Hadrian's Reviews > The Bully Society: School Shootings and the Crisis of Bullying in America's Schools
The Bully Society: School Shootings and the Crisis of Bullying in America's Schools
by Jessie Klein
by Jessie Klein
Hadrian's review
bookshelves: nonfiction, psychology-and-cognition, education, society-and-culture
May 04, 12
bookshelves: nonfiction, psychology-and-cognition, education, society-and-culture
Read in May, 2012
This is a very sobering look at the chaos of the modern American schooling system.
In a way, it is very much like a prison (and those are catastrophic already). Klein characterizes many of the bullies as having 'hyper-masculine' instincts. Apathetic to authority, a need to 'show off' to others through conquests physical and romantic. Economic and social status. Incredible pressure to compete, or conform, or hide. Basis of gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance as major factors for being targeted.
Not all those who are bullied become school-shooters, though, as Klein tends to overemphasize. Most only hide further within themselves. Although this crucible of an educational environment only makes those individuals already susceptible to violence even more likely to crack.
Furthermore, I would hesitate to characterize the flaw of the educational system as being the cause of all of our major social and economic woes, although it does play a not insignificant role, and one that needs action, not my mere words.
Raises some tough questions.
In a way, it is very much like a prison (and those are catastrophic already). Klein characterizes many of the bullies as having 'hyper-masculine' instincts. Apathetic to authority, a need to 'show off' to others through conquests physical and romantic. Economic and social status. Incredible pressure to compete, or conform, or hide. Basis of gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance as major factors for being targeted.
Not all those who are bullied become school-shooters, though, as Klein tends to overemphasize. Most only hide further within themselves. Although this crucible of an educational environment only makes those individuals already susceptible to violence even more likely to crack.
Furthermore, I would hesitate to characterize the flaw of the educational system as being the cause of all of our major social and economic woes, although it does play a not insignificant role, and one that needs action, not my mere words.
Raises some tough questions.
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