Bullying and School Violence I have chosen to put the book, Nineteen Minutes, into two social issues.The two issues are bullying and school violence.The book really shows how these two topics go hand in hand with each other.Bullying often leads to violence.In Nineteen Minutes, this happens in high school, which is why I decided to use school violence instead of just violence.Not only can bullying lead to violence towards others, but it has been proven to lead to violence toward one’s self, an example of suicide.There are many statistics that prove this all to be true.I do not think that anyone deserves to be bullied or put in a situation where they are put down so badly that they don’t want to live another day.No one can justify that these kinds of things are right. Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors, but they all involve a person or a group repeatedly trying to harm someone who is weaker or more vulnerable. It can involve direct attacks (such as hitting, threatening or intimidating, maliciously teasing and taunting, name-calling, making sexual remarks, and stealing or damaging belongings) or, indirect attacks (such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone).About 30 percent of teens in the US are said to be involved in school bullying.They are involved by either being a bully, a target of teen bullying, or being both a bully and a target.It shows in a recent national survey that was taken of students in grades 6-10 that 13 percent of them said they were a bully towards others, 11 percent said they were the target of school bullies, and 6 percent said they were both a bully and a target for bullies.Teen bullying is much more common with younger teens than it is with older teens.It is shown that as teens grow older, they are less likely to bully others and be a target of bullying. It is proven that bullying occurs a lot more often among boys than it does girls.Teenage boys are a lot more likely to bully others than to be bullied themselves.Most teens say that they are bullied by being made fun of the way they look or talk.But in reality, boys are more likely to report being physically beaten.Teenage girls are often more sensitive to rumors and sexual comments.These things are often what the girls are targets of.Usually when a girl is bullying, she is bullying another girl.On the other hand, boys target both boys and girls.Girls usually use more subtle and indirect forms of bullying while boys use more aggression. How do the targets of bullies really feel?Teen bullying can cause teenagers to feel many different emotions.Most commonly it causes them to feel tense, anxious, and afraid.It can affect the way they act in school and around others.A lot of the time it leads them to avoid school, and other crowded surroundings.As the bullying continues, it can begin to affect their self-esteem and also their feelings of self-worth.It is known to increase their social isolation.This leads to them becoming depressed and withdrawn.There are extreme cases where bullying can be devastating for teens.There can be long term consequences.Some teens go to the extreme and carry weapons for protection or try to take violent revenge.Others who feel desperate will consider suicide.Research shows that adults who were bullied when they were teens end up with higher levels of depression, and also low self-esteem. Teen bullying can often be a warning sign that they are on the path for trouble and are at risk for serious violence.Mainly boy teens who bully are more likely to get involved in other delinquent behavior when they are entering adulthood.Teen bullies are four times more likely to be convicted of crimes by age 24 than non-bullies.60 percent of teen bullies have at least one criminal conviction in their future. When teens hear the news of a school shooting or other violence, it’s normal for them to worry about whether this kind of thing could happen to them.It’s very rare for school violence to happen on the same scale as Columbine or what happened at Virginia Tech.But when something big like this happens, it is normal to worry and feel scared or sad.Many people try to make sense of the situation. It is actually safer to be in school than it is to be in a car.If you think about how many teens are getting in car accidents you can really see how this is true.Twice as many 15-19 year olds die in car accidents than in shootings.That is all shootings, not just the ones that happen in schools.Less than 1% of all homicides among school age children happen on school grounds or on the way to and from school according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.There are still concerns of families and communities.These concerns have made many schools re-evaluate their safety needs.Some schools will now require guests to check in at the office, and some have even installed metal detectors.Greater awareness of problems like bullying is another thing that helps make schools safer.There are many schools that are trying new programs to fight these issues.The programs help teachers and administration know more about protecting students from this type of violence. There is no single reason why students become violent.School violence is very difficult to understand.Some teens follow the behavior they have seen at home, on the streets, or in the entertainment like video games, TV and movies.Sometimes, people who have been victims of teasing and feel like they would do anything to make it stop turn violent.Another reason is one who may feel isolated and rejected by their peers.There is one thing that all experts do agree on, and that is that having access to guns or other weapons makes it easier for some people to lash out against the things or people they don’t like. There are some warning signs that someone is on the verge of violence.These may include:Playing with weapons of any kind, bragging about acts of violence he or she would commit, showing an obsession with violent movies or playing violent games, bullying or threatening people, and cruelty to pets or other animals.The minute you don’t feel safe at your school, you should talk to an adult who you can trust.This person might be a teacher, parent, school counselor, or religious leader.We are brought up being taught not to tell on others, and this can make it hard to report violence.Because of this problem, schools should try setting up a way to report these things anonymously.Another way to report things anonymously is having schools set up hotlines for people to tell their concerns. Not talking about something that you have witnessed or experienced having to do with violence of any kind, can make feelings build up inside of you.This can cause problems.There is even a condition; posttraumatic stress disorder, that can develop in someone who has been through a traumatic event.Examples of traumatic events are being in a serious car accident, physical or sexual abuse, or a shooting. Sometimes just watching a traumatic event or being threatened with harm is enough to trigger the disorder.This proves how important it is to get help.Someone that is familiar with issues in your school and can help put things in perspective like a school counselor can be a good place to start. The Massachusetts State Legislation is targeting school bullying.They started focusing on this after a South Hadley Boston teenager committed suicide last month.The legislation was approved by a voice vote of the Education Committee, and now going to the senate. They now require each school district, charter school and all non-public schools to have a bullying prevention and intervention plan.The principal is then responsible for using it.Instruction on bullying for students in each grade must be used in the schools teaching and professional development for teachers and other staff to help them prevent bullying.Parents must be offered education about preventing bullying from the school.Parents are not required to participate under the bill.The legislation specifies locations where bullying is not allowed.“This includes at school, and all school facilities, at school sponsored or school related functions, whether on or off school grounds; on school buses and at bus stops; through the use of technology licensed or used by a school and at non-school-related locations and through non-school technology or electronic devices, including forums like Facebook.” This was said by the Gatehouse News Service.Committee co-chair Rep. Martha Walz (D-Boston) told the News Service Tuesday afternoon that instances where bullying outside school might affect the school environment could include harassment through technology on weekends that is mimicked at school or that prompts bullied students to feel intimidated in the hallways or not want to attend school at all. Walz said the committee, in compiling its bullying bill, sought to balance First Amendment free speech rights while cracking down on bullying and protecting students.She also said, all schools currently have the authority to exercise provisions in the bill. "Every school should already be doing these things but they're not," she said. The Senate passed anti-bullying legislation last session but it never emerged for a vote in the House. The community is a big part in preventing school violence.School violence is a reflection of what goes on in our communities and neighborhoods.Schools are most effective in confronting school violence when the community around them gives them support.Comprehensive, integrated plans that involve schools, social services, mental health providers, and law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities is why many schools and communities have been able to reduce school violence In order to help schools to develop and carry out violence prevention and response plans, the Departments of Education and Justice and the American Institutes for Research developed a report, **Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide (2000)**. The report indicates that an effective school violence prevention plan must include three things: ·Schools must build a school-wide foundation for all children. This involves: supporting positive discipline, academic success, and mental and emotional wellness through a caring school environment; teaching students appropriate behaviors and problem solving skills; positive behavioral support; and appropriate academic instruction with engaging curricula and effective teaching practices. ·Schools must identify students at risk for severe academic or behavioral difficulties early on and create services and supports that address risk factors and build protective factors for them. It is important that staff be trained to recognize early warning signs and make appropriate referrals. Once students are identified, they must receive coordinated services that meet their individual needs. A number of approaches have been developed for interventions at this stage, including anger management training, structured after-school programs, mentoring, group and family counseling, changing instructional practices, and tutoring. ·Schools must identify and provide intensive interventions for the few children who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral problems. To be effective, these approaches generally require the collaboration of schools, social services, mental health providers, and law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities. There are many things that you can do to help and treat a bullying victim.Below are six things that you can do when trying to help someone who is being bullied.
Tell the child or adolescent that you care and are concerned. Ask the child to tell you what is going on and provide an opportunity for the child to talk to you openly. Explain that telling is not tattling and that you need the information in order to help. When the child begins to talk, respond in an accepting and positive way. Make it clear that the bullying is not the child's fault, and that telling you was the right thing to do.
Gather a complete violence history from the child or adolescent that addresses exposure to violence, safety issues, stressors in school, family, and community.
Talk to the child's parents/caregivers about bullying and its seriousness. Address any myths they might hold about bullying. Some parents may believe that bullying is a normal part of childhood and that children are best left to work it out among themselves. Some believe that fighting back is the best way to stop bullying.
Provide the child's parents with information about bullying and how to help their child respond to bullying.
Provide the child or adolescent with information on bullying.
Encourage the child's school to implement a comprehensive violence prevention plan that includes an anti-bullying component.
There is a lot that we can do to prevent bullying and school violence.I believe that a lot of it starts at our homes and community.We really need to start paying more attention and taking more action.Everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable at their school.We need to make sure that every school is taking action in preventing both bullying and violence.As I said before, I believe that both of these issues often go hand in hand with each other.Many people think that bullying is normal and a part of life that people go through.What people don’t know is that this leads to much bigger problems. It is time to start making bigger changes in the way children and teens are being taught in their schools.They need to be taught what is right and wrong from the very beginning.They also need to be told the possible outcomes that could come from their actions.I really believe we can make a difference in schools.
Bullying and School Violence
I have chosen to put the book, Nineteen Minutes, into two social issues. The two issues are bullying and school violence. The book really shows how these two topics go hand in hand with each other. Bullying often leads to violence. In Nineteen Minutes, this happens in high school, which is why I decided to use school violence instead of just violence. Not only can bullying lead to violence towards others, but it has been proven to lead to violence toward one’s self, an example of suicide. There are many statistics that prove this all to be true. I do not think that anyone deserves to be bullied or put in a situation where they are put down so badly that they don’t want to live another day. No one can justify that these kinds of things are right.
Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors, but they all involve a person or a group repeatedly trying to harm someone who is weaker or more vulnerable. It can involve direct attacks (such as hitting, threatening or intimidating, maliciously teasing and taunting, name-calling, making sexual remarks, and stealing or damaging belongings) or, indirect attacks (such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone). About 30 percent of teens in the US are said to be involved in school bullying. They are involved by either being a bully, a target of teen bullying, or being both a bully and a target. It shows in a recent national survey that was taken of students in grades 6-10 that 13 percent of them said they were a bully towards others, 11 percent said they were the target of school bullies, and 6 percent said they were both a bully and a target for bullies. Teen bullying is much more common with younger teens than it is with older teens. It is shown that as teens grow older, they are less likely to bully others and be a target of bullying.
It is proven that bullying occurs a lot more often among boys than it does girls. Teenage boys are a lot more likely to bully others than to be bullied themselves. Most teens say that they are bullied by being made fun of the way they look or talk. But in reality, boys are more likely to report being physically beaten. Teenage girls are often more sensitive to rumors and sexual comments. These things are often what the girls are targets of. Usually when a girl is bullying, she is bullying another girl. On the other hand, boys target both boys and girls. Girls usually use more subtle and indirect forms of bullying while boys use more aggression.
How do the targets of bullies really feel? Teen bullying can cause teenagers to feel many different emotions. Most commonly it causes them to feel tense, anxious, and afraid. It can affect the way they act in school and around others. A lot of the time it leads them to avoid school, and other crowded surroundings. As the bullying continues, it can begin to affect their self-esteem and also their feelings of self-worth. It is known to increase their social isolation. This leads to them becoming depressed and withdrawn. There are extreme cases where bullying can be devastating for teens. There can be long term consequences. Some teens go to the extreme and carry weapons for protection or try to take violent revenge. Others who feel desperate will consider suicide. Research shows that adults who were bullied when they were teens end up with higher levels of depression, and also low self-esteem.
Teen bullying can often be a warning sign that they are on the path for trouble and are at risk for serious violence. Mainly boy teens who bully are more likely to get involved in other delinquent behavior when they are entering adulthood. Teen bullies are four times more likely to be convicted of crimes by age 24 than non-bullies. 60 percent of teen bullies have at least one criminal conviction in their future.
When teens hear the news of a school shooting or other violence, it’s normal for them to worry about whether this kind of thing could happen to them. It’s very rare for school violence to happen on the same scale as Columbine or what happened at Virginia Tech. But when something big like this happens, it is normal to worry and feel scared or sad. Many people try to make sense of the situation.
It is actually safer to be in school than it is to be in a car. If you think about how many teens are getting in car accidents you can really see how this is true. Twice as many 15-19 year olds die in car accidents than in shootings. That is all shootings, not just the ones that happen in schools. Less than 1% of all homicides among school age children happen on school grounds or on the way to and from school according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There are still concerns of families and communities. These concerns have made many schools re-evaluate their safety needs. Some schools will now require guests to check in at the office, and some have even installed metal detectors. Greater awareness of problems like bullying is another thing that helps make schools safer. There are many schools that are trying new programs to fight these issues. The programs help teachers and administration know more about protecting students from this type of violence.
There is no single reason why students become violent. School violence is very difficult to understand. Some teens follow the behavior they have seen at home, on the streets, or in the entertainment like video games, TV and movies. Sometimes, people who have been victims of teasing and feel like they would do anything to make it stop turn violent. Another reason is one who may feel isolated and rejected by their peers. There is one thing that all experts do agree on, and that is that having access to guns or other weapons makes it easier for some people to lash out against the things or people they don’t like.
There are some warning signs that someone is on the verge of violence. These may include: Playing with weapons of any kind, bragging about acts of violence he or she would commit, showing an obsession with violent movies or playing violent games, bullying or threatening people, and cruelty to pets or other animals. The minute you don’t feel safe at your school, you should talk to an adult who you can trust. This person might be a teacher, parent, school counselor, or religious leader. We are brought up being taught not to tell on others, and this can make it hard to report violence. Because of this problem, schools should try setting up a way to report these things anonymously. Another way to report things anonymously is having schools set up hotlines for people to tell their concerns.
Not talking about something that you have witnessed or experienced having to do with violence of any kind, can make feelings build up inside of you. This can cause problems. There is even a condition; posttraumatic stress disorder, that can develop in someone who has been through a traumatic event. Examples of traumatic events are being in a serious car accident, physical or sexual abuse, or a shooting. Sometimes just watching a traumatic event or being threatened with harm is enough to trigger the disorder. This proves how important it is to get help. Someone that is familiar with issues in your school and can help put things in perspective like a school counselor can be a good place to start.
The Massachusetts State Legislation is targeting school bullying. They started focusing on this after a South Hadley Boston teenager committed suicide last month. The legislation was approved by a voice vote of the Education Committee, and now going to the senate.
They now require each school district, charter school and all non-public schools to have a bullying prevention and intervention plan. The principal is then responsible for using it. Instruction on bullying for students in each grade must be used in the schools teaching and professional development for teachers and other staff to help them prevent bullying. Parents must be offered education about preventing bullying from the school. Parents are not required to participate under the bill. The legislation specifies locations where bullying is not allowed. “This includes at school, and all school facilities, at school sponsored or school related functions, whether on or off school grounds; on school buses and at bus stops; through the use of technology licensed or used by a school and at non-school-related locations and through non-school technology or electronic devices, including forums like Facebook.” This was said by the Gatehouse News Service. Committee co-chair Rep. Martha Walz (D-Boston) told the News Service Tuesday afternoon that instances where bullying outside school might affect the school environment could include harassment through technology on weekends that is mimicked at school or that prompts bullied students to feel intimidated in the hallways or not want to attend school at all. Walz said the committee, in compiling its bullying bill, sought to balance First Amendment free speech rights while cracking down on bullying and protecting students. She also said, all schools currently have the authority to exercise provisions in the bill. "Every school should already be doing these things but they're not," she said. The Senate passed anti-bullying legislation last session but it never emerged for a vote in the House.
The community is a big part in preventing school violence. School violence is a reflection of what goes on in our communities and neighborhoods. Schools are most effective in confronting school violence when the community around them gives them support. Comprehensive, integrated plans that involve schools, social services, mental health providers, and law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities is why many schools and communities have been able to reduce school violence
In order to help schools to develop and carry out violence prevention and response plans, the Departments of Education and Justice and the American Institutes for Research developed a report, **Safeguarding Our Children: An Action Guide (2000)**. The report indicates that an effective school violence prevention plan must include three things:
· Schools must build a school-wide foundation for all children. This involves: supporting positive discipline, academic success, and mental and emotional wellness through a caring school environment; teaching students appropriate behaviors and problem solving skills; positive behavioral support; and appropriate academic instruction with engaging curricula and effective teaching practices.
· Schools must identify students at risk for severe academic or behavioral difficulties early on and create services and supports that address risk factors and build protective factors for them. It is important that staff be trained to recognize early warning signs and make appropriate referrals. Once students are identified, they must receive coordinated services that meet their individual needs. A number of approaches have been developed for interventions at this stage, including anger management training, structured after-school programs, mentoring, group and family counseling, changing instructional practices, and tutoring.
· Schools must identify and provide intensive interventions for the few children who are experiencing significant emotional and behavioral problems. To be effective, these approaches generally require the collaboration of schools, social services, mental health providers, and law enforcement and juvenile justice authorities.
There are many things that you can do to help and treat a bullying victim. Below
are six things that you can do when trying to help someone who is being bullied.
- Tell the child or adolescent that you care and are concerned. Ask the child to tell you what is going on and provide an opportunity for the child to talk to you openly. Explain that telling is not tattling and that you need the information in order to help. When the child begins to talk, respond in an accepting and positive way. Make it clear that the bullying is not the child's fault, and that telling you was the right thing to do.
- Gather a complete violence history from the child or adolescent that addresses exposure to violence, safety issues, stressors in school, family, and community.
- Talk to the child's parents/caregivers about bullying and its seriousness. Address any myths they might hold about bullying. Some parents may believe that bullying is a normal part of childhood and that children are best left to work it out among themselves. Some believe that fighting back is the best way to stop bullying.
- Provide the child's parents with information about bullying and how to help their child respond to bullying.
- Provide the child or adolescent with information on bullying.
- Encourage the child's school to implement a comprehensive violence prevention plan that includes an anti-bullying component.
There is a lot that we can do to prevent bullying and school violence. I believe that a lot of it starts at our homes and community. We really need to start paying more attention and taking more action. Everyone has the right to feel safe and comfortable at their school. We need to make sure that every school is taking action in preventing both bullying and violence. As I said before, I believe that both of these issues often go hand in hand with each other. Many people think that bullying is normal and a part of life that people go through. What people don’t know is that this leads to much bigger problems. It is time to start making bigger changes in the way children and teens are being taught in their schools. They need to be taught what is right and wrong from the very beginning. They also need to be told the possible outcomes that could come from their actions. I really believe we can make a difference in schools.