Wednesday, January 5, 2011

"Courage is fire, and bullying is smoke"

Every day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students, and it has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get. What do you think of bullying in schools?

Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don't fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy and withdrawn), their race or religion, or because the bullies think their target may be gay or lesbian. One of the most painful aspects of bullying is that it is relentless. Most people can take one episode of teasing or name calling or being shunned at the mall. However, when it goes on and on, bullying can put a person in a state of constant fear.

Guys and girls who are bullied may find their schoolwork and health suffering. Amber began having stomach pains and diarrhea and was diagnosed with a digestive condition called irritable bowel syndrome as a result of the stress that came from being bullied throughout ninth grade. I sometimes spent my afternoons hungry and unable to concentrate in class because he was too afraid to go to the school cafeteria at lunchtime.



Bulling is terrible and needs to be stopped, more needs to be done about it. It shouldn't be tolerated. It has led to children bringing guns and other weapons into schools. It has also led children to suicide.