I remember how bullying went when I was in school. It seems like nothing compared to how it is today. I mean, it can't be downplayed; it's all relative. But with online social media in the mix, things are not only getting worse, but completely out of control. The statistics for teen suicides related to bullying are upsetting and speak for themselves.
When sitting behind a monitor without eye contact or emotional consequence, mockery and abuse are heightened to obviously damaging degrees. It's the perfect set-up for the coward that the bully truly is and there is seemingly no filter. Also consider that this mockery and abuse isn't only heard and seen by those who happened to "be there", but thanks to how quickly news travels through social media - friends see it, friends of friends, family members, team mates, the list goes on. The humiliation is ten-fold and that much harder to hide from and move on from.
This subject came up a few weeks ago at my roller derby practice. I asked, "What are teachers doing in schools to help prevent bullying?" A mother responded with, "Absolutely nothing. They don't do anything."
Another mother agreed.
Well, that's awesome.
I just point my fingers at teachers before parents because, unless someone is home schooled, teachers spend 30 hours of the week not only with these kids, but with bullies and victims intermingled. It's simple - they are there to see it and overhear it if they make themselves as present as they should be. I mean, I don't expect teachers to catch everything, but with the rate of how things are going and the statistics I can't help but ask (pardon my French, but..)... What the fuck?
I'm not a teacher, I'm not even a Mother, and this issue tears me apart. Am I being hypersensitive or.. ?
This is not me meaning to shit on teachers, so teacher friends of mine, please don't take it that way. I'm sure you feel the same way as I do and I'm sure that it's a little more complicated to get programs going and getting funding and what not but...at what point does the light go on? How many child/teen suicides will it take for teachers/principals to say, "Hey, maybe we should implement some serious school-based bullying programs?"
When I was in high school, we used to have rallies and assemblies for MADD. They used to show us graphic photos and sound clips of drinking and driving scenarios or victims who did not make it. Yeah, it definitely scared the shit out of us and ruined our day, but it made an impact for the most part. Sadly, there is enough video footage out there, along with photos of victims of suicide due to bullying, to put together a rally/assembly about it. Cases from 2012 alone could deliver quite the impact. Show kids the harsh reality behind bullying.
Some suggest tougher laws and better enforcement. Well, sad to say but, Ontario/Canada needs to look at a lot of areas when it comes to this, so suggesting this is a pipe dream at it's finest I'm sure.
Other suggest better parental monitoring of kid's online activities. Eeesh, I can imagine that being a lot easier said than done. There is a way around everything on the Internet now.
This is why to me, it always comes back onto the school system. Most of it happens within your walls, most of it happens withing your reach. Also, peers. What are you doing about it? Don't be a bystander. I was one once and I haven't forgotten about it. It still eats at me - even years later. Why didn't I do something? I honestly hate myself for it sometimes and yeah, I feel like a knob for preaching about anti-bullying when there was that one time in my life where I could have done something and didn't. I think that maybe a lot of my hurt and frustration comes from that incident, in a sense.
I'll be the first to jump at the next chance, believe me.
