Deaths from Bullying

[williamjackson]

Deaths from Bullying
by William Jackson, M.Edu
Consulted with Cheryl Williams, LPN

Tragic Events
There are tragic stories of young people like 15 year old Phoebe Prince who have
taken their lives because of bullying. Even Iain Steele a 15 year old that lived in
Chicago and had a promising future in high school and Carl Walker-Hoover 11 years
old, even though he was a Boy Scout and football player. The Springfield, Mass.,
young man was ruthlessly teased and harassed. He was even active in his church,
but was affected by bullying to the point where he committed suicide. Bullying crosses
race, gender and cultural lines. Carl was African American. The list tragically grows for
teens and young people that are attempting suicide and even tragic the ones that
are successful.

Enduring the torment, embarrassment of being harassed in an atmosphere where
Phoebe should have been protected, nurtured and safe. She was a high school
student in South Hadley, Mass. Instead of expectations of a great year in high school
she was tormented verbally and online (cyberbullying). She is not the only story;
there are growing stories of students from elementary, middle and high school who
experience various levels of bullying, harassment and torment at the amusement of
others.
The most notable is that of Jeffrey Johnston, who took his life in 2004 after being
bullied. Jeffery a 15-year-old boy committed suicide after being bullied, including
Internet bullying (cyberbullying). His tragic story has resulted in the "Jeffrey Johnston
Stand Up for All Students Act" (Fla. Stat. section 1006.147).

Statistics from Health Resources and Services Administration estimates that up to
25 percent of American students are bullied and the numbers are rising. School is
supposed to be a safe haven, but according to Jonathan Cohen, President of the
Center for Social and Emotional Education (http://schoolclimate.org/), more than
160,000 American students stay home from school on any given day because they're
afraid of being bullied.
Jonathan Cohen, "Bullying undermines the ability for children in grades K-12 to learn
and develop in healthy ways." Bullying has been noticed by the American Academy
of Pediatrics and will for the first time include a section on bullying in its official policy
statement on the pediatrician's role in preventing youth violence.

What is bullying?
Many parents do not understand the complexity of bullying. State statutes defines
bullying as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological
distress through teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation; stalking, physical
violence, theft, sexual, religious or racial harassment, public humiliation, or destruction
of property. This includes harassment of LGBT students who face taunting, discrimination
and even death threats. These just like any other group of young people have dreams
and aspirations of contributing to their communities, having families, careers and enjoying
life. These expectations of life are sometimes questioned when they are bullied and
tormented by those who are ignorant to the lives of others. "From Teasing to Torment:
School Climate in America" (2010) students across the country said their peers were most
often bullied because of their appearance, but the next top reason was because of actual
or perceived sexual orientation and gender expression.

Even some churches which claim to accept all of God's children bully LGBT students by
creating atmospheres where young people feel unwelcomed by verbal nuances and
subliminal messages which demean, embarrass and ostracize. The issue of bullying has
grown to where "Sesame Street" has even created a bullying prevention program. Children
as young as three years old have displayed bullying characteristics in school and in their communities.

Laws and Acts
Because of the increases in bullying behaviors schools districts, law enforcement and
legislatures of various states have enacted Acts and Laws as protection against these
actions. Mentioned above; the "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act"
(Fla. Stat. section 1006.147). Debbie Johnston the mother of Jeffrey stated, "Everybody is
recognizing that bullying isn't a rite of passage, it's not a part of childhood, and it doesn't
build character."As a result of Jefferies death the Act "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students
Act" was created. The Act requires districts to adopt new anti-bullying policies and spells out that
those policies must address "cyberbullying"; taunts and harassing messages delivered by
computer, cell phone or other technologies. Schools on a local level are taking serious bullying
after several unfortunate instances that were reported in local and national media outlets of violence.

Schools are required to investigate any reports of bullying, including cyberbullying and
notify all parents to be more involved. There are even forms that are created to report
bullying, by name or anonymously. Parents should check with school guidance counselors
for more information about intervention, prevention and proactive strategies.
The unfortunate truth is that only a small number of incidents are reported to school officials,
teachers, administrators and even parents. Many schools have their own police force, but still
there is a great hesitancy to report cases of bullying or harassment. Students are scared because
of retribution from increased bullying and the torment of other family members that may be drawn
into these actions.

It is now a matter of life and death that students get past “snitching” and alert parents, teachers,
and even law enforcement officials.

Empowering Families
The quote; "It takes a village to raise children" has been stated several times by Mrs. Hillary
Clinton during her bid for the Democratic nomination in 2008. Truer words have not been
spoken about raising children in the twenty and twenty-first century. The White House in 2010
and 2011 has held a Bullying Prevention Conference for parents and children.

The Yale School of Medicine conducted analysis of the link between childhood bullying and suicide
in 37 studies from 13 countries, finding both bullies and their victims were at high risk of contemplating
suicide. All this information is interconnected to empower families with education. Children are exposed
to many challenges, but schools should be a safe haven, a refuge from bullying, harassment,
discrimination, physical and emotional harm.  The results of bullying last a life time of emotional turmoil
that parents must address. Below are resources to aid parents in helping them to deal with bullying
if their children are exposed, experiencing or involved in bullying. 

Conclusion
Parents need to be more informed, involved and proactive. Checking their children's online activities,
cell phone records and talk to teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators. The unfortunate
reality is children and teens will not tell their parents about being bullied especially boys because
they do not want to be labeled as "soft". There is a "code" among young people that they abide by
because they feel no one is listening to them or taking them seriously. Stated by Cheryl Williams an
LPN of over 20 years in Jacksonville, Florida and mother of three adult men. She states that,
“the underlying stress and anxiety from bullying lasts a life time. It can lead to personality disorders,
emotional instability, drug/substance abuse, unhealthy dietary changes and to the extreme suicidal
thoughts and actions.” Parents start listening and watching for unspoken signs of behavioral change
and emotional instability. Be proactive to the issue of bullying and harassment, talk to your children
every day about their day, their friends, and their emotional and mental stability. Importantly follow
your instincts as a parent.

Bullying Resources:
Sesame Street
http://www.sesamestreet.org/parents/topicsandactivities/topics/bullying
Stop Bullying Now
Interactive Cartoons for Kids
http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/
Bullying.org
See, read, and hear the impact that bullying has had on people's lives.
http://www.bullying.org
PBS Parents Information
Bullying Education
http://www.pbs.org/parents/search/results.html?restrict=parents&q=Bulling
Education.com
This is an interactive quiz on bullying
http://www.education.com/quiz/bullying-myths/
Youth Violence Statistics
http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/violence-in-schools/national-statistics.html
Bully Police
http://bullypolice.org/
Sexting - A Brief Guide for Educators and Parents
http://cyberbullying.us/blog/sexting-a-brief-guide-for-educators-and-parents.html
Sexting Policies in Schools
http://cyberbullying.us/blog/sexting-policies-in-schools.html