I do not think today's problem in schools is bullying, its "Teenage Aristocracy."

[WaffleSingSong]

I really find it funny how not a lot of teenagers do not see the problem here in schools. Sure, bullying is a problem, but it's not the main thing happening here. It's Teenage Aristocracy. For example,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy_%28class%29 if you dont know what Aristocracy means...

who controls most groups with in schools?

The TA.

Who is usually on Beta or another A/B grade group for no good reasons like letting an elder do all the homework and cheating because they do not listen in class, and instead talking away?

The TA.

Who are usually the bullies and secluders?

The TA.

Who controls all the events at schools?

The TA.

Who does the teachers love, and then when they have there back turn go all hateful on anyone who isn't part of...

The TA.

They use all this power to not give anyone who isn't in the norm almost no chance. Then, they go out into the real world, and not learning anything from school, become dumb and ruin society.

Has anyone else figured this out?

What do you think is the reason behind it? Or, maybe the biggest question...

do you believe this? I gotta go to bed, so I'm out for the night :P

[JackShephard]

It wouldn't be called a school if we didn't learn there. You can dislike the issues all you want but the truth is, people and communities are like that in the real world. Perhaps to a lesser degree but it's just something you have to learn to deal with or not play by its rules at all. For example; I do not give a shit if she is my boss, if she's pulling some bullshit story about me out of her ass as an excuse to yell at me, then I'm going to stand up for myself and call her out.

Bottom line, people will ether learn to deal or to oppose the social cliques.

Don't think at all that I condone any sort of bullying or social oppression. It sucks. And it's unfortunate that some kids don't do as well as others in dealing with it. I am only saying that issues like this are important to learn from. So I see the whole thing less as a problem but as a trial to learn from. The kids who end up on top of the social game wouldn't surprise me if they didn't learn from it and turned out to become a dislikable person in the long run.

In extreme cases where kids start killing themselves, then I believe that warrants a change in some manor. But you can't be so optimistic to think you could eradicate this sort of thing altogether.

[WaffleSingSong]

It wouldn't be called a school if we didn't learn there. You can dislike the issues all you want but the truth is, people and communities are like that in the real world. Perhaps to a lesser degree but it's just something you have to learn to deal with or not play by its rules at all. For example; I do not give a shit if she is my boss, if she's pulling some bullshit story about me out of her ass as an excuse to yell at me, then I'm going to stand up for myself and call her out.

Bottom line, people will ether learn to deal or to oppose the social cliques.

Don't think at all that I condone any sort of bullying or social oppression. It sucks. And it's unfortunate that some kids don't do as well as others in dealing with it. I am only saying that issues like this are important to learn from. So I see the whole thing less as a problem but as a trial to learn from. The kids who end up on top of the social game wouldn't surprise me if they didn't learn from it and turned out to become a dislikable person in the long run.

In extreme cases where kids start killing themselves, then I believe that warrants a change in some manor. But you can't be so optimistic to think you could eradicate this sort of thing altogether.

Not a whole lot of parents really remember anything from school. In fact, most forget about it entirely. So while we might learn from it, most do not remember very much about what was taught.

And for your real life argument, sure, It does happen in real life, and I do say that because im Socialist, which is practically what thats all about. But, it does not hurt to try to improve someone's childhood and save others from becoming douchebags in the future. Unless the common students within school unite together, it can not be fixed. And im not looking to eradicate the problem entirely, but I do want to spread the word and try to make people look at most of today's school issues in a different way. Thats what Karl Marx, Mohandas Gandhi and MLK did, why can't today's society of kids do the same?

[skm32]

i see it as a parents responsability to teach their children manners and social graces as they grow up, as well as right from wrong as did mine.

that includes an ass whoopin everytime the child needs one, NOT A BEATING, AN ASS WHOOPIN, there is a huge difference. i see most parents as too busy to raise their own children as they should. so they pacify them with what the hell ever instead of their love , nurturing , and attention they/we need to become happy healthy , stable adults.

[WaffleSingSong]

i see it as a parents responsability to teach their children manners and social graces as they grow up, as well as right from wrong as did mine.

that includes an ass whoopin everytime the child needs one, NOT A BEATING, AN ASS WHOOPIN, there is a huge difference. i see most parents as too busy to raise their own children as they should. so they pacify them with what the hell ever instead of their love , nurturing , and attention they/we need to become happy healthy , stable adults.

Wait, first, Whats a "Ass Whoopin?" and why is it different from a beating?

I do not think that parents can ultimately decide wether or not a child would be come a good adult or not. Of course, there a big influence, but they also share the pie with school, friends and there own choices. If schools still run in an Aristocratic society, we are influenced to be used in a Aristocratic society which is something that you do not want.

[DerBear]

Since this is clearly a debate. Abuse--->ROTW

[JackShephard]

Not a whole lot of parents really remember anything from school. In fact, most forget about it entirely. So while we might learn from it, most do not remember very much about what was taught.

And for your real life argument, sure, It does happen in real life, and I do say that because im Socialist, which is practically what thats all about. But, it does not hurt to try to improve someone's childhood and save others from becoming douchebags in the future. Unless the common students within school unite together, it can not be fixed. And im not looking to eradicate the problem entirely, but I do want to spread the word and try to make people look at most of today's school issues in a different way. Thats what Karl Marx, Mohandas Gandhi and MLK did, why can't today's society of kids do the same?

MLK and Gandhi fought against injustice. This is just common douchebaggery. I look at life in a yin and yang sort of way. Pretty much, shit happens sometimes and it's just part of living and growing. What I am getting at: to shelter kids from such things prevents them from learning to overcome it.

[derpderp]

My school doesn't have this, we're all good happy friends lol...like not even joking...there might be some sub-social levels but due to the fact of all of us being in a magnet program, we're all good friends...

[WaffleSingSong]

MLK and Gandhi fought against injustice. This is just common douchebaggery. I look at life in a yin and yang sort of way. Pretty much, shit happens sometimes and it's just part of living and growing. What I am getting at: to shelter kids from such things prevents them from learning to overcome it.

They fought for rights, and I want to fight for the rights of school mates. And you said before that kids can not handle it more than others, so your idea of "Yin and Yang" just can not work because most kids do see it as SOMETHING and can not look over it just like it's one potato chip in a bag. Bumps and Bruises might work for 4-year olds from touching the stove again when the cake is in (from own personal experience) but social issues can be changed by only one thing: Action.

My school doesn't have this, we're all good happy friends lol...like not even joking...there might be some sub-social levels but due to the fact of all of us being in a magnet program, we're all good friends...

Well, then you have a very rare school. All across the US, I have been though 7 different schools and not one of them had an absence of some aristocracy in the school system.

[FreeFall]

We didn't have aristocracy or hierarchy in my school. The 4.0 kids we're half of them time more popular than the AP kids. The AP kids were typically the wealthy folks with the few that got in there on their own intelligence and effort. We honors kids mingled very well with the 5.0 kids. And the 5.0 kids mingled well with everyone of every level. If someone was being mean to another, it's because they were a bully and not their level placement of the school. I was the unpopular quiet girl in the back of them room, but more the teacher's pet. My one teacher gave me A's on things I didn't even hand in just because I wasn't a goof off like the others in my class and actually tried in there.

It must really be awful though to be a part of a school that does have aristocracy.

[CrossingtheCourtyard]

Yeah, the popular kids suck. What's new?

[WaffleSingSong]

Yeah, the popular kids suck. What's new?

So what? Do you want to try to stand up against this? Try to save future generations the feeling of oppression? It would be a whole lot easier if they united. Like my state's motto says "United we Stand, Divided we Fall."

[FreeFall]

So what? Do you want to try to stand up against this? Try to save future generations the feeling of oppression? It would be a whole lot easier if they united. Like my state's motto says "United we Stand, Divided we Fall."
When I become a mother I'll be instilling my kid to think independently and not be stuck under the oppression. I'll instill in them the I don't care who you are, how much prada you can afford, what car your daddy gave you or how many parties you go to a day. If a kid messes with them, they'll mess back showing just how strong underdogs can be. If my kid's happen to be popular, I can only hope they remember they should still only mess with those that toss the first stone.
Then again there are some kids that hate the popular ones for no justifiable reason. The media's portrayed them to be selfish and mean, not every single one of them's out to get you.

[huginnmuninn]

as long as there is any kind of differences in people, they will naturally break into a hierarchy. Money, power, fashion, intelligence, etc. these things will cause certain people to be looked at differently depending on the situation and will make people with these attributes to be treated differently as a result. this will happen all throughout a persons life from childhood to adulthood. a person with money and intelligence will be looked at differently than from a poor dumb person. that's human nature.

I'm also guessing that you aren't at the top of your school's food chain and if you were you wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm also guessing that (rant and rage if you want) this post stems from your jealousy over their power. If I am right then get over it, stop waiting for society to change to what you believe it should be like, and change your own life to make it better. If I'm wrong then I appologize for judging you wrongly.

Not everyone is equal. we are born different and we die different. I would say that we all have our strengths and weaknesses but TBH I believe that some people have no strengths at all and they are completely worthless to society. Some people will say that they must have some quality that makes them important or necessary or needed and i say no. Sorry about that but i swear I'm getting to the point. Not everyone is equal so not everyone should be treated the same. Yes, they should be treated humanely but i'm not gonna treat a seriel killer the same way i treat someone who isn't. I will treat the other person better 97.2% of the time and yes i did pull that number out of my ass.

[derpderp]

Well, then you have a very rare school. All across the US, I have been though 7 different schools and not one of them had an absence of some aristocracy in the school system.

I mean I'm not gonna lie, theres the fact that some people are "more popular" but in no way would they go up to a less popular person and be like "derp derp derp bully" I mean there is the usual behind peoples' back bullyish talk but nothing serious and only usually for lulz...

And also it has, as I said, to do with the fact I'm in a magnet program and we've all known each other for 6 years now...you grow close to the other 100 or so people you worked with...

[WaffleSingSong]

as long as there is any kind of differences in people, they will naturally break into a hierarchy. Money, power, fashion, intelligence, etc. these things will cause certain people to be looked at differently depending on the situation and will make people with these attributes to be treated differently as a result. this will happen all throughout a persons life from childhood to adulthood. a person with money and intelligence will be looked at differently than from a poor dumb person. that's human nature.

I'm also guessing that you aren't at the top of your school's food chain and if you were you wouldn't have a problem with it. I'm also guessing that (rant and rage if you want) this post stems from your jealousy over their power. If I am right then get over it, stop waiting for society to change to what you believe it should be like, and change your own life to make it better. If I'm wrong then I appologize for judging you wrongly.

Not everyone is equal. we are born different and we die different. I would say that we all have our strengths and weaknesses but TBH I believe that some people have no strengths at all and they are completely worthless to society. Some people will say that they must have some quality that makes them important or necessary or needed and i say no. Sorry about that but i swear I'm getting to the point. Not everyone is equal so not everyone should be treated the same. Yes, they should be treated humanely but i'm not gonna treat a seriel killer the same way i treat someone who isn't. I will treat the other person better 97.2% of the time and yes i did pull that number out of my ass.

Im not unpopular, in fact if I am, a little bit higher up the chain. But it still makes me mad on how no body actually thinks at my school on "Hey, that kid might be feeling bad because I said something to him behind his back, It's probably fine though, and its not like he is going to be my boss!"

[CrossingtheCourtyard]

So what? Do you want to try to stand up against this? Try to save future generations the feeling of oppression? It would be a whole lot easier if they united. Like my state's motto says "United we Stand, Divided we Fall."

I don't think it's possible to root out things like this. It's a flaw in human nature.

The Teenage Aristocracy, if we're to call them that, have always existed in school systems, and will always exist in school systems.

The popular kids might be awful to their peers but by virtue of their "charm" could make the teachers just love them even if they are disturbing class.

I think we should work on building self esteem in youth and creating a greater effort to decrease bullying.

Just throwing this in too, because this thread reminds me of this quote:

As kids, most of us didn’t kill the class freaks. But, we developed something equally effective: We knew how to make the class freaks want to kill themselves

[gothicsanctum]

If i wanted to combat the "Teenage Aristocracy" Id might as well Bring My Bat'leth and Mek'leth for My Gf And I. we'd Be Singing The Song Of Khaless As we Slay The "Aristocrats"

[Thanatos]

But it still makes me mad on how no body actually thinks at my school on "Hey, that kid might be feeling bad because I said something to him behind his back, It's probably fine though, and its not like he is going to be my boss!"

Thats human nature not just teenagers. Everywhere in the world from the classroom, to the office, to the natural environment there is an aristocracy. There is a food chain, that is just how the world works. There will always be those who use their power to prey on those weaker then them.

[Evan-9]

Whoa what a great way to look at it. It seems true in many cases but I wouldn't say all.

[LatinaVivit]

I think a point to bring up is that these people also have a drive and motivation to get to these positions. I understand where you're coming from, but let's just play the devil's advocate for a moment. I'll preface this by saying that, yes, I'm gay, so I know what it means to feel ostracized at one point or another.
These people feel competitive, is there anything wrong with that? They have the motivation to go beyond themselves and try to excel; I don't see anything wrong with that. I can agree with you that some people are like how you described; however, I cannot agree with you on the premise that anyone who is sucessful in school, popular, running clubs, etc, is a jerk.
FYI, I'm gay and I'm the president of my class - have been since freshman year and I'm a junior now, in Beta Club, on two sports, been in many clubs, and have earned decent grade. I understand your dilemma, but I think you're making a huge generalization; moreover, in doing such, it leads me to believe you lack the motivation and drive to get you to the places you desire. It seems to me you see yourself as the victim, and as such, expect things to be given to you. I hope I am wrong, but I hope this post gives you light on another area of the subject.

[Mortal Coil]

That stuff doesn't happen in my school, probably since we don't even have TAs, but I'd just like to point out that it is only natural for people to form a hierarchy within their community. That's the way it's been since the dawn of modern humans and has been observed in other animals too, such as wolves.
It sucks, but it's just something to get through.

[UnknownError]

lol this feels like mean girls.

Get over it, people are judged and hated and picked on everyday at every age. You might seem loved but secretly people hates you. That's life. Anyone who says they have never been nice to someones face and then stabbed them in the back with a knife when they turned around is lying.

You can try and stop it all you want but the truth is nobody is equal.

[WaffleSingSong]

-Accidental Double Post, looking for Mod to delete it-

[WaffleSingSong]

I think a point to bring up is that these people also have a drive and motivation to get to these positions. I understand where you're coming from, but let's just play the devil's advocate for a moment. I'll preface this by saying that, yes, I'm gay, so I know what it means to feel ostracized at one point or another.
These people feel competitive, is there anything wrong with that? They have the motivation to go beyond themselves and try to excel; I don't see anything wrong with that. I can agree with you that some people are like how you described; however, I cannot agree with you on the premise that anyone who is sucessful in school, popular, running clubs, etc, is a jerk.
FYI, I'm gay and I'm the president of my class - have been since freshman year and I'm a junior now, in Beta Club, on two sports, been in many clubs, and have earned decent grade. I understand your dilemma, but I think you're making a huge generalization; moreover, in doing such, it leads me to believe you lack the motivation and drive to get you to the places you desire. It seems to me you see yourself as the victim, and as such, expect things to be given to you. I hope I am wrong, but I hope this post gives you light on another area of the subject.

I know what you mean, and I'm not making generalizations. Who said I ever was? I am pretty well off in school as I am usually captain of the Academic Team and I am a key member in my school's Beta Club, Choir and Debate Team. So, I am in a some-what similar place like you.

I'm not trying to act like Karl Marx or the book Common Sense, I just want students to look at school problems in a different way, you know, "lighten up the room a bit." And when you think of it, The Columbine High School massacre happened because the two felt so oppressed by "Popular" kids and they went on a riot. I'm not trying to get to extreme points, rather just a light touch on whats actually happening here in schools that the school boards just do not see.

[darkwoon]

I really find it funny how not a lot of teenagers do not see the problem here in schools. Sure, bullying is a problem, but it's not the main thing happening here. It's Teenage Aristocracy.
I don't know if it is related to the cultural differences between my country and yours, but where I live, there is no such "aristocracy" or "food chain" weird ideas. Are there bullies, popular boys and girls, cheaters? Of course. Do they rule the daily life? Nonsense.

First, I think that part of your issue is with your perception of what "norm" and "control" are. Nobody has to exclude people who are out of the norm - people thinking so exclude themselves because they imagine there is a strong day-and-night opposition between "them" and "the rest".

Fact is, society is not made of an unique, single-threaded hierarchy; not in schools, not in daily life. It is based on interconnected relationships and group memberships. Think Facebook - most people there claim membership of many different groups. Sorting people in "The Aristocrats" and "The Others" like you do is overly simplistic and probably self-reassuring, because it is merely another way to say "Them" vs "Us". "Bullies" vs "Gentle Oppressed". And by doing that, you're making the very precise mistake you are accusing others to do.

Second, what is school, if not a training ground for life? Do you think popular people, in a way or another, are popular just because they look nice? We live in highly complex, formalized societies, so understanding how others think, what they like, how they percieve the world is essential. Call it empathy. Call it social skills. That is not something you can ignore for the sake of freedom of thought - doing that will just make you an outcast individualist.

Also, fighting against oppression? Wait, what rights are they depriving you of? Unless they are doing things like stealing your money or hitting you with crowbars just for the fun, they are not "oppressing" you. You are not fighting to defend rights - you are fighting to replace a dominant group by another, similar, dominant group. This my friend, is not socialism. And this is not what Ghandi or MLK did. That's actually the complete opposite of their philosophies.

And finally, where did you get the strange idea that being a sort of leader at school is better? That it will improve your life? That it is necessarily fun? Heroes have to look like heroes. Always. No escape. No alternative. No change. Cease to become what fans expect, and they'll turn away. I see little value in this, and I pity those who can only live on public recognition and fame.

Am I popular myself at school? I don't know. I have friends - real friends, not followers. I'm having fun. Above all, I'm myself, and that's all what matters.

[darkwoon]

And when you think of it, The Columbine High School massacre happened because the two felt so oppressed by "Popular" kids and they went on a riot. I'm not trying to get to extreme points, rather just a light touch on whats actually happening here in schools that the school boards just do not see.
Oh, as a side note - just because they thought they were victims of the society doesn't mean they actually were. Maybe school boards didn't notice the oppression because there was none to notice?

[WaffleSingSong]

I don't know if it is related to the cultural differences between my country and yours, but where I live, there is no such "aristocracy" or "food chain" weird ideas. Are there bullies, popular boys and girls, cheaters? Of course. Do they rule the daily life? Nonsense.

First, I think that part of your issue is with your perception of what "norm" and "control" are. Nobody has to exclude people who are out of the norm - people thinking so exclude themselves because they imagine there is a strong day-and-night opposition between "them" and "the rest".

Fact is, society is not made of an unique, single-threaded hierarchy; not in schools, not in daily life. It is based on interconnected relationships and group memberships. Think Facebook - most people there claim membership of many different groups. Sorting people in "The Aristocrats" and "The Others" like you do is overly simplistic and probably self-reassuring, because it is merely another way to say "Them" vs "Us". "Bullies" vs "Gentle Oppressed". And by doing that, you're making the very precise mistake you are accusing others to do.

Second, what is school, if not a training ground for life? Do you think popular people, in a way or another, are popular just because they look nice? We live in highly complex, formalized societies, so understanding how others think, what they like, how they percieve the world is essential. Call it empathy. Call it social skills. That is not something you can ignore for the sake of freedom of thought - doing that will just make you an outcast individualist.

Also, fighting against oppression? Wait, what rights are they depriving you of? Unless they are doing things like stealing your money or hitting you with crowbars just for the fun, they are not "oppressing" you. You are not fighting to defend rights - you are fighting to replace a dominant group by another, similar, dominant group. This my friend, is not socialism. And this is not what Ghandi or MLK did. That's actually the complete opposite of their philosophies.

And finally, where did you get the strange idea that being a sort of leader at school is better? That it will improve your life? That it is necessarily fun? Heroes have to look like heroes. Always. No escape. No alternative. No change. Cease to become what fans expect, and they'll turn away. I see little value in this, and I pity those who can only live on public recognition and fame.

Am I popular myself at school? I don't know. I have friends - real friends, not followers. I'm having fun. Above all, I'm myself, and that's all what matters.

I never said they ruled my daily life, I said that they just put too many pressure on others, and in my school such a chance of "all being friends" is severed almost immediately.

Again, I never said it went one way. There are many cliques in every school. It's just that cliques still narrow down on other, more "undesirable" cliques.

I am standing up so that others should not feel pressured by there a sense, even if it is decentralized, higher power in society and they do not feel bad about themselves for who they are. And, I never said replacing anyone with anywhom, I see balance of the scale, not it tipping over to the other side. That's Socialism.

I do not want to be a hero, A voice can come from anywhere. I do not want any kind of fame, As I hate fame-mongers just as much as you. Hell, I do not even care if someone rips it from this post. If what I said works, I find that an accomplishment of itself. If this does go out with my name on it, Thats just icing on the cake. Nice, But not needed.

You might have fun, But a lot of other kids do not see it like that. They can not feel good about themselves because there still is a essence of being "cool" and not "good" in a school's society as being accepted. A child should be judged by good and bad actions, not cool and nerdy actions.

[darkwoon]

I never said they ruled my daily life, I said that they just put too many pressure on others, and in my school such a chance of "all being friends" is severed almost immediately.
Hence, they are ruling the daily life, since they apply pressure on individuals on a fundamental and constant level (note I never said *yours* in particular - I don't know how you live and I don't really care).

Again, I never said it went one way. There are many cliques in every school. It's just that cliques still narrow down on other, more "undesirable" cliques.
I have to disagree. Most cliques I've known of don't necessarily "narrow down on more undesirable ones". They are not necessarily based on the idea that there are inferiors who shouldn't be dealt with. There are cliques they feel strong ties with, and others they don't. But it doesn't imply a top->down relationship.

I am standing up so that others should not feel pressured by there a sense, even if it is decentralized, higher power in society and they do not feel bad about themselves for who they are. And, I never said replacing anyone with anywhom, I see balance of the scale, not it tipping over to the other side. That's Socialism.
Oh, of course you never *said* it. Yet you are thinking of overthrowing pressure groups. Thus self-giving you the role of referee. That is not Socialism at all. Socialism is when the people *themselves* are creating a referee preventing social abuses, and ensuring that it doesn't get out of control.

I do not want to be a hero, A voice can come from anywhere. I do not want any kind of fame, As I hate fame-mongers just as much as you. Hell, I do not even care if someone rips it from this post. If what I said works, I find that an accomplishment of itself. If this does go out with my name on it, Thats just icing on the cake. Nice, But not needed.
I don't claim you want to become a hero. Again, I'm actually convinced you don't. And I don't hate fame mongers, I pity them, which is quite different.

I simply don't see my school environment - and the world in general - as a top-down aristocratic society that can be made better by the activism of noble defenders of the weak. That's a seducing, romantic view of life, but that's simply not life as I percieve it, sorry.

You might have fun, But a lot of other kids do not see it like that. They can not feel good about themselves because there still is a essence of being "cool" and not "good" in a school's society as being accepted. A child should be judged by good and bad actions, not cool and nerdy actions.
And what are exactly "cool" and "nerdy" actions? Actions that the group as a whole finds acceptable, valuable, or not. This is actually another sticker over the concept of "good" and "bad" behavior.

Now, you raise an interesting point: the one of acceptance. Let's be clear: if you want to be accepted into a group, you have to make concessions to its rules. You have to blend with the way it works. You have to follow the traditions and the rituals. In short, acceptance *never* works in the group->individual direction alone; it is *always* a mutual exchange between both. And unfortunately, most of those "outcasts" fail to grasp that basic concept. They expect to get accepted while never accepting themselves anything in return. That's not going to work.

[LatinaVivit]

I know what you mean, and I'm not making generalizations. Who said I ever was? I am pretty well off in school as I am usually captain of the Academic Team and I am a key member in my school's Beta Club, Choir and Debate Team. So, I am in a some-what similar place like you.

I'm not trying to act like Karl Marx or the book Common Sense, I just want students to look at school problems in a different way, you know, "lighten up the room a bit." And when you think of it, The Columbine High School massacre happened because the two felt so oppressed by "Popular" kids and they went on a riot. I'm not trying to get to extreme points, rather just a light touch on whats actually happening here in schools that the school boards just do not see.

Who said you were making a generalization? I said that; because you are. Yes, you are going to extreme points because you state that all the problems of high school stem from 'popular' kids cheating the other students out of opportunities, while not putting out any effort. I don't really understand why you're making a fuss; maybe I'm just being insensitive, but the real world ins't rainbows and gummy bears. People are competitive beings, and some people just aren't up to par with other. It's not something evil or anything, it's just nature.

As for the school board remark, I'm sure they're well aware of what's going on; they were children once. Riddle me this: how does one deal with this problem? Tell the 'popular' kids to not be popular? Make mediocre grades? Not to try out for sports/clubs? No that would be ridiculous. Bullying, yes, is terrible, but to a point, having a challenge both mentally and socially is a necessity; children need to face adversity to gain true knowledge.

[WaffleSingSong]

Who said you were making a generalization? I said that; because you are. Yes, you are going to extreme points because you state that all the problems of high school stem from 'popular' kids cheating the other students out of opportunities, while not putting out any effort. I don't really understand why you're making a fuss; maybe I'm just being insensitive, but the real world ins't rainbows and gummy bears. People are competitive beings, and some people just aren't up to par with other. It's not something evil or anything, it's just nature.

As for the school board remark, I'm sure they're well aware of what's going on; they were children once. Riddle me this: how does one deal with this problem? Tell the 'popular' kids to not be popular? Make mediocre grades? Not to try out for sports/clubs? No that would be ridiculous. Bullying, yes, is terrible, but to a point, having a challenge both mentally and socially is a necessity; children need to face adversity to gain true knowledge.

...When can you guys listen to me when I do not actually want to FIX ANYTHING?

It is just a suggestion. Thats all.

Did John Locke try to do anything? No. He spoke his mind about modern republics and liberalism, and well, he got lucky. Now because of him, Modern republics take place all across the world.

[Carlsen]

I really find it funny how not a lot of teenagers do not see the problem here in schools. Sure, bullying is a problem, but it's not the main thing happening here. It's Teenage Aristocracy. For example,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristocracy_%28class%29 if you dont know what Aristocracy means...

who controls most groups with in schools?



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Girls controlle most groups in school and we follow them. This happen even in the sports. I think bullying it is still the big problem.



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[Twilly F. Sniper]

Yeah. Part of this is a bit not right but most of this, yeah it is. The teachers kids usually equal the TA at my school. Unless its the rich kids that own businesses in the small town i call home.