Bullying Turns to Tragedy

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/16/us/felony-charges-for-2-girls-in-suicide-of-bullied-12-year-old-rebecca-sedwick.html?_r=4&

When I read this article I was heartbroken at the tragedy of a 12 year old girl taking her own life. The thing that disgusted me was when I realized after seeing Bully that this is a widespread problem and not just an isolated incident. The truly despicable thing is that the attacker showed no remorse after stalking, harassing, and mentally torturing the victim. The thing is that as future teachers, it's hard to say what is appropriate and what's inappropriate as far as intervention in the situation. Everyone jumps at the chance to blame the school, but nobody knows what to do. When Mr. Glassman asked us in class what, as teachers, we would do about bullying, I suddenly realized how difficult of a situation it is.

Thanks to the internet, cyber-bullying like the case in this article, is impossible to remain anonymous. The part that sucks is that putting something on the internet is nearly permanent, and can be a constant reminder of the hurt even after the insult is first thrown. Luckily, the police were able to apprehend this young girl, and charges will be pressed against her. But, I think that the responsibility for cyber-bullying lies with the parents, despite the fact that it's usually a conflict between students. Schools don't have access to what goes on at home on computers or even cell phones.

However, the bigger problem of bullying in general, and at school in particular, is a big issue. I think it's important that schools have qualified counselors who are invested in the children's lives, and are able to freely talk to children and parents and find out what's going on, and help settle disputes between students. Also, it's important that teachers and administrators monitor the students during common free time, like lunch periods or recesses. Cooperation between the faculty and parents is crucial, and having a strong, well functioning PTA is a way to create the sort of community that can change situations, so if a PTA is lacking, it's important that the faculty cultivate better relationships.  These aren't revolutionary ideas, they've been done, but schools that lack in any of these areas, are doomed to suffer at the hands of bullies.