As long as there have been school yards, there have been bullies. Teachers, counselors and parents have spent many hours trying to make school a pleasant and safe place for kids.
Unfortunately, bullying still exists and has risen in many cases to a more violent level, including physical and sexual assaults and also emotional assaults, such as cyber-bullying.
Often, schools have not been able to adequately handle the situation, and many students are too terrified to report bullying. Parents have had enough, and we’re seeing examples of more states enacting laws to make school bullying a crime. Lawsuits also have cost school districts several hundred thousands of dollars.
So, what’s it going to take to stop kids from behaving this way?
The first line of defense is, of course, parents. They are the ones ultimately responsible for their children’s behavior. Parents must make sure their children know it is not acceptable in any circumstance to bully or haze another student. Schools should require parents or guardians to participate in an orientation session outlining what bullying is and being very clear about the consequences.
The second line of defense is the schools themselves, which must provide support, guidance and help to victims of bullying.
Law enforcement also must take these incidents seriously and be vigilant about working these cases. And prosecutors and judges must hold perpetrators of assault accountable.
It’s time for parents and students to stop just “taking it,” in order to preserve the status quo. The more parents demand action in these cases, the more likely school personnel and law enforcement will be inolved solving these problems.
