Bullying
Name calling, teasing, the points, crude
laughter, the taunts, threat of physical harm, abuse, unwanted
sexual behavior, aggressiveness. This all adds up to bullying, a bad experience
for anyone to remember. It can begin in the early years of childhood and can
end in the elderly times. It is possible for anybody to get bullied, but most
commonly to teenagers in their years in middle school and high school. When
most people experience this for the first time they usually are scared, don’t
know who to turn to, what to do about the bullying or how to get the bully to
stop. When people think about this controversial topic, many stop and wonder if
bullying still exists since it is 2015. Sometimes, bullying can be even worse
as to spreading around the school or even the web! |
| Kristine |
Information from various websites like bullyingstatistics.com and stopbullying.gov have recorded about 42 percent
of kids have been bullied while online with one in four being verbally attacked
more than once. About 35 percent of kids have been threatened online. Over
14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7
percent have attempted it. Just recently, one dad stands up against a family of
bullies and speaks out on YouTube by making a nearly 6-minute video about
confronting bullying/cyberbullying and racism. As of February 2015, the video
has 7.6 million views. As a result, the father of the alleged bullies lost his job on January 21, 2 days after the video was been posted. In another situation, a mother files a lawsuit against Jefferson County Public Schools (aka JCPS) over her 8-year old daughter's bullying on her bus. She says her daughter yelled for help, but the bus driver did nothing. The lawsuit names the superintendent, transportation director, and the bus driver.
 |
| Amber |
I've interviewed 10 students at EGHS to get
their info on bullying/cyberbullying. Many have been in the same situation
themselves and this had hurt them on the inside. When I asked what they would
do differently to stop the bullying, most of them wished they could stop their
bully by confronting them or put them in a bullying program to know. Someone
added that she wishes bullies could understand that the
victims always remember their bullies. One commented how she would
tell someone. Juniors Kristine wanted to tell
someone while Amber wanted to have the bully learn from their
mistakes. When I questioned about school's normal inactivity in bullying, many
were disappointed that their own school didn't bother trying to help out
against the bullies. Now here's where it gets interesting: I asked these same
10 students what they would do in a scenario where they were the principal of a
big school and a victim reported to them that he/she was being bullied. Many
would have called the bully into their office and have the student suspended or
expelled. One wanted to have a parent-student conference to decide the
students' punishment. History teacher Mrs. Cain would have
contacted administration or a parent for concern for their child. As for
the victim, students would separate the bully and the victim, have a talk with
the victim and/or send them through a program.
 |
| Mrs. Cain |
As a victim of bullying myself, I too have suffered the endless name calling, teasing, the points and laughing. To be honest, the bullying for me had started in 4th grade. I didn't really know my bullies like that. I didn't even understand what the term 'bully' meant. Having someone pick on me about what I wear, what I say, my nationality, how my voice sounds are only some of the things I've been laughed at about. It was only until 6th grade that I finally understand what bullying was. I don't like the fact that schools put up signs that allow students to talk to staff members when a bullying situation occurs, yet when the time actually comes many teachers, administrators etc., excuse the bullies behavior and ignores the victims cries for help. Now if a student does report acts of bullying to the proper authority, sometimes he/she won't report it. This is due to the fact that they might lost their jobs over reporting the incident, being judged or being sued by the victim's parents. But if you believe you are being bullied, speak out and speak loud. Even if everyone doesn't want to hear your story, speak up to anyone about the bullying/cyberbullying until you get justice and the bully gets their just desserts.
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