Almost every adult can attest to being bullied as a child. It can be a very traumatic experience that damages a child
leaving them with no self-confidence and mentally unable to concentrate in their school work. Bullying involves being picked on by another child or children. It may involve pushing, kicking around, threatening them, making nasty remarks, sidelining them and so on. Victims of bullying are ashamed to admit they are suffering and may go through the act for years before finally confessing to being a victim. While many try to forget the bullying, it stays with them in their subliminal minds for the rest of their lives.
In the past three years, cases of bullying in North America have increased and the latest is by Jamey Rodemeyer, a fourteen year old who killed himself after being bullied for years. He had joined an anti-website and posted a video advising others his age to love themselves and all will be well.
Bullying happens in all schools all the time. Different states are passing laws that criminalize parents whose children engage in bullying. This move forces parents to talk to their children about bullying and that it is an unacceptable behavior in schools and society.
Bullying affects children even into adulthood. The victims of bullying end up being very depressed, antisocial and having poor self-esteem. They may find it difficult to form friendships and even dating may become hard for them. The bullies who get a kick out of hurting other children may go into adulthood as criminals who commit theft, vandalism and even picking fights with other people. These same individuals are likely to become workplace bullies. Victims of bullying are sensitive about any altercations with other people. They may miss work and college if they feel a current situation to be similar to what they went through as a child.
Most schools in the United States are adopting anti bullying initiatives. These involve training teachers and parents to look out for bullying behavior and to report it immediately. Most schools know that victims of bullying are unable to concentrate in school and may join adulthood as drug abusers. If children feel that nothing is being done to alleviate the bullying they go through, they may commit suicide. It is the responsibility of the school and state governments to pass legislation that prohibits bullying of children. A school should provide a safe environment where children will not be bullied based on their sexuality, race, national origin, religion and ethnic background.