Set Straight on Bullies

Book excerpt: Bullying, perhaps the most underrated problem in America's schools today, distracts minds and inhibits the learning process; if left unchecked, it can destroy lives and place society at risk. Bullying is defined as one or more individuals inflicting physical, verbal, or emotional abuse upon another individual or individuals. Subliminal abuses related to bullying--such as being teased, intimidated, or intentionally excluded or ostricized--can create fear, anxiety, and pain tantamount to that resulting from physical abuse. In fact, fear of other students motivated 1 of every 12 student dropouts. This book, divided into two sections and four chapters, examines the bullying problem and defines solutions. Chapter 1 discusses the serious and widespread bullying phenomenon; highlighted is the escalation of the problem, if ignored. Chapter 2 pinpoints bully and victim characteristics, causes, and manifestations; permanent scars for the victim and a gloomy future for the bully are predicted. Chapter 3 suggests heightened public awareness to generate support for handling the antisocial bullying phenomenon and chapter 4 explores the intervention strategies of educator action, parental action, and student action. A list of resources is included, and the appendices contain both a student and an adult bully awareness survey. (102 references) (KM)