Position Research Paper

Kevin Davies 

Mrs. Zurkowski

Reds

1 October 2010          

Bullying

            Bullying is a huge problem in our society and there is one thing everyone agrees on about it.  It needs to be fixed and gotten rid of.  Though no-one wants bullying or to be bullied, not everyone agrees on how to get rid of it and if enough is being done.  Bullying was not really emphasized until there were law-suits filed against schools because they did not do anything to stop bullying.  There have also been law-suits filed against the bullies and their parents.  The Columbine school shooting also got a lot of attention.  Two students killed 13 people in their school and then committed suicide because they were bullied.  There was a program started by the father of the first student killed called Rachel’s Challenge to discourage bullying.  Schools are doing a lot to stop bullying however, they should not have jurisdiction over bullying situations outside of school, and if kids are bullied they should be able to defend themselves in any way needed.

            There are a lot of things being done to stop, discourage, and enforce rules against bullying.  One example of bullying is a law legislators agreed to put into effect in Illinois.  Schools are bringing in programs that specialize in anti-bullying.  An example of one of these programs is Rachel’s Challenge which encourages people to start a chain reaction of kindness.  Studies show that the environment that people are in influence how much bullying is done and what the chosen method of bullying is.  There has been a lot of increase in supervision in places of common bullying like, locker rooms, hallways, cafeterias, and on campus after school.  Experts say, “Understanding the full measure of bullying is especially important now as states, districts, and federal education officials step up their efforts to combat the scourge in schools,”(Viadero).  Therefor a huge effort is being made to stop, and control bullying and to help victims of bullying.

            Schools should not have jurisdiction over bullying situations outside of school that don’t affect anything in school.  For example, cyber-bullying is happening more often now that kids get hold of technology much easier.  When the cyber-bullying is carried into school or affects a victims grades then schools can have jurisdiction.  Schools do not need an extra thing to worry about especially when it has nothing to do with their business.  Things like figuring out anonymous cyber-bullies is not what teachers should be paid to do when they should not have jurisdiction.  Everyone knows “consequences can be devastating and even deadly,”(Mehta).  Schools should not have to deal with extra issues that make jobs hectic,  and hectic jobs usually sloppy, poor jobs.  The fight against bullying can not be messed up.

            Bullying can be and is often extremely harsh so kids should be able to defend themselves in any way.  A lot of times both the student and bully get in trouble when the victim defends himself/herself against the bully.  Bullying has ended in death for both the bully and victim.  There have been cases when the bully kills the victim.  There have even been cases when the bully dies in a fight he/she starts with the victim.  Bullies will die trying to kill a victim.  There are also verbal situations when the victim gets abused and should be able to verbally defend himself/herself.  Victims of bullying should not have to just take bullying, but they should have the rite of defense.

            “What good is passing laws against "bullying" if states aren't doing much to enforce them?”(McClatchy), some say.  A lot of people say with all of the bullying, and the low amount of  bullying reported by authorities, rules against bullying are not enforced.  Bullying can be hard to prove, especially cyber-bullying.  Most kids don’t report bullying.  Bullying is also very hard to catch.  Rules against it are enforced.  More teachers are starting to care for their students.  Bullies are being severely punished for their actions.  Often times penalties involve being suspended and expelled.  Rules against bullying are being enforced in most schools.

            Some say there has not been a lot of progress made against bullying.  They say not everybody is pushing hard enough against bullying.  This is not true.  Not only are schools pushing hard against bullying, but legislators are too.  There are even laws being made.  Forty-four states already have laws against bullying.  All of them require policies to be written.  Policies are constantly being updated to adapt to current situations.

            Bullying is a very big issue that must be fixed.  Everyone has to do something about it.  This includes teachers that need to pay attention to students and discourage bullying.  Students need to stand up to bullies.  Parents need to discourage bullying.  Legislators need to keep pushing for better laws.  Being involved is important.  Kids should be able to defend themselves inside of school where there is a lot being done to stop bullying, and outside of school where schools shouldn’t have jurisdiction.

Works Cited

Mehta, Seema. "Meaner Bullying Is Stirring New Tactics." Los Angeles Times (Los Angeles, CA). 07 Mar 2008: B.1. SIRS Researcher. Web. 23 Sep 2010.

"Schools Need to Follow Through Against Bullying." McClatchy - Tribune Business News. 05 Oct 2009: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 28 Sep 2010.

Viadero, Debra. "Studies Probe 'Ecology' of Bullying." Education Week Vol. 29, No. 32. 19 May 2010: 1-3. SIRS Researcher. Web. 24 Sep 2010.