lecture is on Bullies.

A bully is someone who likes to pick on other people. They act all big and strong, and try to fight a lot. Bullies can be both girls and boys, big or small, old or young.

There are some bullies who are really mean and they may push, hit and even threaten to kill you, whereas there are others who just call you names and say other hurtful things.

Nearly all bullies are like this because they feel the need for control, they feel inferior in some way and use their attitude towards you to make them feel better about themselves and their lives.

If you look deeply into a bully's life, you would find that they have had problems at home. They may come from a broken family, have a parent that is abusive, either physically or mentally. They have no power or control at home and are always put down by the ones who are supposed to love and support them.

Because of this, they believe they need to develop a hard outer shell, to be self-sufficient, let no one close, so they can't be hurt again. To help maintain this shell, they act tough and show no weakness.

If you are being bullied there are different ways to deal with it. You can first avoid and ignore the bully, walk on the other side of the street. Smile when they say something hurtful and try not show that it did hurt.

If they become physical and you know that they need something from you, try to calm them with your voice and remind them that they need you.

If this does not work and you are able to get away, run to the nearest person that can help. It could be a teacher, an adult or even running into a police captain from the local Major Crime department of the PD could be very adventitious.

Usually the adult is able to talk to the bully or stop the fight. Other times they are just able to separate you from the bully. Remember, the person you go to for help may see things from the bully's point of view and not help. If that is the case and you believe you are right, then go to someone else, or simply get away from the bully.

Go to a place where you feel safe and stay there for awhile. It could be your bedroom, your office, or even a place where there is a door with a glass pane in it so you can see who is coming.

There are bullies who will not take no for an answer. You may use all the methods mentioned above, but they still come after you, wanting to hurt you, or hurt someone close to you by hurting you. The final option that is never indorsed, but employed by many, is to give into the bully, be submissive. If the bully will be horrible to you, hurt you with words if you publish something about them, then don't. If it is too late, take it back at what ever the cost, keep the peace!

Bullies will never improve if you do roll over, but sometimes it is the best thing to do, some bullies can never be changed. They can become more 'human', but they can't become fully symbiotic with another person in a give-and-take relationship.

Bullies don't like to be told they are bullies, not even indirectly. Being told they push people away because of an instinctive, fear-based response, is just asking for a fight. Bullies need to be handled very carefully; you can change their patterns over time, but the older they are, the more you time you have to commit to them.

What I want you to get out of this lecture today is: what is a bully; how do bullies behave; what to do if you come across a bully or are hassled by one; and what the two possible outcomes usually are between bullies and the people who are bullied.

Tomorrow for your tutorial classes, I want everybody to bring in one example of a situation where you have seen someone bullied, or were personally bullied. You can change the names of the people involved and everyone should know that anything discussed will not leave the tutorial group.

This tutorial assignment is worth five percent of your overall marks, so please, bring in true examples or at least one's that sounds authentic.

Okay, that's it for today, don't forget to sign the attendance sheet on the way out. If you have any questions, feel free to talk to me before your tutorial, or e-mail me.

As Rafe put down the lecture notes from the class he had missed, he looked across the bullpen to Ellison‘s and Sandburg's desks. Things had finally settled down, media-wise, now that Sandburg was a full-fledged detective and had been instrumental in solving the last few homicide cases. Jim was back to his good moods and Blair, being Blair, lightened the place up.

As Rafe turned towards his computer, ready to start typing up his tutorial story, Simon opened his office door and bellowed for Sandburg. Smiling, Rafe typed and wondered what his lecturer would think of his report, remembering as he went to change Jim‘s, Blair's, Simon's, Joel's Taggert' s and Alex's names. If this report was not insightful and worth extra marks, then Miss Sentarla would just have to meet Detective Sandburg.

~Fin~

P.S. The story was not Mary Sue'd, I used my own name, because it felt right because this is closely related, and is basically my Uni. assignment in simple adult form. Just thought I needed to add that.