At one point in time, bullying was thought to be part of growing up. However, today we know that bullying can lead to much more serious issues. If your child comes home from school and describes bullying behavior from another student, you should not let it pass without investigation.
A bully is a person who acts mean or hurtful toward others. Sometimes bullies use physical means by pushing, hitting, or kicking. Others may bully by verbal insults and saying hurtful things to others. Bullies may even make threats or try to get children to do things that they do not want to do. They leave children out on purpose and tease and taunt others.
When a child is being bullied, he may become sad, afraid, and scared to go to school. A child can become so stressed that he develops stomachaches.
Some children are only bullied in particular locations, such as the lunchroom or playground. They may become very upset during these periods of the day. I have seen children appear very happy and content until lunchtime. They then burst into tears and ask to go home. There are causes for occurrences such as this. Teachers and parents need to become aware of the cause.
Bullying is a very big deal and should not be dismissed by students, teachers, or parents. Bullying not only affects the child being bullied but also others. No one likes to be around a bully. Other children can become fearful just from observing bullying taking place.
In addition to creating an emotional strain, being bullied can also affect academics. It can become difficult to focus on your studies when you are worried about getting hurt or abused by a bully. Being bullied can cause grades to drop.
Many schools offer bullying in-service training for teachers and pamphlet information for parents. If you suspect that your child is being bullied at school, talk with the teacher and guidance counselor.
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