Bullying in schools is one of the oldest problems that has plagued schools for centuries, and yet it is one of the problems that get the least amount of attention.                        

                               

Bullying can bring fear and sadness into the life of an innocent child. Sadly, friends and other witnesses are too afraid to act when they see someone getting bullied. Such inaction can cause misery for children who are bullied everyday. Physical abuse, taunting and exclusion of the victim from social groups are all forms of bullying that we are witnesses of everyday. The victims are usually students who are typically insecure about themselves, branded as “losers,” or don’t have a lot of friends. People who went through this type of bullying in high school almost always grow up to have a lower self-esteem and are more likely to have depression problems. Can you imagine all the people who could be more confident with themselves if someone had just stood up for them when someone was picking on them? Thousands.

Although most victims of bullying are too afraid to take matters into their own hands, a few of them can be pushed to dangerous limits. Think back to 1999 at Columbine High School. Could this shooting have been avoided? Scientists have raised many speculations that with more parental control Columbine could have never happened. This is just a prime example of why it is important to learn how to communicate with each other. It is natural for kids to argue, feel anger or frustration, or even “play fight.” But, bullying is different. A bully degrades and harasses a person for the sole purpose of causing pain. In a national survey, one in sixteen students said that they were bullied during one school semester. This means that there is at least one child in each class that is being a victim of a bully. These victimized students don’t have the power to stop the bully by themselves. They need your help.

There are many ways to help stop bullying, but we need to gain more responsibility and courage to take things into our own hands. Even though at the time it might seem hard to stand up to a peer for bullying, after it’s done it will seem easy. Standing up for what’s right will always be rewarded, so here are some ways to make a difference in your school:

• Learn how to recognize a bully: Educate yourself on how to recognize a bully and what you can do to stop it from happening.
• Help educate others: Spread the word through your community and school.
• Create a group: There are plenty of organizations that are made to spread the word about how to stop bullying. Get the information and spread it around your school.
• Stop bullying when you see it: The next time you see an innocent child being victimized by a bully, don’t let the abuse continue. The actions you decide to take can help victimized children have hope again and will help pave the way for others to help stop bullies all over the world.