Yaccarino: Bullying Must Stop

We must all work harder to stop bullying in all its forms. Imagine the fear of going to school each day knowing someone will be verbally, emotionally or physically harassing you. This kind of damage can affect performance in school as well as someone’s long-term development.  Students across Connecticut face those fears each day and we must find a way to stop it.

Recently during a “Be a STAR” event at Mill Road School, the dangers of bullying were brought home to students with the help of WWE Superstar Sheamus. “Be a STAR,” which stands for "Show Tolerance And Respect,” was founded by The Creative Coalition and WWE to promote positive methods of social interaction and encourage people to treat others as equals and with respect.   

I was proud to have been included in the “Be a STAR” event along with Senator Fasano and First Selectman Freda because I believe as a community we must find ways to support our citizens, especially our children, and put a stop to this dangerous activity.  Bullying is more than physical abuse; it is also the words we use and the manner in which we treat others. Bullying can ruin a child’s academics and can ultimately ruin lives. In extreme cases bullying has lead to suicide.

According to statistics from the legislature’s Commission on Children, one in four Connecticut high school students- and 35% of the state’s ninth graders- report having been bullied or harassed on school property in the last year and more than 900,000 U.S. high school students reported being cyberbullied.  But bullying is not only a high school problem; elementary and middle school students are also being bullied.  

Last year the legislature took another step to prevent bullying in schools with passage of An Act Concerning The Strengthening of School Bullying laws (PA 11-232). That law expands the types of conduct that constitute school bullying and the situations where it can occur and expressly identify bullying as (1) any targeting of a student based on the student's actual or perceived “differentiating” characteristics, such as race, gender, sexual orientation, or physical appearance and (2) actions taken through electronic communications or devices that otherwise qualify as bullying and are known collectively as “cyberbullying.”

I am proud to have supported this legislation because I know it will help our youth; unfortunately, legislation alone will not compel everyone to do the right thing. People need to have someone to turn to in order to help them overcome a bully’s actions. 

Each and every one of us can do our part to make sure we support those who need assistance and to make sure our words and actions don’t cause harm. No one should use or promote hateful speech or actions that make people feel inferior and we should all take a stand against those who do when we see it.  People need to believe in themselves and the only way we can make that happen is to support each other to make good decisions and stop those who bully.

If you or someone you know is being bullied please seek help.  Talk with a trusted adult, a teacher, a counselor, a police officer or firefighter and do not hold your emotions in.  Know you are not alone and help is available.  For more information on bullying please go to the Connecticut Commission on Children’s website at: http://www.cga.ct.gov/coc/bullying.htm