Bullying

     When asked, many people only remember the cruelty and painful memories from high school. They remember the bullying they received at the hands of students who thought they were better, or above their victim. They remember the cruel words, the beatings, and their own acceptance to what the bully says. Teenage bullying has, and is, an epidemic in high schools and even beyond. A bully’s main focus is on making someone else feel inadequate, or belittling someone else. Bullying includes harassment, physical harm, repeatedly putting another down with your words and actions. Bullying is unfortunately an active part of our community and it is important to realize that there are different kinds of bullying; the obvious one physical and the others that aren’t always seen or heard, verbal, emotional and cyber.   

     Bullying and teenage suicide have been all too often linked together. Suicide is in the running as the leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. But what about those who are unsuccessful; according to the 2010 bullying statistics, for every suicide there is at least 100 suicide attempts to follow. A study in Britain Bully victims found that those who have received bullying are between two to nine times more likely to think about committing suicide than non-victims, and that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying. Statistics reported by ABC News then showed that nearly thirty percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying. This is an un-acceptable number, and students should never be afraid to go to school.

     Spotsylvania County cries out for this harassment to stop. In Riverbend High School alone, a student will find an anti bullying poster in every room. On top of that, newer and stricter rules have been put in order to stomp out these bullies. Bullying is a major problem and should never be taken lightly. In Spotsylvania County the Sheriff’s department has come up with a number students can text to anonymously report their bully. In order to use this you must open up a new text and in the TO window type, 274637(Crimes) and hit ok. In the text window type: SEE911, this is very important, this must be at the beginning of your text or it will not go through. In the same text window, type your details of the tip, (do not include your contact information or name). This will always remain anonymous, and no one will ever know who turned in the bully.

     If you are a victim of a bully then you need to know, you do not have to go through anything alone. Talk to your friends, parents, teachers, counselors, even your schools resource officers. No one will turn their back to you and this problem will be fixed immediately. Stand up and speak out.  

Jessica Cooper, Staff Writer