Christiaan Ramsey OPINION • August 18, 2010
With the recent media attention surrounding bullying cases such as 15-year-old Phoebe Prince in South Hadley, Mass., and 15-year-old Alex Moore in Jemison, Ala., bullying has once again become a prominent issue. Although recent statistics indicate that the number of bullying incidents has declined in recent years, bullying remains a problem in schools.
Bullying comes in two distinct forms: overt bullying, which is more physical in nature; and relational bullying, which often manifests itself through verbal harassment, name calling, psychological intimidation or social ostracism. Both forms can have long-term physical, mental, emotional or psychological effects on their victims. These problems often follow victims into adulthood in the form of problems dealing with aggression, lack of self-confidence and the inability to develop or sustain relationships. Bullies themselves can also have negative long-term effects from their actions. Students who exhibit bullying-type behavior often have problems with authority as they mature and may spend time in the criminal justice system.
Bullying happens regardless of gender. In general, males bully each other using more physical means, and females use more mental/emotional means to harass or intimidate one another. This is not always the case, however, and at times females can be as aggressive as or more so than males. The presence of cross-gender bullying can also be seen as a form of sexual harassment and can be physically, mentally and psychologically damaging to the victims.
Although it can happen at any age, bullying often begins in elementary school, peaks in middle school and begins to subside in high school. Middle school students often experience problems with bullying associated with the onset of puberty and the problems associated with the complex changes their bodies and minds go through during this time of life. Not only are middle school students undergoing changes that cause them to identify their sexuality, but they are also developing their identities at this crucial time of life. Popularity is extremely important to middle school students, and many would rather be bullied than to be thought of as unpopular.
Bullying is least likely to occur during structured times of the school day. When students are with their core academic teachers, they often have less opportunity to harass or intimidate one another. Less structured times such as recess or after school and less structured places such as the playground or the restroom often provide greater bullying opportunities. Bullies are often very perceptive and know when to target their victims. Schools should work to address areas where bullying most frequently occurs and target those areas. Surveys of students and teachers can often reveal the locations where bullying most frequently takes place.
Many states are beginning to address the problem of bullying through legislation. The N.C. General Assembly passed the Violence and Prevention Act in the summer of 2009. The act defined bullying and requires local school boards to adopt policies to address bullying and harassment. It also required training for school personnel by no later than March 1, 2010. All requirements of the act must be met by the end of the 2010 school year.
Christiaan Ramsey serves as principal at Mars Hill Elementary School.
From CITIZEN-TIMES.com, published on August 18, 2010
