Bullying is an unwanted aggressive form of behavior that is pervasive and repeatedly taking place in schools, colleges, universities, and institutions across the nation. Bullying may include threats, physical and verbal abuse, spreading rumors, group exclusion, racism, and religious intolerance. Bullying is so common in our culture that it is reasonable to perceive it as an epidemic. Bullies use their power to harm or embarrass others. This can happen anywhere or at any time. Educators and therapists alike have designed strategies and techniques to prevent bullying, but isolated incidents are on the rise. More needs to be done for the whole conversation to change.

According to the National Center for Educational Statistics more than one out of every five students is bullied. A Meta-analysis of 80 studies reported a mean prevalence rate of 35% for traditional bullying and 15% for cyber-bullying. Bullying is not a normal part of life and no one should have to endure such treatment. According to a Yale University study, researchers have confirmed that there is a strong correlation between bullying and suicide related behaviors. Bullied victims “are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims.” Anti-bullying voices need to be heard more emphatically. We need to be loud, discordant, and willing to transform the status quo. This transformation needs to occur because bullying and violence often go unheard. Parents, administrators, and law enforcement agencies need to join hands and “restructure the social environment” – the entire school culture. Penalizing bullies does not always work, but working with them to solve the problem does. Anything that can be recognized can be fixed.

A 2017 FBI report reveals that there has been a five-year high in hate crimes across the nation. This is sad because that is not what our country stands for. Many schools, organizations, and places of worship need to continuously preach against racism, religious intolerance, and bullying. Children should be taught at an early age – at home and in their places of schooling and worship that hate, bullying, and violence are not acceptable. We must not allow students to bully one another. This form of behavior should be non-existent in 2018 America, but with the current political atmosphere and the increase in Neo-Nazi hate groups, and striking blows against diversity, our country has taken on a new face. We must teach our children to love and care about others regardless of how they look or what they believe in. Bullies use aggression as an icon of identity to show that they are masterful and in control. Unless they can be shown from the highest authorities in the land that bullying is not acceptable, they will continue to believe that “power” breeds results. Many schools have adopted anti-bullying techniques and strategies to reduce the number of children from being bullied, but they seem to be so overwhelmed in covering the curriculum that anti-bullying policies are often forgotten or ignored. The safety and well-being of children should take precedence over all matters. Teachers need to listen to students who report acts of hate and violence and check with them frequently to see if the bullying is still taking place. Children should not have to be homeschooled to escape persistent bullying problems. The problem needs to be dealt with to avoid further victimization.

One of the first known large-scale Youth Voice research projects conducted at Penn State in 2010 confirms that peer actions help victims more than educator or self-actions. Victims reported that bullying was reduced by approximately 50% when bystanders defended them. Bystanders should be taught to react in constructive ways rather than ‘giggle’ or turn away. To restructure the social environment, children must be taught to embrace diversity in all of its forms. Bullies need not mistake themselves for God. Not everyone looks alike or shares the same experiences and beliefs, yet they are all created equal. Weight, height, sexual orientation, race, religious beliefs, should never lead to the humiliation or harassment of another human being. Bullying is not a joke and negative situations need to be adjudicated. We need to teach children to go deeper within themselves to try and understand what it means to be victimized and consent to secure a palpable impact on mainstream policies. Bullying is dangerous and we need to take it seriously. “Tips” from other students – as subtle as they might be, need to be investigated and dealt with. Victims can command the country’s airwaves, by using snap chat and twitter for their voices to be heard – even for a day. They need to speak for themselves and others. We need to stand behind them and give them the courage they need to build their confidence. Bullies exercise their power by going out of their way to secure an audience. It is our job to make sure that our children will not be victims or observers nor will they be a silenced audience even if it makes them feel uncomfortable. There will never be a guarantee, but inching forward one day at a time can make a difference.