Bullying: The Modern Moral Plague of Schoolchildren

by Carla Murray

Parents have the ultimate responsibility of ensuring the safety and security of their children. Apart from this, they are the first "teachers" of children and from them values, morals and ethics are learned. However, once children reaches school age, the educators at school take on these responsibilities whenever children are in the educational centers. Thus, schools have the responsibility not only of educating the young minds of children but protecting them from harm and ensuring that they are safe whenever children are in the confines of the school environment.
In recent years, bullying has become the subject of scholarly research, and many schools have adopted programs to teach kids how to deal with bullies or have tried to eradicate it from school campuses (Koch 604). Unfortunately, despite the best intentions and precautions taken by teachers and school authorities to protect schoolchildren, there are still problems that pose threats to the safety and security of children and one of these is bullying. Bullying takes on many forms and may be as simple as verbal abuse and harassments to outright physical assault. This type of abuse has always been prevalent not only at schools but in society as well. Bullying becomes a major concern when it comes to the school environment because the victims are often helpless and do not know what course of action to take. Thus it is critical for school authorities and the government as well to set up measures not only to curtail the problem of bullying but implement legislation against what amounts to adult crimes in disguise.

Although completely stopping bullying – or its modern evolution known as cyber bullying, is easier said than done, school authorities and society should never give up though since the problem of bullying does remain as simple harassment, verbal and physical abuse it can still result in dire consequences. In a report by the National Crime Prevention Council, up to 75 percent of American children have been victims of bullying (Greenya 103). This is a high statistical fact and as such, there should be more stringent measures and legislations in place to combat this menace of society. Aside from this, parents should get together and rally the school authorities and the governments to enact measures that will at the least criminalize bullying.

This will serve as a warning to bullies and potential bullies that what they are doing or intend to do is wrong and will not be condoned in a civilized and democratic society. To further get the message across to bullies, there should be an education and information campaign at schools that will provide information to victims of bullying on where they can seek help if they are victimized by bullies. This program should not be a one-off initiative but a continuing effort in order to put in place a venue or means of protecting those being bullied.

If school authorities, the government, and parents do not act on the problems brought about by bullying, they are not protecting the civil rights of schoolchildren, rights that are protected and guaranteed by the American Constitution. Further, bullying causes a negative Domino Effect whereby one problem leads to another not only for the victims but for the bullies as well. For instance, there have been several studies and cases that victims of bullies – especially those that never received any help, undergo depression and even go as far as committing suicide. An example of an extreme effect of bullying happened to Ryan Patrick Halligan of Essex Junction, Vermont. Ryan, a 13 year old, committed suicide after being harassed for months by being called gay by bullies especially with the use instant messages. (Billitteri 387) This probably would never have happened had there been legislations in place and support initiatives where Ryan could go to and report the bullying being done to him. Although Ryan is an example of the extreme side of the spectrum, he probably felt at a lost and had no place to go and felt that the only escape was taking his own life.

The less extreme effects of bullying and cyber bullying on victims may not be suicide but depression and other mental and emotional disorders. Male and female children manifest depression differently; it is critical that school authorities and parents are familiar with the warning signs and symptoms of depression especially those resulting from being bullied. Male children victims of bullying often resort to violent and aggressive behavior especially when they are at home. This is their way of venting their anger and frustration at not being able to fight back at their aggressors. Female children victims of bullies become introverted and clam up losing the alacrity and joy of youth. These depressive tendencies, if not managed and treated properly, will be brought by these young children until they are adults and will even result to more extreme mental and emotional disorders – up to being suicidal. All these could have been prevented had bullying been stopped when they were being victimized. Indeed, psychiatrists and psychologists as well as medical doctors and school counselors are in agreement that "intense bullying can trigger depression in children and adolescents and cause lifelong emotional pain (Koch 594)."

Although successive problems are apparent with the victims of bullying and cyber bullying, the bullies themselves will manifest emotional and mental problems as they reach adulthood. These problems may take the form of committing criminal acts when young bullies become adults. In a study conducted by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development, they found a relation between being bullies at a young age and becoming criminals as adults. The study showed that those male bullies in middle school have a greater likelihood of committing criminal acts as adults (Koch 595). This is a very plausible research finding considering when bullies get away with their behavior, they tend to try and get away with bigger malfeasant acts. If they see that they can get away with things, they become bolder and believe themselves to be above the law and society. This being the case, it becomes even more critical that bullying be stopped before it becomes a bigger problem in society.

Despite the efforts being mustered against the problems brought about by bullying, there are those who look at the matter as a simple rite of passage for children. Thus, some school authorities or parents will look the other way, and one of their reasoning would be that being bullied builds ones character. This kind or argument is what brings about more negative effects of bullying and renders the victims helpless. Without a venue to rectify their grievances against bullies, children would feel helpless and at the mercy of these individuals.

Bullying and cyber bullying are problems that not only affect the victims and the bullies but society as well. Parents, school authorities and the government should ensure the protection of children from bullies and the protection should come in the form of legislations and support endeavors where victims will regain their voices. Without measures to stop this menace of society, the problems brought about by bullying will manifest more as both victims and bullies grow into adulthood. Thus, stopping the bullying at its inception is not an option but a must in order to prevent its negative Domino Effect from happening; otherwise it will be too late.


Citations
Billitteri, Thomas J. "Cyberbullying: Are New Laws Needed to Curb Online Aggression?" CQ Researcher, 18.17: 385-408. 02 May 2008. Web. 31 Dec. 2010.

Billitteri, Thomas J. "Preventing Bullying: Do Anti-Harassment Laws Violate Students’ Rights?" CQ Researcher, 20.43: 1013-1036. 10 Dec. 2010. Web. 31 Dec. 2010.

Koch, Kathy. "Childhood Depression: Is It on the Rise?" CQ Researcher, 9.26: 593-616. 16 Jul. 1999. Web. 31 Dec. 2010.

Greenya, John. "Bullying: Are School Doing Enough to Stop the Problem?" CQ Researcher, 15.5: 101-124. 04 Feb. 2005. Web. 31 Dec. 2010.