STOMP OUT BULLYING

Hello My Fellow Rustin's, today we are going to discuss Bullying and how we can help stomp it out together. Bullying refers to the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing, or threats to abuse, intimidate, or aggressively dominate another person. While bullying can happen to anyone at any age, it is typically experienced most often during childhood and adolescent years. The said truth is, bullying is as common as gym class or some right-of-passage for children almost like a school dance or learning how to drive.. Television, movies and now social media has shown us how the effects of bullying can affect people in different ways. Cyberbullying has taken off as the new form of harassing people nowadays. Cyberbullying is sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior. You see this type of behavior all the time across social media where kids are fighting at school or off campus because of what was said online. Some ways we can help prevent bullying is by:

• Teaching Kindness and Empathy- This includes teaching children to be respectful to others and be accepting and tolerant. Teach acceptance of other people’s race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, or disability. It is not uncommon for children to be afraid or unwelcoming toward things they don’t understand. Teaching them about how people are different and encouraging understanding and acceptance will help reduce ignorance and violence later on.

• Speaking Up-It is also crucial for students to properly report bullying to an adult or person in charge. This should be done regardless of whether they are the victim or a bystander. Teach children that their words matter. Having the power to stand up to people hurting them or others can help improve confidence, foster a sense of independence, and build a strong sense of community.

Unfortunately, there is no federal law to prevent bullying overall but multiple states and cities have taken action and implemented anti-bullying policies in their schools. Some states laws require schools to implement some kind of anti-bullying agenda and sufficiently report and address bullying when it occurs. This does not fix the problems of bullying but it is a start. Let's all do our part to spread the word that bullying has to stop so our youth can grow and learn in a safe environment.

If you know anyone who may be a victim of Bullying, have them contact: STOP BULLYING NOW HOTLINE: 1-800-273-8255

This service set up by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is available 24/7