A disconnect is seemingly growing and becoming more and more serious every day. Disconnects in schools exist for many reasons including:
- silos and departments
- hierarchy and org chart issues
- multiple locations
- lack of ongoing awareness and accountability
- ineffective and outdated policies and procedures
- the disconnect between “well said” and “well done”
What about disconnects between Adults and Students…are these disconnects also a problem? For example, most adults never experienced cyber bullying at a young age, so can adults really relate to what students are experiencing these days?
As I work with K-12 and Higher Education leadership across the U.S., I come across numerous “old school leaders” that seem disconnected from the real pains and challenges their students are facing in school.
As I was pondering this disconnect between adults and students, a slogan for Trix Cereal popped into my mind from an ‘old school’ TV ad…see if you remember it?
“Trix are for Kids”*
The Trix slogan got me thinking about adults and bully prevention and perhaps even a slogan:
“Bullying Conferences and Seminars are for Adults and Experts”
But remember the rest of the Trix cereal ad? The kid would say, “Silly rabbit, Trix are for Kids” and then the rabbit would say, “and sometimes, for tricky rabbits.”*
We need adults (boards, administrators, principals, teachers, parents, bus drivers, counselors, etc.) to hear what students are saying, understand what students are going through and become “tricky rabbits” to make sure they are providing students with proven and trusted ways to be heard, to get help and to ultimately prevent bullying.
Students play a major role in preventing bullying, however school leaders need more effective ways to “connect the dots” – students need to be able to “connect with adults” in ways that work for students…not “old school ways” that adults are familiar with.
To request a copy of an executive briefing of the landmark federal investigation from July 2011 or to learn about successes where schools are connecting students and adults to prevent preventable incidents, click here.
*General Mills trademarked slogan
