The nature and extent of school bullying one of the defining social issues in academic institutions has attracted a significant discussion and attention to the media, researchers as well as policy makers. The impact of bullying is detrimental as it threatens emotional and physical safety of the students at school hence reducing their ability to learn. Moreover, bullying can have long-term impacts to those involved including the bystanders. Bullying can be defined as the misuse of power that involves a harmful, social and physical behavior.
A comprehensive, clear and shared definition is critical in identifying bullying in school so as to distinguish it from other types of violence or conflict so that appropriate interventions and strategies can be taken. Specifically, in Colorado, school bullying has been more prevalent outside classroom bringing in a lot of
...concern from all stakeholders. Even with anti-bullying laws and policies being put in place, bullying is more evident than before. A study conducted by Colorado Trust’s Bullying Prevention Initiative in 2008 on 75 schools as well as community centers in the Colorado indicated that 58% of the students admitted to have either engaged in physical bullying or were bystanders when others did it and with verbal bullying going up to 67 percent (O'Connor par 2).
There are several articles discussing bullying in most schools in the state. For instance in 2011, an article produced by William Woody highlighted how school bullying was much evident in the Montrose. This led to issuance of warning in the district. Remarkably convincing, in this article I am going to analyze critically types of school bullying and bullying cases in many schools in Colorado and who shoul
be held responsible in preventing the menace.
There are currently different types of bullying in schools with kids taking different roles in bullying. Kids can bully other, be bullied or witness others being bullied. The traditional common type of bullying is physical, verbal and social bullying. It is clear that either kind of bullying can cause long and short term damage. According to Woody issues such as sexual harassment makes a student feel confused, comfortable and scared.
On the other article School bullying warning heard in Montrose, I wholly concur with Woody that bullying need to be redefined as technology has changed significantly bringing new concepts such as cyber bullying. Cyber bullying is considered to take various forms such as texting, emails, videos, embarrassing pictures as well social media scams. Woody (p3) states, school bullying has taken different dimensions as the use of electronic gadgets among the young students has been more prevalent. Redefining bullying to include electronic practices will significantly help educators in curbing this situation.
Woody acknowledged redefinition as schools would make prevention a permanent and integral part to school policy and staff training through modern strategies and responsive intervention (Woody p13). To me bullying is something that need to be addressed with much concern in order to stop it. I believe that the current punishments and rules for bullying are not satisfactory and possibly they are not enforced. People see not take the issue seriously because it is like they think that bullying is not a problem. My main three reasons why bullying is bad are kids developing low self-esteem, they can be pressurized and finally lead to suicidal act.
Cait Haynes a student from Montrose
High School decision to take her life raised wide discussion about bullying in the community. According to Duffy Hayes the author of the article Girl’s death raises specter of bullying, the bullying stated four years ago when she started going public schools and having a humble spirit she did not know how to respond to such harsh treatment (Hayes p4). This chronic immerse depression to her therefore deciding to take her life. I must state the family of Hayne did not take the case of bullying seriously at the initial stages. As the author states it was not clear the neither Hayne of family reported the abuse. Therefore, are the clear roles of different stakeholders in stopping this behavior stated? If the Hayne a relationship with counselors in the school, they should have helped the girl to avoid chances of suicide. Moreover, if the family discovered their daughter was abused they should have reported earlier to the right It is also evident that even elementary school kids are bullied at same rate as high school kids.
There are some instances I quite disagree with the authors of discussed articles. As Hayes articulates that bullying was well managed in Montrose but it became a matter of concern when there are adverse effects such as death. Despite the fact there are legislation on bullying they are rarely applied by the educators. House Bill 11-1254 highlights the measures that ought to be taken to reduce frequency of bullying inn schools. This aim at starting prevention and education programs within the Department of Education in Colorado. Montrose High School seem not to have maintained the requirements as stipulated by the
bill.
For instance maintaining a record of every confirmed bullying case (Colorado Legislation on Bullying 1). If such record was available the death of the Haynes could have been prevented. In the Bullies Still Lurking in School the author argues that the high school kids should police themselves as well as their peers as major way to fight school bullying. This is true because when there are sessions that will enable the students to talk about bullying they can learn and help to stop it. O’Connor thinks that the school based prevention programs are very costly because it requires intensive staff training.
Some people tend to feel that bullying is just a normal part of growing days but the truth is something that is very aggressive as it can ruin student’s life in school and school authority and parents should stand together to avoid it. I feel that to address bullying teachers have a key role to play. The school must change their attitude so as to prevent bullying. They should non-partial, non-judgmental to the students and most important they ought to be sincere by not taking side of any student.
In conclusion, bullying in high schools ought to be addressed by all means. It should be acknowledged that school bullying is something that is not new and every stakeholder in education should be dedicated at increasing the resources required to fight this problem. The anti-bullying methods should be implemented in every school to make it safe and secure for all students.
Bibliography
- O'Connor, Colleen. "Bullies Still Lurking In School Halls". Denverpost.com. N.p., 2008. Web. 7 May 2016.
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_12174189 - "Colorado Legislation on Bullying". bouldercounty. N.p., 2007. Web. 8 May 2016.
http://www.bouldercounty.org/doc/publichealth/colegbullying.pdf
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/girls-death-raises-specter-of-bullying
www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/school_bullying_warning_heard
