Hazing Vs Abuse

In my opinion, there is no difference between hazing and abuse. Hazing is abuse. While there are various levels of hazing, even the smallest amount has a negative impact on the victims.

The incident described by Gollnick (2013, p. 129) represents a physical and emotional abusive situation created not only by the basketball team but purported also by the coach, other teachers, administrators as well as bystanders who observe the abuse occurring and do nothing about it. I find it unlikely that the incident described was unique and that the coach and administration were not aware of the abuse occurring. As the parents stated they had been victims of similar abusive situations and did not think anything was wrong with them because” they had tuned out alright” (Gollnick & Chinn, 2013, p. 129). According to NoBullying.com “Children are sponges and will mimic behaviors of those around them, often for their entire lives, later passing the same character flaws onto their own children.” (NoBullying.com, 2015)

The Sayerville, NJ hazing scandal described in the Huffington Post article (2014), the school canceled the entire football team’s season as a result of the hazing incident involving the football players. The superintendent is quoted in the articles as indicating they may not bring back the football program at all. (Associated Press, 2014) The incident described by Gollnick and Chinn parallels the Sayerville inicident. The student who perpetrated the hazing committed crimes and should be brought up on aggravated sexual assault, criminal restraint, hazing and other crimes as the Sayerville players were. The school administrators should have fired the coach and other associated with the abuse as well as suspended the players involved for a year from playing basketball. Additionally other school privileges should be taken away to show that abuse is not accepted or tolerated at the school. While this seems a harsh sentence and more likely than not will receive backlash from parents and other students saying that “school spirit” is being ruined, until we stop, take action and step up to say that this type of abuse is not tolerated and show that it is in fact a crime the cycle of abuse will only continue. Teachers, coaches and administrators have the task of keeping students safe while they are at school and participating in school vents.

As teachers we are also mandatory reporters of abuse if we witness or suspect abuse is occurring. In not reporting abuse and allowing it to continue, we are as guilty as the perpetrators in the abuse. The first step in breaking the cycle of abuse is awareness of our own personal actions and the impact they create. Children of abuse should be helped to understand that they are loveable and worthy. Creating a school community of trust and open communication will assist in slowing the cycle of abuse. If students feel that you have their best interests in mind and that it is a safe space for communication they will be more open and honest in their communication and reporting of abusive situations they witness or have been a victim of.

References

Associated Press. (2014, October 13). Future Of Football Team Rocked By Hazing Unclear. Retrieved from Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/sayreville-football-future_n_5977182.html

Gollnick, D. M., & Chinn, P. C. (2013). Chapter 4 Gender: The Cost of Sexual and Gender Discrimination. In D. M. Gollnick, & P. C. Chinn, Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society (pp. 108-141). Pearson.

NoBullying.com. (2015, January 29). Emotional Abuse: All Too Common and Misunderstood. Retrieved from NoBullying.com: http://nobullying.com/emotional-abuse-all-too-common-and-misunderstood/