“Kids can be cruel.”
That’s a statement that I heard often when I was a child. It is also a statement that I find myself repeating from time to time.
That statement is especially true in reference to bullying.
Bullying has become a national problem that never seems to go away; an issue whose root cause seems as enigmatic as an undetectable illness. But perhaps the cause of bullying really isn’t an enigma; maybe the solutions to curb bullying are the real mystery. Or maybe bullying is one of those things where the cause and the solutions are crystal clear, but people don’t take the necessary steps to prevent such acts from occurring.
If I were a gambling woman, I’d bet Natalie Moore would agree with the latter.
You may not remember the name Natalie Moore, but her son’s name may ring a bell. Jamarcus Bell was the 14-year-old African-American boy who hanged himself Oct. 20, 2010, after repeatedly being bullied by his peers at Hamilton Southeastern High School.
Bell’s case has renewed media attention as of late because his mother recently filed a federal lawsuit against Hamilton Southeastern Schools. Moore says the school system “either knew or should have known what was happening.” Her lawsuit claims HSE took no action.
Data show that one out of every five high school students is bullied at school. One in five!
As Bell’s case has reemerged, I couldn’t help but wonder what leads to bullying and what can be done to combat it.
By no means am I a bullying expert, nor am I a peace-taunting hippie who thinks love is the answer to everything. OK, maybe I possess some hippie-like characteristics in regards to love because I strongly believe if more children were genuinely loved, they would not only be children who display kindness towards their peers, but they would also evolve into loving adults. The love I know does not use hurtful words or objects to belittle someone. So yes, I do believe exhibiting love and understanding towards children could reduce their likelihood of bullying.
It’s also important to hold children accountable when they misbehave. If parents learn their child is bullying someone, there should be consequences. Children need to know that when they do something wrong, they will be punished. Holding individuals accountable is a sure-fire way to make them responsible for their actions, thus hopefully curbing the potential for more misdeeds.
In a school setting, teachers also have a responsibility to their students. They have to be more observant. Oftentimes teachers don’t see the initial acts of the bully, but they do see those of the victim who retaliates. I know the role of a teacher and administrator is one that is incredibly busy, but looking out for the little things can literally be the difference between life and death.
Parents also have to be proactive in their approach to bullying – whether their child is the perpetrator or the victim.
I have a friend in Atlanta who is Black and her teenage daughter goes to a predominately white school system. Her child was getting bullied so bad from her white peers that my friend enrolled her in a more diverse school system. Some of our mutual friends said that switching schools was a bit extreme and that it meant she ran away from the issue, but my friend looked at it as a way to save her child from harassment and ridicule.
Such an effort may not be conducive for some people, but I do applaud my friend for at least being aware of the problem and working towards a solution that was best for her specific situation.
The bottom line is issues need to be addressed. When things don’t get addressed, problems continuously reoccur and a system of corruption is developed – from an individual perspective or that of an institution or corporation.
You can email comments to Shannon Williams at shannonw@indyrecorder.com.
