Bullying : Are All Victims Of Bullying And Today?

Bullying, often labeled as just a part of growing up, is a major problem in America’s schools today. Although it is such a hot topic in our country right now, it is also a long ignored problem that only seems to worsen. The complication with bullying is that no one quite understands it, and it is not taken seriously. The definition of bullying is an overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people. In more simple terms, bullying is not a onetime incident; it is repetitive and happens among individuals when there is an imbalance of power. Statistically, every one in six children are bullied, and this cannot continue to take place. Every child has the right to feel safe and have the pursuit of being happy in which bullying completely takes those rights away.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among people of all ages, but mostly school-age children. Society has been aware of bullying since around 1693, but it was not viewed as a real problem until the 1970s. “While overall incidents of school violence, such as assault and theft, have declined in the last decade, bullying is on the rise.” (qtd in Tyre) The percentage of middle and high school students that have been victimized by bullying went up from 14 percent in 2001 to 32 percent in 2009. (Tyre)

Issue: If you or your child have ever been a victim of bullying then you know how horrible one can feel. There are many emotions and fears associated with bullying, and no one should have to be subjected to it. Bullying can have a lasting effect not only in one’s present life but their future as well. Bullying is very prominent in schools today, and there has been an increase in school shootings, which is the extreme reaction to being bullied. Children need to consider each other’s feelings before they decide to bully or pick on each other.

Bullying is defined as “verbal, physical, or psychological abuse or teasing accompanied by real or perceived imbalance of power” and is usually targets what children perceive as different (Olweus, 1993). Bullying is prevalent across the nation. It has devastating effects on students each day. Bullying is a problem for all students, regardless of race, gender or class. The National Education Association reports that 160,000 children are absent intentionally from school each day because they fear being bullied whether it is an attack or just intimidation by other students. This accounts for 15% of all school absenteeism (Hunter, 2012). Dan Olweus (1993) from the National School Safety Center tells us that bullying includes three parts: (1)

To deny the existence of bullying throughout the nation, especially within the brick walls of school, is to be ignorant. Bullying is a huge issue that is evident in may schools throughout America. Seventy percent of students throughout schools in America have said that they have witnessed bullying. A total of forty-nine percent of student in grades 4-12 have reported getting bullied at least once a month. Parents have to constantly worry about their child getting picked on while at school. One out of every four students, equalling to around twenty percent, are bullied every year. Around fifty-five million children throughout the United States are attending school this year, many whom are getting bullied.

School should be a place where students learn social and emotional skills as well as academics lessons but bullying has become a prominent issue in schools and it’s even occurring online. Bullying can be direct or indirect and it can affect every student in the school. Bullying undermine children’s safety, senses of belonging, feelings of value, and it also hamper their ability to learn. It can also create a climate of fear and disrespect that spreads throughout the school and even extends to the community. Bullying is different from conflict, fights, or disagreements. According to (Boston Public School), Bullying is a form of emotional or physical abuse that has three defining characteristics:

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious ever lasting problems.

Bullying is a growing epidemic in today’s society and has become a pressing social and educational concern. It is often dismissed as typical adolescent behavior but ignoring the problem could be detrimental to the bully, the person being bullied, and even those who stand by witnessing the unkind acts but do nothing about it. Bullying can hinder academic, social, and emotional development and because it manifests in different forms, it is important to recognize the signs and address it with all parities immediately.

“Life is a fight, but not everyone is a fighter.” Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. (Government, Federal. “What is bullying?” U.S. Department of Health & Human services. Stopbullying.gov.) Bullying is a national growing problem. Can people truly be safe with no way to be protected legally against bullies? Bullying has been a problem that has faced the nation since the first reported research in the 1970s.

28% of U.S. students in grades 6-12 report they have experienced bullying, and 30% admit to bullying others. Bullying is a topic that is constantly on the forefront of multiple agendas especially in the education world. Information is now becoming available about the effects of bullying, and now the issue is being brought to surface often focusing on how schools are dealing with issue of bullying.

As a mother of two kids, bullying in schools is very important and personal subject to me. The problem is so extensive, lately it has been all over the media .According to research; bullying is when a person demonstrates an aggressive behavior and or constant toward another person. These behaviors are intended to hurt and intimidate the person physically, mentally and emotionally (stopbullying.gov 2015). Although many schools have been struggling to prevent bullying, data shows that is it a common practice on school grounds. Government sources have reported 20 to 70 percent of kids have been bullied or have witnessed bullying. In addition 28 percent of students between the ages of 12 and 18 have reported being bullied during their school years (ASPCC 2015). On many occasions, parents, schools, or the society in general dismiss bullying as a normal part of life or growing up. In many cases, children feel discouraged and end up turning to drastic measures or to violence to resolve the problem. There are many categories of bullying; physical, verbal and cyber bullying (aspcc 2015). Physical bullying is when bodily harm is caused to the other person by pushing of hitting. Verbal bullying is the use of words to carry out an act of bullying. Usually, the aggressor tries to disturb the victim by using words to upset and tease. These incidents occur in school playgrounds and hallways, usually when there are no adults present. These incidents contribute to school

“Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time” (Bullying Definition | StopBullying.gov). Bullying has become a major societal problem throughout America. Many children are bullied at school, home, and even online. Every school in the U.S. is grappling with bullying each day. More than 160, 000 kids across the country are absent because they are afraid of being bullied. Although school is beneficial to America’s youth, there are some experiences, such as bullying, that can potentially negatively impact a person for the rest of their lives. “Children should be able to live a life free from bullying and harassment and it is time that we all took a stand against this” (Katherine Jenkins). Bullying is commonly seen in teenage movies and songs. Bullying is one of the major social problems that America is facing and widely known to be a serious problem in recent decades, but there are potential solutions to solve it and those are creating anti-bullying prevention programs, building awareness and checking their situations (like listening to them, asking about school and understanding their concerns).

Many people do not realize how serious bullying has become. If you look at statistics suicides due to bullying have increased over just a few short years. This has become a very big problem for not only the victim but the bully as well as it affect both of them. School bullying is mentally destructive to not only the victims, but bullies because of the harmful words, harassment, and physical violence involved as well as the consequences for the bully.

School bullying is a distinct form of aggressive behaviour, usually involving a power imbalance. It can be physically, verbally and, more recently, electronically threatening, and can cause emotional, physical and psychological harm. Bullying in schools historically has been seen as a fundamental part of childhood. (Campbell, 2005 p68) It was seen as a social, educational and racial issue that needed little research and attention, until in the 1970’s and 80’s researchers began pioneering studies into bullying in our schools. (Rigby, 2007, p1) Bullying is now seen as a serious problem that begins in the classroom and often continues into the workplace. (Campbell, 2005 p68) There is now widespread support that schools should be involved in

One of the top social issues affecting our children in schools is bullying. In recent reports, one out of every four students reports being bullied during school (National Center for Education Statistics, 2015). Bullying is very important to me because I have been bullied through my schooling career. I remember how it was not only the bullies that made my time in elementary hard but also the bystanders that did nothing to stop them or stand up for me. This issue has definitely gotten more attention over the years, but it is very important to continue the anti- bullying campaigns. It is important for all school officials and workers to be aware of bullying and help prevent. Although bullying has been present in our schools for a very long time we should do everything we can to stop and prevent bullying so each student can look forward to an enjoyable time in their schooling career.