Kids Need to Feel Safe at School

As I was mindlessly flipping through the channels on the television yesterday, there was yet another story of teenage bullying in the news. I'm not completely sure if it only seems like this particular issue is more prevalent because we have been talking about it so much in class lately and I am subconsciously more apt to be interested in it or if this is becoming an issue of epic proportions.

This incident was particularly troubling to me. A high school boy in Arkansas was hospitalized, suffering bruises and some broken bones. This is troubling because it was the second time this school year the same bully had beaten up the same victim. The first attack however apparently didn't raise many eyebrows because it was not as severe as the second, which landed the victim in the hospital. So I'm asking myself if that is the criteria for schools to get involved, they don't step in until it is serious enough the victim ends up in the hospital? This particular schools claim was that they are understaffed and the area (and the school) has become overpopulated. It seems like I've heard that one before, there is not enough teachers to monitor all of the students all of the time. Now, I'm not saying the schools should be 100% responsible; the parents and the bully himself need to assume some accountability,however all kids should be able to feel safe at school. With all of these recent bullying examples, this doesn't seem to be the case.

Something has to be done about this issue, it is simply not just going to go away. how long can the schools play the "our hands are tied card" without taking steps to try and correct this problem. If the schools are not somehow held accountable of bullying that occurs on and off school grounds, I believe that is a grave disservice to our children.

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=102736938327&id=93710322266