Bullying

“Elementary and secondary schools around the country are beginning to actively address the problem of bullies. In your opinion, is bullying an issue that should be addressed by school officials or left to parents? Use specific reasons and examples to support your position. “

It is never okay to take advantage of another person mentally, physically, or emotionally.  Bullying is an issue that should never be ignored and too often it is in our society. As early as elementary and middle school children experience being bullied consistently and erratically. Children who suffer with this growing issue are turning to drastic measures to stop it, going as far as to end their lives. An immediate action plan needs to be taken on this problem within schools both by schools officials and parents. They must collaborate to ensure that the problem does not continue or increase in our society.

Victims of bullying are most often insecure kids, who display weakness and intimidation toward other students for whatever reason whether size, intellect, or fashion. Bullying can take many forms, as it can be verbal, physical, or cyber bullying. It causes short and long term physical, mental and emotional health issues for those are victims of it. According to a 2009 Harvard Mental Health Letter school bullying has “long-lasting psychological ramifications for victims as well as for bullies”. The article went on to say that,” Victims of chronic childhood bullying are more likely to develop depression or think about suicide as adults compared with those who weren't bullied, while former bullies are more likely to be convicted of criminal charges”. A recent CBS News reported that Asher Brown and Seth Walsh were just 13 when they killed themselves last month. Both were allegedly targets of anti-gay bullying. According to the British Columbia Ministry of Education in 2000,” There have been enough incidents' of children committing suicide for this reason that a new phrase has been coined: bullycide.”

Often people believe that child bullying leads to criminal records is a myth but According to a study done for National Resource Centre for Safe Schools (1999), bullies who have been identified by age 8 are six times more likely than others to be convicted of a crime by the time they reach the age of 24. They are five times more likely to end up with serious criminal records by age 30.

Sadly, many victims of bullying are too afraid to speak up about their situation in fear that telling others will not help but only make thighs worse. While some bottle their emotions and problems inside waiting for a release, others retaliate doing such things as mass shootings at school. Is it possible that school officials could have done something to stop this issue before it came to this? Or could the parents of the child have addressed the issues their child was facing if they even knew? The answer is yes. Something can be done to prevent these tragic acts from occurring. Parents can take recognition for the issue and help counsel their children, talking to the parents, and school officials to stop it before it gets out of hand. School officials can take action to stoop it by monitoring student behavior more carefully and making sure that students are safe.