Bullying should never be considered an inevitable, inescapable, or acceptable rite of passage. Yes, kids will be teased or sometimes feel threatened, but that is not the same as the relentless intimidation that defines bullying. We do not serve our children well if we continue to dismiss this behavior as simply "kids being kids."
Bullying is a systemic problem that requires systemic solutions. In other words, victims cannot be expected to make bullies less abusive or bystanders more understanding all by themselves. A classroom teacher who has little support from school administrators cannot be expected to improve a school's entire social climate. Everyone involved in a child's life has a role in shaping and influencing his or her behavior.
But changing behaviour is made more difficult if you ignore that behavior's relationship to madevironment. To paraphrase Father Flanagan, there is no such thing as a bad child; there is only bad example, bad thinking, bad training, and bad environment.
Bullying behavior is a difficult problem to address. Hopefully, the strategies and ideas presented here will give you new insights and more hope for dealing with this issue in your families, schools, and communities.
The most important thing to remember is that ignoring bullies and pretending they are someone else's responsibility only exacerbates the problem and its harmful effects.
Our children have a fundamental right to not only feel safe, but to actually be safe. As parents, educators, and people who work with and care about children, we must commit ourselves to ensuring that no child is subjected to constant fear, humiliation, or persecution. Rather, we must focus our attention on making a difference that matters to children: teaching respect, stopping abuse, and rewarding kindness.
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