Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
This past week I have been watching the Thomas Jefferson documentary on PBS. When they talked about the Declaration of Independence and how Ben Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were the three men elected to be the committee to write the document, Ben Franklin didn’t want to write it because he didn’t like people editing his work. John Adams said “too many people don’t like me.” This left Jefferson to write the entire document.
In the Declaration of Independence it talks about Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. It made me think of schools that have aggressive students bullying other students, in essence taking away the way they want to live their life at school, the freedom to feel safe, and their fears that take away any chance of happiness while at school.
I think that like our nation’s forefathers administrators, teachers, parents and students need to come together to draw up their own Declaration of Independence from aggressive, bullying behavior. Including a set of strategies, policy reinforcement and procedures that remind all students that aggressive bully behavior is no longer tolerated. Letting it be known that a team of students, parents and staff are committed to making sure every student will have Life, Liberty and Happiness.
“Efforts to create a safe and supportive school for all students will be optimized when the school functions as an aligned system where all members, programmatic components and policy and procedures are coordinated, guided by the same underlying principles, and working toward the same goals.” Bully Free Schools: Circle of Support Resource Guide for Trainers
Have selected students read this document weekly on the announcements, at assemblies, in the lunch room and parent night events.
Like Ben Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson you are the chosen one to speak up for those who are afraid to say STOP IT. But instead of making excuses like Franklin and Adams, be committed to work as a team to draw up a school declaration that students, staff and parents will be proud of they will abide by.
Copyright Richard Paul 2013
Enjoyed reading your article, thanks for sharing!!