Printer-friendly versionMany of us imagine a typical bully. This child is usually a boy. It’s likely that he is bullied at home—at the hands of a parent or guardian. Not only is this idea a stereotype, but it’s often false; anyone can be a bully.
As a fifth–grader, I was the bully. I bullied a classmate other peers enjoyed picking on. I reflect back and can’t recall why I laughed at her and called her names. Perhaps it gave me a sense of power. I had been picked on by older kids for a variety of reasons and felt powerless. But when I picked on this girl, I felt like I fit in with the rest of the kids. And at least it wasn’t me being bullied.
I also remember that I felt awful right after doing it. My teacher confronted me quickly. She was shocked that I, a straight-A student, who often helped other children and was usually kind, could have done such a thing. I was even more ashamed. I apologized (as requested) and I stopped.
Had my teacher not intervened, would I have continued to be a bully? I honestly don’t know. I hope not. I knew it was wrong. But if I, in my “geeky” pink glasses, wearing charity-issued hand-me-down clothes, with my bright red hair, taller-than-the-rest-of-the-class stature and chubby cheeks, could bully another child, who couldn’t?
Since then, I have seen bullying in many different forms. I have witnessed marching band students bully cheerleaders during football games. I’ve both witnessed and been the victim of teacher bullying. No one is immune.
This is why it is crucial that we battle the bullying issue each time we see it. We need to help students and educators become a team of compassionate humans looking out for one another. We must keep the lines of communication open so our students will trust us enough to help them when they experience bullying—whether it is as a victim or a bully. Then we can offer guidance and support.
Schmidt is a writer and editor based in Missouri.
Comments
Bullying goes far beyond
Bullying goes far beyond school and I continue to experience bullying both on the internet and in real life by three people in the small town of Whiteville, TN. Fortunately, the vast majority of people have been very kind to us but the sad thing is that our mayor has actually been a part of it until the city attorney stopped him. In fact, this elected official took advantage of the middle aged mean girls to use them to bully me and falsely accuse me of something I never did while defaming our family, poisoning our animals, vandalizing our organic produce business (for example, observed by neighbors trespassing in order to spray Round up and other chemicals to destroy our vegetable crops). Two of these people have law enforcement experience and have openly used their positions to bully anyone not to their liking.
As a former chemistry teacher, I have seen what bullying does but while this is all great and so forth, young bullies become older bullies and they give birth to even worse bullies. Maybe we should all ban together and work to end bullying at every level of our society if you really want it to stop. Otherwise, you really do not accomplish anything and your words carry no real weight nor does this organization. Sometimes, it seems like this is just a fad or bandwagon for someone to jump on and a way for select organizations to look serious when they many not and they are just looking for donations to keep them in a job.
When I see more than words from those who are so concerned about real world bullying, then I will believe that our society is attempting to do better. Until then, I will seek help for the PTSD that violence against me and my family has caused, I will continue to fight on my own knowing that many Americans don't really care as long as it doesn't happen to them, even some who claim they fight it.
So true!...Great post.
So true!...Great post.