U.S Department of Health and Human Services
Launches Anti-Bullying Campaign
by Kevin Caruso
The U.S Department of Health and Human Services launched an anti-bullying campaign in March 2004. The $3 million campaign will push public awareness about bullying.
Many schools are launching their own anti-bullying campaigns as this serious issue is being given more attention. More teachers and administrators are finally realizing the serious nature of bullying. Indeed, bullying can lead to victims becoming depressed and suicidal.
And some victims of bullying die by suicide.
All schools should have a zero-tolerance policy for bullying. Students who are bullied need to be able to come forward and get help when they are bullied, and students need to feel comfortable with reporting acts of bullying that they witness.
Administrators, teachers, parents, and students all need to work together for an anti-bullying campaign to be effective.
Bullying may occur in many ways. Bullying is not limited to verbal and physical abuse. Excluding a student from activities is also very damaging to him or her. For example, a young girl may sit down at a lunch table with some other girls only to be told that she cannot sit with them. Or a young boy may want to play basketball but the other students will not let him join in the game.
Any type of bullying is wrong. And swift action should be taken when bullying occurs.
Students who are bullied do not want to go to school. They lose their self-esteem. They become fearful and withdrawn. And, again, may die by suicide.
Bullying is a very serious problem, and all schools should have an anti-bullying policy.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services campaign is a step in the right direction, but we have much more work to do.
If you are a student or a parent, ask the principal what the school's anti-bullying policy is.
If the principal says that there is no such policy, demand that one be implemented. And if the principal explains the policy and you believe it is inadequate, demand that the policy be improved immediately.
Students always need to report bullying.
And parents always need to ask their children if they are being bullied.
Bullying causes suicide.
And we should not lose a single child to suicide because of bullying.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.
Thank you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
