SHORT COMMUNICATION 292
Self-Defense Is Needed
By
Roger Behra
Very often something happens that brings home the fact that American´s school systems are in very dysfunctional condition. It´s a fact that the stranglehold of union influence and control in Sacramento, California, especially, has done irreparable conditions to school over a long period of time, and the newly elected Governor Brown´s decisions are not helping at all. To take matters worse, there is a great and separate worse problem that daily plagues American´s schools: School bullies.
Bullying is a self-inflicted problem because it has nothing to do with school officials. Never-the-less it affects the school day in many schools. It is strictly caused by the school-age children themselves off school property, although it has an effect on the school environment and student achievement.
Bullying directly does harm to the bullied student. Frequently the bullied student is physically harm along with psychological harm and intense dislike for school. It is hard for the bullied student to again adjust to the responsibility of everyday school life.
The National Education Association (NEA) estimates that 25% of American´s school-age children are bullied and 160, 000 suffer the devastation of the reality of bullying: They refuse to go to school due to the fear or being bullied. The 25% of bullied students is 15% of the kids enrolled in American´s schools.
Bullying, apart from directly harming the students, causes an added problem: Their parents becomes directly involved and become emotionally affected. When the bullied student´s father knows the bullying student out could, a legal problem is put into effect. Not a single useful purpose results from bulling in the short-run. The answer is maybe yes in the long-run if the bully faces justice for bad behavior.
Bullying has it´s warning signs and parents should be aware of them. Some of the most important indicators are: The child comes home with torn, damaged clothing, books, or other belongings; has unexplained cuts, bruises and scratches; has few or no friends; dislikes going to school; changes route to and from school; lost interest schoolwork; is doing poorly in school; sad, moody, depressed, teary eyes when he or she comes home; complains of physical problems; has trouble sleeping, bad dreams; loss of appetite; anxious and suffers from low self-esteem.
If you notice any of the warning signs, contact your child´s school. Obtain information from the child and school. Take quick action. Bullying can have very serious effects on children and even require legal action. These are methods of self-defense that reap very good results if you get quickly and properly involved. Your child´s present and future are at stake.
R. B.
12-28-11