Bullying Children Articles

Kids Against Bullying – How to Deal With Bullying

By Mandy-Jane Clarke

There is an interesting discourse occurring online wherein kids against bullying are putting up websites delineating the problems they face with their peers.  There are websites offering kids the opportunity to discuss their individual problems in dealing with kids who bully them, and some offer a questionnaire for kids to fill out.  This is a wonderful initiative by kids who are beginning to stand up and let everyone know the problem of bullying exists.

One site ingenuously asks kids to vote on the following question:  Kids bully because they (a) feel scared, (b) are bullied themselves, (c) want to feel powerful, or (d) have cracker crumbs in their socks and it makes them grumpy.  While the latter is quite humorous, there is nothing funny about the results, which are: 9% feel scared; 14% are bullied; and 52% feel powerful.  What is even more incredible is they have decided to promote October 21-27 as National Bullying Prevention Awareness Week.  Bravo!

Kids Against Bullying has not only become a national event in the U.S. but other such organizations are cropping up in London, Canada, and other parts of the world.  Dealing with kids who bully others is a daunting task.  The key to success, however, will depend upon awareness workshops involving parents, teachers, guidance counselors, administration and support staff in public schools.

Kids bully the weak, the vulnerable, the shy, and most importantly those kids who have emigrated from other countries in order to seek quality education.  Middle school kids are especially vulnerable.  They are harassed in bathrooms, hallways, stairwells and schoolyards.  Why isn’t it being stopped?  When you have a school with over 1000 kids and only three security guards and thirteen entrances and exits, including teachers and staff who must keep constant vigil to ensure no child is accosted, the situation is ludicrous.

Kids are stepping up to the plate because they know that teachers do not have the time to watch every student in every class.  They are inundated with paperwork and, for some who have followed the rules and regulations on how to deal with kids who bully others, it is disheartening to find a suspended student return to the classroom and begin the cycle of abuse all over again.

Kids bully because they feel the power, the fear and the acknowledgement they receive from their peers.  Kids bully because they may come from a family where both parents work and the kids are left to fend for themselves.  Kids bully because to them it’s cool to do so.  Kids bully in the hope they will become members of gangs they idolize.  What about the victims?  Who is fighting for them?

Imagine a kid who has been bullied in middle school.  He talks with his guidance counselor and is told the bully will be suspended.  The victim has five days in which he can concentrate on his studies, enjoy socializing with his friends and walk home safely without fear of attack.  The following week the bully returns.  The victim becomes frightened, cannot pay attention in class, skips lunch, remains in school during schoolyard recess, and calls home to be picked up from school.  This is the environment of the public school system.  Thus, Kids Against Bullying is an important step in stopping this activity.  If not, kids who bully win, and kids who are victims become future bullies.

This article is courtesy of http://www.Stop-Bullies.com Stop-Bullies.com is a resource site covering specific areas of bullying including Dealing with Bullies.