Barbara Coloroso
Barbara Coloroso (born 1948) is a former Franciscan Nun who became a secular best selling author, public speaker, and consultant advising on child rearing tactics, preventing bullying, and escalating violence that may partly result from bullying or abusive child rearing tactics. She has appeared on the three major TV networks and several Cable News networks among other major media outlets, including major newpapers and magazines. [1] [2]
Career
[edit]Barbara Coloroso has worked as a Classroom teacher, Laboratory school instructor working in specialized school environments, a University instructor Teaching at the college level, including lecturing at institutions like the National University of Rwanda, Educational consultant: Advised school districts, the medical and business communities, and the criminal justice system and written numerous books about child rearing, preventing bullying and other forms of violence including genocide.
Books
[edit]Kids Are Worth It
[edit]Kids Are Worth It was her first best selling book published in 1994, followed up by a revised version in 2002. She has often recommended tactics used by Benjamin Spock, author of Baby and Child Care (1946/1985) and Philip Greven author of Spare The Child both of whom opposed all corporal punishment, although Benjamin Spock didn't completely oppose this until his 1985 edition. Generally speaking she describes three kinds of parenting styles which she calls: the Brick-wall parent, the Jellyfish parent and the Backbone parent.
The Brick-wall parent tends to be very strict and controlling, often more likely to use corporal punishment. This teaches children to blindly obey authority and to treat other people the same way.
The Jellyfish parent is much less consistent, often giving in to children's demands big and small. This type of parent may not set consistent rules, and may overlook some problems until they escalate, and in some cases, then over-react in other cases.
The Backbone parent is the style she recommends which is reasonably flexible for minor problems while learning to speak out before major problems escalate. For example, she may advise reasonable flexibility when letting a child decide what to eat or wear, but when it comes to more dangerous activities, possibly including bullying, drinking or at an early age watching for traffic, she advises to be more firm. [3]
The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander
[edit]The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander
The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander (full title: The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School—How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence) is a best selling 2003 nonfiction book. The book covers the issue of school bullying and the roles played by those involved, including the victims and bystanders. [4]
Extraordinary Evil: A Short Walk to Genocide
[edit]Extraordinary Evil: A Short Walk to Genocide 2007 describes how she believes that bullying desensitizes people and may lead to escalating violence later in life including War and Genocide, focusing mainly on the Rwandan Genocide. She cites the history of genocide as described by Samantha Power in A Problem from Hell which recommended a modest number of crack troops could have prevented the genocide and cites General Roméo Dallaire's assessment that 5,000 troops would have been required to make a decisive and sweeping difference, which may have prevented the genocide in the short term. Barbara Coloroso focuses more on one of the long term contributing causes of violence which desensitizes people to growing amount of violence and advises to prevent bullying before it escalates and teach better child rearing tactics which will make people much less likely to resort to violence later in life. It's also important to provide educational and economic opportunities so people aren't forced into desperate situations.
Other books
[edit]- Winning At Parenting Without Beating Your Kids 1989
- Parenting With Wit and Wisdom in Times of Chaos and Loss 1999
- Parenting Through Crisis: Helping Kids in Times of Loss, Grief, and Change 2000 Best Seller
- Just Because It's Not Wrong Doesn't Make It Right 2006 Best Seller
Notes
[edit]- ↑ About Barbara Coloroso
- ↑ Coloroso, Barbara 1948(?)-
- ↑ Parenting Today: Brickwall, Jellyfish, & Backbone
- ↑ Coloroso, Barbara (3 February 2004). The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander. Harper Collins. ISBN 9780060014308.
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