Anti Bullying
By:Nevaeh Mackerley
The halls of PJMS when the teachers backs are turned is a perfect opportunity for attack. Some kids fear the halls. I am one of them. Kids point and laugh and spread rumors about each other. Many kids including myself are a target for these things. Anything you say will be back, anything will happen, the attacks are bad, they won't leave you alone. One second could be perfectly fine, the next second you could be hiding from everyone.
As an 8th grader I would like to see the shift but deep down inside I know it wont happen maybe a bit less every time. Maybe us kids won't be in fear of going to school. Kids experience this and some turn into many things. Maybe just maybe PJMS will turn this around. We need to stop bullying because it's not right.
Numbers:Everyday 26.3% of middle schoolers are bullied. This is terrible, we need to stop. 1,544,000 kids get bullied every year from 10-15 years old this is done in person happening right underneath our noses. In October national bully month we should try our hardest to squash this and look at the kids who are being bullied.
Effects:Bullying can cause and will cause many long term effects to kids. There are many here are a few. Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may persist into adulthood.Health complaints.Decreased academic achievement—GPA and standardized test scores—and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school. Sadly many victims of bullying turn into violent measures many school shootings have resolved from kids getting bullied.
Warning signs:Unexplainable injuries.Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry.Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness.Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares.Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school.Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations.Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem.Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide.
Signs of someone bullying:Get into physical or verbal fights.Have friends who bully others.Are increasingly aggressive.Get sent to the principal’s office or to detention frequently.Have unexplained extra money or new belongings.Blame others for their problems.Don’t accept responsibility for their actions.Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity.
So next time when you're in the halls take a closer look at what's happening and maybe we can stop this for good.