The most extreme form of bullying occurred at Columbine High School on Tuesday, April 20, 1999, in Jefferson County, Colorado. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students, a teacher and wounded 24 other before committing suicide. In May, 2002, the Secret Service published a report that examined 37 U.S. school shootings. According to this report:
"Many attackers felt bullied, persecuted or injured by others prior to the attack." (Wikpedia, Aftermath and the search for rationale)
Bullying used to be thought of as a part of growing up, You had to learn to take your lumps like a man, or learn how to get along with others. But today , bullying has become so rampant and violent, that victims actually experience a loss of self esteem, their schoolwork is affected and some kids even turn to substance abuse to cope.
The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention: defines bullying as: "A variety of negative acts carried out repeatedly over time. It involves a real or perceived imbalance of power, which the more powerful child or group attacking those who are less powerful. Bullying can take three forms: physical (hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, taking personal belongings.}; Verbal (taunting, malicious teasing, name calling, making threats} and phychological; (spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, or engaging in social exclusion, extortion or intimidation.
The NICHD survey found that found that males tend to bully and be bullied more frequently than females. For males experiencing verbal a physical bullying is most common; for females, verbal bullying (both taunting and insults of a sexual nature) and spreading rumors are most common. Bullying generally begins in the elementary grades, peaks in the six through eight grades, and persists into high school.( OJJDP Fact Sheet 2001 # 27)
To be the object of bullying can be devastating. The victim is often isolated by their peers, or might be seen as a tattle tale if they say anything.
Some states have anti-bullying laws. Go to you state's Judicial website to see if you have any laws regarding this or just Google... ( bullying laws for your state) The State of Connecticut has a no bullying Statute that has recently been revised to include bullying on school buses and at school activities before and after school. This sets the stage for possible future legal litigation against the bullier and his parents.
Synopsis: 2002 Connecticut Public Act 2-119, SHB 5425 Requires boards of education to develop a policy to address bullying. Requires the policy to: enable students to anonymously report acts of bullying; enable parents/guardians to file written reports of suspected bullying; require teachers and school personnel to report witnessed acts of bullying to school administrators; require school administrators to investigate any written reports of bullying submitted to them; requires parents/guardians of both suspected bullies and victims of bullying to be notified; requires schools to keep a record, open to public inspection, of all verified acts of bullying and the school's response to those acts; requires intervention strategy for school staff to deal with bullying and language in school codes of conduct that addresses bullying behavior.(Connecticut General Statutes) If you are being bullied:
- Don't retaliate, as this will only inflame the situation
- Do tell him to STOP and walk away
- Do tell some one in authority (Teacher, parent, counselor, bus driver)
- Do document each incident of bullying(,date ,time ,place and name of person)
Resources for those being bullied:
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center safeyouth.org - Teen Facts 1-866 SAFEYOUTH
Kidpower Teenpower Full Power International ( offers workshops with traveling instructors for those dealing with bullying) 1-800- 467- 5997 or 831- 426 - 4407
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ( This website: Stopbullying now, offers games, videos and information for all age kids and is available in English and Spanish) www.stopbullyingnow.com
Kristen Sinanis http://rainydayadventures.blogspot.com/
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