Karanveer Singh Pannu’s book is an impressive work exploring Sikh culture, both in a historical and a contemporary context, thereby setting the stage for a better understanding of the pressing issues concerning bullying. As a scholar of childhood studies and as a parent, I particularly appreciate the work he has done in investigating children’s and experts’ views on the topic of bullying. Most importantly though, advice on how to reduce bullying is given to children and youth through his voice, the voice of a high school student. This will allow children to feel understood and close to the author, it gives families and educators an inside view into children’s lives, and it will thereby offer an important resource for all affected by bullying.
Dr. Ines Meier, M.A., Ph.D.
Professor of Childhood Studies
In this examination of the bullying experienced by Sikh-American children, Karanveer Pannu has done a masterful job of combining his personal experience with an historical background of the Sikh community and systematic empirical research on bullying. His book is a significant addition to the national discussion of bullying and offers a multi-faceted perspective on bullying that both informs and makes sensible recommendations on ways to reduce it. This is a remarkable work that addresses the bullying experienced by an understudied group.
Dr. J.W. (Bill) Whitlow, Jr., Ph.D.
Professor of Psychology
Karanveer’s book is a must read for educators who serve students from the Sikh community. The book provides the reader with an important description of the history of the Sikh people and provides details about the Sikh culture. The book is a great resource to help educators support Sikh students who are bullied frequently because people do not understand the Sikh culture and often because Sikhs wear a turban or head scarf. Many Sikh students are suffering on a daily basis and have the right, as all students have, to feel safe in school. Karanveer’s book is a great resource for educators to help them create a safe school environment for Sikh students.
Dr. Diane Young, Assistant Superintendent.
Voorhees School District, NJ
Thank you for affording me the opportunity to read “Bullying of Sikh American Children”. I learned a great deal and was enlightened by the history of Sikh faith. Your effort is commendable; hopefully providing insight and strategies will compel others to adjust perceptions surrounding the Sikh culture. Thank you for bringing attention to this matter in a compassionate and mature manner.
Bill Westerby, Vice Principal
Eastern Regional High School, NJ
The scope and depth of young Mr. Karnveer Singh Pannu’s work offers new insight to even the most sensitive of educators and holds out hope to children who are bullied because of their memberships in a faith community. Bullying of Sikh American Children: Through the eyes of a Sikh American High School student offers a comprehensive array of chapters providing a resource for education about the Sikh faith and its practices, media and community portrayal of Sikhs, statistics about bullying and its psychological impact, and strategies for change. Particularly touching is Mr. Pannu’s determination to improve conditions for his community from a place of strength; this gracious, kind, determined, intelligent young researcher and writer is wise beyond his years.
Susan M. Pomerantz, M.A., Teacher of English
Eastern Regional High School, NJ
As an educator, I do my best to get to know each of my students and connect with them on a level beyond classroom learning. I have had the opportunity and pleasure of having Karanveer Singh enroll in my Business Law course. During a casual conversation, the others in our class and myself learned of his endeavor of writing a book addressing bullying of Sikh Americans. He was generous enough to share his book with me, and I was eager to not only learn of the talents of one of my students, but also to learn more of the Sikh beliefs.
As I ready Bullying of Sikh American Children: Through the eyes of a Sikh American High School student, I realized just how ignorant I have been to those around me. I work in a very diverse school, yet knew very little of the students I taught that were of the Sikh faith. The more I learned, the more I realized how little I knew, and this was a very humbling experience. Since
my exposure to this easy to understand and informative book, I have become aware of the students that walk our halls, those that live in my neighborhood, as well as issues that people that embrace the Sikh faith encounter in their lives outside of school.
Reading Karanveer’s book has created much awareness within me that I can share with other students as well as my own family. Acceptance through understanding is one of the greatest lessons life can offer and I am filled with admiration of Karanveer for addressing issues that are simply ignored. No words can truly reflect how much his book impacted my way of thinking and how I view so many around me. Congratulations to this young man for his tremendous accomplishment. I have no doubt he will continue his successful journey in any avenue he chooses to pursue. Many of us can learn a number of life’s lessons from his accomplishment.
Audrey Pappas
Eastern Regional High School, NJ
I appreciate your email and sharing with me the opportunity to spread the word of Karanveer Singh Pannu’s book. I have read through several of his chapters, he is a very insightful and knowledgeable young man who truly has a message to share.
I have sat down with two of our executive directors to map out how we want to promote the book. We discussed that since this book is a higher level of reading than elementary, we would focus on sharing the book only with elementary teachers. Our discuss with the teachers will focus on ways in which the messages of the book could be incorporated into the their lesson plans.
As for the middle and high school levels, we are scheduling a meeting with the secondary librarians to discuss how we want to promote the book, not only for our teachers, but to have the book(s) available to our secondary level students. This might be in the form of simply having the book displayed in each of our libraries for students to sign out. Or, it might be an opportunity for our English teachers to incorporate the book as a reading assignment to compliment their curriculum.
As we move forward I will keep you posted as to our next strategy.
Peter J. Ianzito
Director of Student Services
Liverpool School District, NY
