Boyd 1

Whitney Boyd Megan Keaton Eng. 111-08 27 June 2013 Bullying Bullying is the attempt of someone to use his strength or power to intimidate someone else. It is not subject to just one type of person and it could happen to anyone, but it is never ok. As the number of reports increase daily we must stop and re-exam our role and responsibility as it relates to students, family, community and faculty; the message from each group must ring the same tune zero tolerance for bullyin (Austin, Reynolds and Barnes 283-290). This has become a much more significant issue that needs way more attention and possible solutions. Preventing bullying may not be an option, but being in any position to help with the issue is very necessary. It is important for parents to remember that they are a childs first leader, and that the learning process starts at home. As expressed by Johnson, bullying can happen in any variety of settings, not just on school grounds, so daily conversations between parents and children are crucial for helping kids who are being bullied (11-11). That being said, parents should ask probing questions, such as did anything happen in school or camp that you want to talk about (11-11). Parents also have to be sure to treat the issue as a sensitive one, just to be sure not to begin to play the blame game, to ensure that the child does not feel like they are the reason that they are being bullied. Being able to communicate and knowing their child well enough is a very important role for parents in being a solution for bullying.

Boyd 2 Teachers may also be a great addition to being a solution for bullying. As they are realizing that, the first step in eliminating bullying at school is to eliminate the culture of denial associated with bullying and establish an effective school policy acceptable to teachers, counselors, administrators, and [any] other stakeholders (Austin, Reynolds, and Barnes 283290). Children go to school, and are sent to school by parents with the intent of it being a safe and secure environment and the aim is to keep it that way. Bullying can have a major effect on someone, like depression, anxiety, loneliness, or even suicidal thoughts, with some lasting effects into adulthood. So being able to help when necessary instead of ignoring the fact that it is happening has become the strategy of a teachers solution for bullying. Communities may also play a major role in helping stop bullying. By showing group leadership or even unity to stand up for what is right and be the voice for a child that just may be suffering in silence. Communities can help by simply being able to enlighten parents and other children that do not know what to do in these types of situations. They can be there to raise money and show support for programs that are anti-bullying. It could be a way for communities and the schools to get together to better plan and be better prepared and efficient when these situations do occur. Most importantly kids should and could be their own solution to bullies. As an adult it is hard to speak up sometimes, so it is imperative that they find ways to make it more comfortable and even easier for a child to do so. If children [could] play out different alternatives of how to [maybe] deal with bullying in a virtual school, this is likely to benefit them in real life, says Wolke (Wagner 16-17). Different simulation gives the child a better idea of why bullies, victims, and bystanders [re]act the way [that] they do (16-17); this article expressed how they created a game to show kids the different problems and outcomes of various situations dealing

Boyd 3 with bullies and what a child should or maybe should not do in dealing with a bully. It was a very creative way in coming up with a different technique to help children get a better understanding of what to do in these types of situations and this kind of creativity is important for children, in getting their help to at least stand up and speak out. What is really critical is that adults need to take the lead, because bullying needs an adult intervention (Johnson 11-11). While a child can come forth and help by pointing out the problem they are not in the same position as an adult to take the proper action against bullying. This is a major issue and there are plenty of people that can help in being the solution, all we have to do is play our parts. Bullying is not something that should be taking lightly and should be handled with a lot of diligence and care. The overall goal is to protect and cherish every child as if they were our own.

Boyd 4 Works Cited Austin, Shelia, Glenda Reynolds and Shirley Barnes School Leadership and Counselors Working Together to Address Bullying Education 133.2:283-290. (winter 2012) EBSCOHOST web 10 July 2013 Johnson, Teddi Helping Your Child Deal with Bullying Nations Health 40.7: 1111(Sept.2010) EBSCOHOST web 10 July 2013 Wagner, Cynthia Ganes to Help Kids Deal with Bullies Futurist 39.5 (Sept/Oct 2005) EBSCOHOST web 10 July 2013