We Need to Stop Bullying!

Bullying is a major problem in the world inside and outside of school. Social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and many others make it easier for bullies to target their victims. Did you know there are about 282,000 students that are reportedly attacked in high schools throughout the nation each month? Did you also know that one out of every 10 students drops out or change schools because of repeated bullying?

There are several groups that are trying to help fight bullying! Defeat the Label is a non-profit organization whose goal is to help end social labeling in our society. Dork, nerd, jerk, weird, fag, gay, un-popular, lame, dumb and many other words are very hurtful and sometimes lead to suicides because simply some people can’t handle those words and are forced to do something that either hurt themselves or others that are involved with them.

The point is very simple…We NEED to stop bullying. Bullying is considered - to treat abusively or to affect by means of force or coercion. Below is a list of different types of bullying and their description according to the Rancho Pico Junior High School website.

Bullying Forms:

• Physical: Physical bullying involves harmful actions against another person’s body. Examples include biting, kicking, pushing, pinching, hitting, tripping, pulling hair, any form of violence or intimidation. Physical bullying also involves the interference with another person’s property. Examples include damaging or stealing.
• Verbal: Verbal bullying involves speaking to a person or about a person in an unkind or hurtful way. Examples include sarcasm, teasing, put-downs, name-calling, phone calls, spreading rumors or hurtful gossip.
• Emotional: Emotional bullying involves behaviors that upset, exclude or embarrass a person. Examples include nasty notes, saying mean things, using technology (e.g. cyber bullying using emails, instant messaging, chat rooms) tormenting, threatening, humiliation or social embarrassment.
• Sexual: Sexual bullying singles out a person because of gender or sexual orientation and demonstrates unwarranted or unwelcome sexual behavior. Examples include sexual comments, abusive comments, unwanted physical contact.
• Racial: Racial bullying involves rejection or isolation of a person because of ethnicity. Examples include gestures, racial slurs or taunts, name calling, making fun of customs/skin color/accent/food choices.

To learn more about bullying and how you can help stop bullying, please visitwww.Facebook.com/DefeatTheLabel. Defeat the Label also hosts various events such as concerts that help spread the word about ending bullying in the Metro Detroit Area. Please join the fight to end bullying!

(If you or somebody that you know is a victim of bullying, Ferndale Youth Assistance may be able to help. Please contact us at 248-586-8700.)

This post was written by Ferndale High School senior Tyler Beltz for the Ferndale Youth Assistance.