Bullying
Bullying in middle schools and cyberspace is nearly an epidemic. Teenagers even bully people they hardly know because of the "gang" mentality. Parents don't know.
Students that are targets of harassment or bullying can not focus on learning, lose sleep, miss school, drop out and even commit suicide. The victims of bullying have things said and written to them that would horrify most adults. And, this happens day after day after day. The typical adult would crumble under this type of pressure. The internet is especially brutal because that goes into the home of students--even into their bedrooms. No place is safe now. The situation becomes hopeless for the child. They often do not think anything can be done. Some despair to the degree they suffer from depression and even commit suicide.
Reasons?
Sometimes the harassment is because of
- a boyfriend,
- an award,
- not part of a group--a loner,
- because someone is pretty, or
- for no known reason at all.
The internet is easier to brutalize someone because you don't have to face the person directly. The horrible and angry words are going out into space and it reduces the guilt of the aggressor to a point.
Find out what bullying is, what to do at school and what to do at home.
Bullying: What is it? This is a 3-part series.
Related articles:
The Fourth Born in the Classroom
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2007 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
