Northumberland News November 2011

Grafton novelist tackles bullying problem

Former teacher pens book to shatter shroud of silence

November 2011

Janet Irvine bullying book. COBOURG -- Janet Irvine, of Grafton, wrote When PUSH Comes to Shove Back, a young-adult novel exploring bullying-related issues in a day in the life of two Grade 9 boys. November 30, 2011 Karen Longwell / Northumberland News

GRAFTON -- A recent rash of bullying-related teen suicides across the country served as a tipping point for a former teacher to tackle the problem in the pages of a young-adult novel.
Janet Irvine of Grafton knows teens. Ms. Irvine spent the bulk of her career at Cobourg District Collegiate Institute West, first as an English teacher, then as a special education teacher and department head as well as a stint in the acting vice principal role, where she regularly came face to face with bullies and their victims. She also serves on the Alnwick/Haldimand Township Police Service Board, acting as a teen liaison with police and sits on the board for the Northumberland Community Counselling Centre.
"I have gained better appreciation for some of the reasons young people turn to bullying," said Ms. Irvine. "I came to realize that the bullies need just as much help as the individuals they bullied."
Her novel, 'When PUSH Comes to Shove Back', chronicles one day in the life of two Grade 9 boys, one, a bully, and the other, his victim. Ms. Irvine said the book is a page-turning, action-packed novel with characters who explore intimidation, manipulation, drugs, and other bullying-related issues. Written for young adult readers, "at a level Grade 9 students will have no trouble with," it is an adventure story, with true-to-life characters, she explained.
"There are some swear words in it, but the characters wouldn't ring true without them," she said.
In her dealings with teens, Ms. Irvine said kids will talk about issues in a book quite openly, "much more so than discussing their own experiences, especially in a group setting."
"It is my hope that the book will serve as a spring-board for conversations about bullying, both in school and at home, especially for parents who don't know how to approach the subject," she said. "Although bullying seems to be more out in the open recently, much of the problem is still shrouded in silence. There are still teens that bully and teen victims that suffer in silence."
To teenagers, being the victim of a bully is so hurtful, so devastating, that it can drive some of these young people to consider taking their own lives, such as two recent incidents in Pickering and Ottawa.
Without the life experience to put bullying incidents into perspective, it is impossible for many teens to "suck it up" or "ignore it" as sometimes suggested by well-meaning parents, said Ms. Irvine.
For more information about 'When PUSH Comes to Shove Back', call Ms. Irvine at 905-349-2570, e-mail alzwellthatenzwell@gmail.com or visit http://www.whenpushcomestoshoveback.com/.