Is your kid being bullied at school?

joe w bennett 21 months ago

Bullying has been a serious problem in U.S public schools for far too many years, and has caused untold harm to far too many of our children. For some the wounds heal; others carry the scars and emotional pain their whole lives. For years, bullying was dismissed as "kids being kids," and it's only recently that we've begun to face the fact that it's a serious problem with long-term consequences. Parents should indeed be attentive to their child's moods and, if bullying is taking place, take an active role in resolving the problem. But the only real solution is for schools themselves to adopt a zero tolerance policy and make the campus a bully free zone. If you have a school-age child, make sure you know your school's policy on bullying. If it's weak or on paper only, be an advocate for stronger policies and/or stiffer enforcement. If enough parents make their concerns known, positive changes will follow. Thanks for helping make parents and responsible adults aware of the problem.

Wendy Krick 21 months ago

This is a topic that every parent should read about.

ocbill 21 months ago

Good signs to watch out for. Although there will always be kids or people who are more submissive, more of a follower and giver and those who are dominant, more of a taker and more vocal. It is true the more vocal kids/youths don't have to be bullies but how else will they be "leaders" if they are not dominant/vocal at an early age?

It does start in the home but there are parents who will not care about bullying by their own kid towards others. You simply can't back down and have to prove yourself & usually that bully and others look elsewhere. Yeah, it is eerily similar to animals.

joe w bennett 21 months ago

Exactly the same situation in most U.S. schools, a lot of lip service but no formal policy. Most educators still don't think of bullying as a serious problem. Many administrators either consider it a "rite of passage" or a minor problem compared to the major challenges facing most of our public schools. And yet studies indicate that when schools adopt strict policies and actually implement and enforce them, positive effects ensue in the school and the larger community. Again, thanks for this very timely Hub.

HappierKids 21 months ago

As a parent of 4th and 7th grade kids I am all to familiar with bullying, from the side of the victim, and as a parent it is truly heart wrenching to see your child suffer from being bullied. Though as an author of character education and social/emotional learning programs it seems very clear to me where things need to change course. Anti-bullying programs, though understandably necessary seem to be having little or no effect on the increasing incidences of bullying, not to mention the severity and varying methods. Anti-bullying programs in schools I believe give parents a false sense of security for their kids while they are at school, and more and more often kids are being brutalized by there schoolmates. I personally feel that by placing so much focus on the problem (bullying) and trying to stop it just seems to create more of it. I have seen first hand that when we focus on what is right about our kids and help them build upon their character strengths (or as Martin Seligman, author of the Optimistic Child, refers to as their Signature Strengths) I see kids display them more often. It also has a lot to do with an understanding of Emotional Intelligence, or a lack there of, in both children and the grown-ups in their life. When we develop an understanding of how our emotional system works and how our mind processes information, we are then in a better position to have more control over our emotional responses to things that happen around or to us. The physical and emotional well-being of our kids should be paramount for any parent but many are unsure how to nurture their kids emotional health. I just want to share a wonderful free on-line event for parents and teachers called Happier Kids Now. This a month long interview series with some of the most well respected parenting and education experts in the world. Bullying will be a big topic and a gentleman who started a program called Bullies2Buddies, Izzy Kalman, will be sharing his groundbreaking approach. Again, this is a FREE on-line event that will be packed with incredibly valuable information about raising happy, self-confident and optimistic kids and teens. Here is the link to register for free: www.Happierkidsnow.com. You can learn more about my character ed program at www.kidscandoanything.com (there is a free downloadable book for kids there)

lonely 16 months ago

I was bullied in school...Now I am 24 years old and I still don t have build confidence...I think I am not even worth that others talk with me...and that was not my only problem..my parents push me away and tell me I am 2 skinny, that I am stupid..people make my life miserable all the time..still I hope there is something good behind this hell...I ask myself all the time what will be if I just have better parents :(

Sheena Smith 16 months ago

This was such a great hub! Upon reading this hub I’ve got the idea that parents really need to go deeper in finding ways on how to resolve this kind of issue. If not, kids will suffer, and they become weaker and others tend to stop schooling, which is not appropriate. Bullying lower the self esteem of each kid. Parents should take charge and make actions for this kind of problem. As I have noticed that technology is rapidly changing that is why I decided to take advantage on it. I registered my son to “SafeKidZone”. It is mobile security application that enables my son to summon help from family and friends and with direct access to the nearest 911 when a similar situation arises. One click emergency alert, check this out http://safekidzone.com