Students, Teachers, and Leaders Addressing Bullying in Schools

The importance of Boske and Osanloos approach to identifying the crisis of bullying in our society lives within the personal stories shared in this book. Readers are reminded that victims of bullying are our own friends, neighbors and classmates, and those at every level in the community are challenged to be part of the solution. The hatred carried out by those who bully impacts all of us, not only the individual victims. Students, Teachers, and Leaders Addressing Bullying in Schools captures the tragedy victims face and the urgency of creating a new dialogue amongst our educators. Judy Shepard, Founder, Matthew Shepard Foundation The most important experts on bullying are the students, parents, and educators who wrestle with its impact every day. In this book, Boske and Osanloo place them at the center of the dialogue to design lasting solutions and spur the national conscience into action. Bias-based bullying complicates systemic solutions by activating the isms and phobias that plague us all. The bold collective behind this book calls us to get over our own stuff and double down on our efforts to create safe and affi rming schools for all students. Eliza Byard, PhD, Executive Director, GLSEN The brilliance and boldness of this book lie in two distinguishing features. First, inspired by the Boske and Osanloos vision, the contributors discuss bullying as precisely what it is: not an interpersonal challenge, not a cross-cultural tension, not an issue that can be conflict-mediated away, but a social justice concern that is connected to bigger societal conditions and injustices. Secondly, Boske and Osanloo reject the idea that academics are the experts of everybodys experiences, and so they open the space on the pages of their book to the targets of bullying and their on-the-ground advocates. The result is revolutionary. If you think you understand bullying, I dare you to read this book. Paul Gorski, Founder, EdChange, & Associate Professor, Integrative Studies at George Mason University.