Bullying: a Big Problem with Big Consequences

727 Words3 Pages
Bullying: A Big Problem with Big Consequences Most people can remember some experience with a bully while growing up. Bullying is the act of one person causing harm both physically and psychologically on another person repetitively, and there are four types: physical, verbal, social, and cyber bullying. Prevention and intervention program should be instituted in all school districts. It is such a big problem in schools everywhere that it can no longer be minimized and trivialized by adults, taken lightly, brushed off, or denied. Thousands of children go to school every day filled with fear and trepidation; other feign illness to avoid being taunted or attacked on the way to school or in the school yard, hallways, and bathrooms; still others manage to make themselves sick at school so as to avoid harassment in the locker room. Children who are bullied spend a lot of time thinking up ways to avoid the trauma and have little energy left for learning. It is not only the bullied child who suffers the consequences of bullying. Many children who bully continue these learned behaviors into adulthood and are at increased risk of bullying their own children, failing at interpersonal relationships, losing jobs, and ending up in jail. Bystanders are also affected by bullying. These onlookers may observe the bullying, walk away, jump in as accomplices, or actively intervene and help the bullied child. All of these options come at a price (Coloroso xx). Bullying continues to be a troubling, and growing problem in our society. While everyone agrees that steps need to be taken to reduce bullying, there is no consensus on how to achieve this. Seung-Hui Cho’s killing of thirty two people at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) on April 16, 2007, is only the latest example of someone who was bullied as a child
Open Document