Bullying in U.S. Schools

Bullying in U.S. Elementary and High Schools

One of the most likely solutions for the bullying problem in our schools can include education and good principles taught at school and at home, in order to help children and teens to treat each other with more respect.

According to NEA (National Education Association), it is necessary to know what bullying is and what bullying is not. It is also important that teachers take the responsibility to intervene whenever a bullying situation occurs at school. The text also states the role of parents at home as models of behavior towards friends, relatives, and people from the community. The article ponders about the effectiveness of the law against bullying and the way that teachers and parents can help to develop a sense of caring and respect among children and teens. According to the article, bullying can be prevented starting inside the home (NEA, 2013).

In the article “Is Bullying Learned at Home?” authored by PhD. Ersilia Menesini, she states that frequent conflicts and disputes between siblings can be considered as a kind of bullying. It describes the possibility of children victimized by their older brothers transfer this behavior to school. The text also makes reflections about parents who are not aware of the effects of this kind of behavior. “Siblings relationships can, in some cases, serve as a ‘training ground’ for bullying, deviancy, and aggression” (Menesini, 2013). Based on these facts, one can infer that parents should interact more with children in order to be aware of any change on their children’s behavior, especially “if their relationships appear negative and full of conflict” (Menesini, 2013).

The article “Bullying and Victimization: What Adults Can Do to Help”, by Eric S. Buhs and Maria de Guzman, from Florida Department of Education, University of Nebraska, describes in detail the bullying prevention and how professionals and community can work together against it. The article shows resources both for educators and parents. The study of bullying and its consequences helps to identify the possible causes in order to prevent bullying from happen and create opportunities of a better life for children who were victims of it.