THE N-WORD IN SCHOOL

The N-Word in School: Case Study

The N-Word in School: Case Study

Introduction

This paper is based on a case study regarding the taunt practices that have prevailed in the American schools for decades. The case revolves around four good friends; three of which are Black and one belongs to the White group.

The inequalities between children broadly reflect the basic class, race, and gender divisions within their societies, although in some countries those inequalities are mitigated when it comes to children, and in others they are intensified.

Bullying and Taunting in Schools

Bullies like the four students shown in this case study, may engage in two types of aggression—overt and relational aggression. Overt aggression constitutes more direct physical and verbal acts, including starting fights, pushing, name calling, and taunting (Engel, 2008). Relational aggression targets children's social networks in seeking to ostracize victims from the peer group by starting rumors about them or excluding them from group activities.

It is a fact that negative socio-emotional processes, that have developed different White and Black identities such as rudeness, hostility, and unresponsiveness, can also impede group members' participation, cause groups to reject correct ideas, and prevent groups from solving problems correctly (Andrews, 2008).

Social Factors for Taunting and Victimization

There is emerging evidence that young students (just like those mentioned in the case study) who feel little attachment to their school are also more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. And victims of taunting or bullying at school are more likely to lash out or act aggressively than more popular children who feel that they fit in (Benjamin, 2007).

Aggressive behavior tends to be a pattern that persists over time, especially for children who are “early starters.” One consistent finding in the professional literature is a link between aggressive and violent behavior in adolescence, and negative, aggressive behavior in classrooms. The pattern is one of early conduct problems leading to poor academic achievement, dropping out of school, and rejection by peers, all of which are factors associated with delinquent behavior (Charles, 2006).

Family relationships and the nature of the socialization process also contribute to child aggression and violence. If children learn from their parents to respond to authority with aggression and manipulation, they will have difficulty interacting successfully in a school environment where other adults make daily demands upon them. Similarly, parents who treat their children harshly are more likely to raise children who behave aggressively and violently (Dunne, 2006).

Effective Prevention ...