Shannon Silva
Nov, 2, 2013

Bullying in School Some people believe bullying in school is a normal part of student life. It is this mentality of acceptance that breeds indifference to the physically and psychologically harmful effects of bullying for both the perpetrator and the victim. Bullying must be taken out of schools by raising awareness and increasing supervision. By shedding light on this issue we can implement steps to intervene and prevent bullying thereby creating a more nourishing environment in our school systems.
The effects of bullying are both physically and, perhaps worse, psychologically damaging. “The damaging effects of being bullied as a child last long into adulthood with victims up to six times more likely to develop a serious illness.” When compared with their un-bullied counterparts, children that have never been bullied are much more likely to land a better job and are less likely to be involved in criminal activity. Those that are bullies and their victims share the emotional disorders of depression and anxiety. In some cases these disorders persist into adulthood. Children who bully others are more likely engage in criminal activity, abuse their spouses, romantic partners, or children as adults. They are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol. In preventing these actions and behaviors early we can put a dent in the behavior pattern that precedes that line of behavior through adolescence into adulthood. This is a very real issue that needs to be addressed in order for us to progress as a society.
Raising awareness and supervision in our schools is one largely effective method of preventing bullying. By increasing awareness it combats the notion that bullying is a “rite of passage” and acknowledges it as a real issue that merits action on behalf of bystanders that witness it. Social networking and anti-bullying campaigns have also