“My Mantra is Be Kind!” The Importance of Bullying Awareness and Prevention

“My Mantra is Be Kind!” The Importance of Bullying Awareness and Prevention

October may be known for fall colors and Halloween, but it is also an awareness month for something even spookier: bullying. October is bullying prevention and awareness month.

Many people might overlook this, saying bullying isn’t relevant, or that high schoolers are too old to experience bullying. However, having an awareness month dedicated to this relevant issue is of the utmost importance.

The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.”

According to 3rd Millennium Classrooms, 1 in 5 students ages 12-18 experience bullying during school in the United States. 79% of bullying contains verbal harassment (name calling, teasing, insults), 50% contains social harassment (humiliation, rumors, excludsion), and 29% contains physical bullying (hitting, pushing, or intentional damage to property). Additionally, 25% of all bullying is cyberbullying (bullying via social media or texting).

A common misconception about bullying is that the person being bullied is the only one being affected. It is true that people who are bullied may have low self-esteem, mental health issues, and physical stress. However, bullying is also harmful to the bully.

The Centers for Disease Control say that people who bully others are at a higher risk for substance use and violent adulthoods. Similarly, people who witness bullying have increased mental health problems as well as absences from school.

Silver Creek High School science teacher Rachel Turner tries to remember that there is always more to a person’s story.

“You never know what someone else is going through, which is why I always say be kind,” Turner says, “when you’re in your teens, you’re very much in your own world. Whereas as a teacher, we try to get to know all of our students, and we know their backstory. So sometimes, when we see someone joking around with someone else, we know that student’s backstory, and we know that that could be impacting them on a level deeper than what their peer is intending it to be.”

Creating a community with more awareness and understanding of one another can positively affect both the bully and the victim.

“I always say, hurt people hurt people. So try and look at it from the perspective of it’s not something wrong with you, it’s something wrong with the other person,” Turner explains. “If you were being bullied and you were to turn around and say, are you okay? I’m worried about you. Think about how that person would respond.”

It often feels that bullying goes unnoticed by the adults in the lives of bullies.

“I’ve noticed a lack of intervention from parents, teachers and administration,” Silver Creek senior Ella Perry said. “I wish that wasn’t the case and that there was a way to encourage the adults to take action. Adults are really the ones that can put the consequences on the kids and put the bullying to an end.”

Teachers are also becoming aware that bullying continues if they do not get involved. They are also in the midst of figuring out how to end bullying when it goes unreported.

“I think people have decided it’s uncool to stand up or do the right thing,” Turner states. “The phrases like ‘snitches get stitches’…standing up for what’s right is not snitching and I think people need to change their minds.”

Silver Creek High School counselor, Kristi Ehle-Parker, has a similar experience.

“There’s instances where it’s not [reported], and that’s where we always try to talk about being brave enough to say something and to do something,” Ehle-Parker says.

Not only does bullying take place in schools, it also happens online. Cyberbullying is becoming a more relevant and pressing issue, especially among teenagers.

“Well, right now, with social media and everything, it’s so easy to bully online,” Turner says. “If you wouldn’t say it to someone’s face, you shouldn’t say it.”

Another concern that comes with social media and cyberbullying is since it doesn’t take place at school, should it still be reported to the school administration? Students and staff are learning how to handle things that don’t happen on school property, but still take a toll on students.

“Even though the bullying might be going on at 11 o’clock at night outside of school, if it’s between two Silver Creek students, that is still something that we see as in our jurisdiction,” Ehle-Parker states. “It’s not like, oh well, that didn’t happen here at Silver Creek. So we’re not going to worry about it. We very much do.”

Additionally, there is great importance in reporting cyberbullying to the school but also reporting it to the app that the bullying takes place on.

“If you see something on Instagram that is hateful or bullying, report it,”Ehle-Parker says. Silver Creek can’t call Instagram and be like, hey, this page isn’t appropriate. But a large number of people with Instagram accounts can influence that [taking down an account].” “The second step would be to report it to a counselor, an administrator, or if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, you can do Safe2Tell. It’s completely anonymous, your name will not be used.”

Bullying awareness is important, but so is preventing bullying in the first place. Small acts of kindness and respect can go a long way in working towards putting bullying to an end.
“This kindness (small acts of kindness) can be a cure for people who feel so bad about themselves due to the things other people are doing or saying to them,” Perry says. “To feel kindness and respect from another human being can be a cure for loneliness and sadness that they (people being bullied) might feel.”
Teachers and staff members also agree that this type of kindness can be contagious and a positive force for our community.

“Be inclusive and look for that person in your classroom, at lunch, in the hallways who looks lonely and reach out to them,” Ehle-Parker states. “Just little acts of kindness goes such a long way.”

In addition to working to prevent bullying, it is also important to acknowledge that people may still be struggling or feeling targeted. In these situations, it is crucial to know that there are many support systems available in the community.

“If you are being bullied and you’re feeling sad, find an adult to talk to. Sometimes the perspective of someone not in the situation can be helpful, or just having someone to talk about things with,” Turner says.

Many people are afraid to speak up for themselves for a number of reasons, but there are still steps in a positive direction that you can take.

“I would say, is there one person that you can tell? Is there a trusted friend, a trusted adult in your life that you can go to? Nobody should have to live with that alone, because that just perpetuates this feeling of isolation and shame,” Ehle-Parker explains. “Be brave, you will be absolutely supported here at Silver Creek.”

If you or someone you know is in need of help, support is available through the links below.

Silver Creek High School Counseling
Safe2Tell
Suicide Lifeline (988)