Bullying-a Must Read for Parents!
I happened to catch a news flash last night about a young girl age 13 named Alye, who has been bullied by her classmates at school. Fed up she decided to fight back-via Utube creating a video about her experience.
I sat and watched as this young lady bravely fought back-by speaking out-not 'verbally' but using signs that spoke 'words of how she felt' about what was happening to her. Very sad-very angry-but a young lady who had the guts to say 'enough is enough' in her own way! I applaud her and what she did-as this bullying occurs at not only schools-but also on the internet amongst many young people. Many have lost their lives due to the harrassment of other kids who think bullying is 'fun'-just a game-NOT! This affects the lives of many who have unfortunately lost their son or daughters who could no longer handle the abuse.
Many parents do not monitor the activities of their teens online-feeling it is 'prying'-and a intrusion on their right to privacy. I agree to an an 'extent'. Most teens in todays world are left alone though due to working parents to surf the 'net'-creating social networks-for what is supposed to be 'fun' and should be! But the fact remains a lot of parents are totally unaware of what goes on VIA the internet while their teens are surfing chat and social networks-which are the way most teens communicate. There are the 'cliques' where groups of teens text and chat-some begin to harass others just for 'fun'. Online bullying is becoming a major problem. Schools ALSO most of the time do not know and are totally unaware of what goes on-between teens who hang in groups to bully others. It is 'kept quiet'-hidden and a secret between the groups who participate in such activities-while the 'person being bullied' suffers in silence. They go home and when Mom and Dad ask-"how was your day?", the usual response is "umm ok.". A common answer when a teen may be hurting-but says nothing, holding in feelings of hurt and fear afraid to tell anyone.
CAN bullying in schools stop-and if so how? And who is responsible for stopping it? There are no easy answers to this problem-but one thing parents CAN do - is sit down and talk to their teens, I mean REALLY TALK to them about what bullying is-the warning signs--if you're a parent and don't know-FIND OUT! Talk to other parents also and don't be afraid to confront the schools-about bullying within the schools! Parents need to be enlightened AND schools-how to look for 'warning signs' of a teen who is quietly suffering from this type of abuse-as that is what it IS-abuse! If one TEENAGER isn't afraid to speak UP via the internet-isn't it TIME parents AND schools start talking too learning it's time to deal with this issue? YES-and that time is NOW!
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