By Christie Do
If you see someone wearing purple today, they might be supporting Spirit Day, an anti-bullying campaign to raise awareness.
Bullying is the most common form of violence in schools, verbally and physically, and it is a basic right for students to feel safe and to be spared the hurt from being bullied.
This October is Anti-Bullying Month. It started as an awareness week in 2006, initiated by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, and it turned into a month’s worth of activities and events to provide resources for people who need it, and to raise awareness.
Bullying happens everyday, but what exactly is it? Bullying is any repeated hurtful or aggressive act that is used to intimidate or intentionally frighten others who are weaker or smaller. This includes spreading hurtful rumors, intolerance to differences, threatening words, looks or gestures, and physically hurting someone.
Bullying is different than teasing. Teasing isn’t meant to cause harm, and stops when the person teased becomes upset or objects to the teasing.Teasing is enjoyable to both sides, and leaves the individual’s dignity intact.
As teenagers in this generation, we know that bullying isn’t just a problem in schools. Cell phones and computers have become instruments of bullies. Cyber bullying is when technology is used to attack and threaten others. Instead of physical abuse, people attack each other through technology, such as Facebook or Twitter.
So what do we do if we (or others) are being bullied? Here are some suggestions:
–IGNORE THEM. Don’t give them the attention that they strive for. Remember that all bullies want attention, so if you give it to them, they will just continue.
–BLOCK THEM. This will make it easier for you to ignore them.
–TELL SOMEONE YOU TRUST. They will give an outsider’s perspective to the situation, and will support you.
–DON’T DELETE THE MESSAGES. If the bullying continues, you will need proof to show that you are a victim of bullying. Save them to your computer, and not just the mean ones.
Bullying is a problem that happens everywhere to all ages. Just remember that YOU are in control – NOT them.
Lincoln Public Schools has an anti-bullying policy that provides physically safe and emotionally secure environments for all students and staff.
“Lincoln Public Schools provides physically safe and emotionally secure environments for all students and staff. Positive behaviors (non-violence, cooperation, teamwork, understanding and acceptance of others) are encouraged in the educational program and are required of all staff. Inappropriate behaviors, including but not limited to bullying, intimidation and harassment, must be avoided by students and all staff. Bullying means any ongoing pattern of physical, verbal or electronic abuse on school grounds, in a vehicle owned, leased or contracted by the school being used for a school purpose by a school employee or designee or at school-sponsored activities or school-sponsored athletic events. Strategies and practices are implemented to reinforce positive behaviors and to discourage and protect others from inappropriate behaviors.”
For more information, see a counselor in Room 203.