School Bullying

[TopGear]

After seeing numerous stories and the same thing happening at the end, It is VERY CLEAR that school Bullying is killing teenagers every year. It's not physical, but emotional and with words and terms that mentally tears a teenager to rock bottom. And most of these students that are targeted are usually gay or suspected to be gay. It is sad that these teenagers, Our age, have taken there own lives because of what people have said to them, done to them, sent to them. It bothers me that Story after story after story and teenager after teenager after teenager is found dead, Still nothing is done to stop this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax96cghOnY4

Do you believe this is as big as a problem as I do or have any ideas that can help stop this?

[Amnesiac]

Schools need to establish systems to oversee bullying cases, give students the right to self defense when they are confronted with a threat (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82177), and stop being pussies and actually punish people.

Bullying should not be tolerated. However, for emotionally distressed bullies, counseling should always be offered.

[ShyGuyInChicago]

Schools need to establish systems to oversee bullying cases, give students the right to self defense when they are confronted with a threat (http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=82177), and stop being pussies and actually punish people.

Bullying should not be tolerated. However, for emotionally distressed bullies, counseling should always be offered.

All of this plus schools need to be required to teach about bullying beginning at age five. I think schools should also put cameras in hallways and on the school grounds. Plus, would it also be a good idea to put microphones in bathrooms and locker rooms?

[Amnesiac]

All of this plus schools need to be required to teach about bullying beginning at age five. I think schools should also put cameras in hallways and on the school grounds. Plus, would it also be a good idea to put microphones in bathrooms and locker rooms?

There are already cameras at most schools — they're all over mine. I think that bullying education and microphones are also both good ideas. However, the bullying information course has be to be something other than "sign this pledge to stop bullying!", because that does not work.

[Beats]

I think it is a huge problem. I don't get bullied as much as I used to, But when I do, It makes me hate myself and think I'm not worthy of others. I think it is a giant problem and /needs/ to be taken care of.

[Jess]

more schools need to have ZERO TOLERANCE for bullying. that's what my district has. my district has zero tolerance for bullying.

also students should learn that (I know most already know this) they should TALK to someone, like a teacher, and teachers too should help the students. they can't just ignore that

oh and as for how there's going to be no tolerance for bullying, well I'm not exactly sure how...except maybe teach students...um how bullying is bad? well that probably won't help....people still do it

[ShyGuyInChicago]

There are already cameras at most schools — they're all over mine. I think that bullying education and microphones are also both good ideas. However, the bullying information course has be to be something other than "sign this pledge to stop bullying!", because that does not work.

Exactly, it is something that has to be taught over a long period of time like all other classes, you may remember this that I wrote.

I am talking about like learning about it in the classroom. Through discussion and activities and discussing the potential consequences of bullying such as suicide and teaching students how to have non-violent conflict resolution along with peer mediation and group therapy. I also feel that schools should teach about violence in romantic relationships. That is what needs to be done in addition to making sure that students are only punished when they do something wrong.

[CairAndros]

I hate bullying with a passion.

I was bullied for a few years at primary school. Then for the first few years of High School. It was never physical, always mental.

At Primary it sorta stopped when, in a totally unrelated incident, I completely blew a fuse and beat a guy up just after school. So that made the bullies take a step back and go "whoa, what are we dealing with here?".

In High School though I eventually went to guidance, fairly early on I must admit, and that did do a lot to sort it out quickly. Well, sort most of it out. There were still the occasional cat calls etc; mostly - as highlighted above - about my supposed sexuality. Which were false.

What really annoys me, enrages me actually, is when I see people bullying others that aren't in a mentally or physically sound condition. By this I mean people who might need extra help at school to learn or to get around or who have ADHD and other such things that can make them choice targets for bullies because it gives them something to bully them about. In most cases it also makes them feel inferior because they have this physical/mental condition that does separate them from the people bullying them.

I thoroughly agree with the zero tolerance towards bullies. I also think that teachers or Guidance staff(in Scottish schools we have guidance for s1/2, s3/4/5 and s6) should make themselves more approachable as several pupils I have spoken to feel too scared or intimidated to go to a teacher or guidance. One of the good things that I can do now, as Prefect and Head Boy, is exert a lot - and we are talking Tsar nuke here - of pressure on staff to sort things out and on pupils to stop what they are doing. It also puts me in a position where I can help people directly by speaking to them etc. Which is something I love about having those positions.