About the Movement

Anti-Bullying

Let Kindness Blossom

Bullying has always been a constant challenge and fear in many people’s lives. Students are

easily subjected to being physically and emotionally harmed by others, specifically in schools. Bullying

has always existed, but there was not a legislative priority to act against bullying until after April 20,

1999. Two students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, shot 13 students to death at their own high school,

Columbine High School in Littleton, Colora​d​o (“The Importance of Anti-Bullying Programs and

Laws”). Harris and Klebold were both victims of bullying and the shooting spree was an act of

retaliation for their times of suffering. After harming over 20 people and killing 13, the two students

turned the guns on themselves. As a predictable reaction, Colorado immediately took action against

bullying and the whole country followed in its footsteps. In 2001 Colorado legislature passed a law

requiring all school districts to have an anti-bullying policy. From 1999, the year the tragic Columbine

shooting took place, to 2010 state legislatures across America passed over 120 bills that introduced or

revised anti-bullying laws in their criminal and education codes. This was just the rapid beginning of

the country taking action against bullying, by passing more laws and policies to protect students.

One of the main reasons there are laws put in place for bullying is because of the mental effects

people go through from this harrassment. Bullying can increase depression, anxiety, headaches,

tenseness, abdominal pain and sleep. ​Those who are bullied are put in a constant fear, since bullying is

relentless. This can cause students to be ​less likely to achieve in school since the victims are unable to

concentrate (​“Effects of Bullying”​). ​Many studies have proven that those who are tormented by their

peers and friends are more likely to become depressed, have anxiety, low self esteem, and more likely
to contemplate suicide.​ ​Although the main focus is on the victims of bullying, those who bully are

additionally at risk of mental illness. Those who bully have a higher chance of becoming depressed,

because it is common for a bully to have experienced that same pain in the past. It’s terrifying how

bullying can also affect a person as an adult. For example, studies have shown 1- 4 kids who bully at a

young age have a criminal record by the time they are 30. ​Students are more likely to become more

violent when they’ve been bullied and in extreme cases, bullying victims may become school shooters.

Out of the 15 school shootings in the 1990’s, 12 of the shooters had a history of being bullied. It’s

heartbreaking that past school shootings could have been prevented by more simple acts of kindness in

school. As if bullying didn’t already have a negative effect on the victim and the bully, it also takes a

toll on bystanders who witness harassment. Bystanders become more subdued to alcohol and drug

abuse, increased mental health problems, and skipping school regularly. The increased suicide and

violence rates due to bullying are of the many reasons bullying needs to be put to an end. (U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services).

In schools there are trends in which people of specific demographics experience bullying.

People who have disabilities are likely to experience more harsh harassment and violent behavior than

those without. In the National Center for Educational Statistics, 2016, uncovered that ​35.3% of students

with behavioral and emotional disorders, 33.9% of students with autism, 24.3% of students with

intellectual disabilities, 20.8% of students with health impairments, and 19% of students with specific

learning disabilities face bullying in their life​.​ People uncomfortable witht the fact that people are

different than them. This causes bullying to face those who do not fit into social norms. There was

additional data found about how race plays a role in bullying: ​25% of African-American students, 22%

of Caucasian students, 17% of Hispanic students, and 9% of Asian students report being bullied. There
is an incline of bullying towards the LGBTQ community found in National School Climate Survey,

2013, 74.1% of LGBTQ students were verbally bullied because of their sexual orientation, and 55.2%

of students were bullied because of their gender expression. ​Victims of abuse often exhibit similar

characteristics. For example, people that experience bullying usually are more shy and closed off, have

low self-confidence, and have anxiety prior to involvement in these situations. Likewise bullies often

exhibit aggressive behavior, have difficulty following rules, and are spiteful. Those who bully,

normally get frustrated easier than most people, leading to more aggressive behavior than normal.

Overall anyone could be a victim or a bully.

In order to prevent the negative mental effects or deaths of individuals in situations of bullying

or harassment, serious change needs to take place. These changes are necessary because of the

emotional strain on people, specifically youth, and the violence that has been a ​result of the hate in the

world. Methods that may help in the prevention of bullying begin in guiding youth to understand what

bullying is, in order to recognize if they or anyone around them are in a harmful situation. If individuals

learn at a young age, how to “safely stand up” to bullying, they will have a stronger idea of how to

handle a situation when someone is being harmed. Students can safely stand up to bullies by defending

themselves with their words, appearing confident, or most importantly, informing an adult of the

situation. It is ours, as well as many other advocates for Anti Bullying, hope that students know there

are people within organizations, schools, and at home, who are willing to listen to their concerns about

the bullying in their life. Change can start within a single individual who is willing to take a stance

against bullying. Our job as humans is to spread kindness and encouragement to all people, no matter

their past involvement with bullying.

Works Cited:
 
Batis, Tisha Collins. “History of the Antibullying Movement.” Study.com, Study.com,
study.com/academy/lesson/history-of-the-anti-bullying-movement.html.

“Bullying Statistics.” Does My Child Have an Emotional or Behavioral Disorder? - Children's Mental Health and
Emotional or Behavioral Disorders Project,

“Effects of Bullying.” ​StopBullying.gov​, Department of Health and Human Services,

www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/effects/index.html.

“How to Prevent Bullying.” ​StopBullying.gov​, Department of Health and Human Services, 8 Sept. 2017.

“Restoring Peace... One Child at a Time.” ​Teach Anti Bullying-The Barn-Design​, Teach Anti Bullying
Organization.

“StopBullying.gov.” ​StopBullying.gov​, Department of Health and Human Services, www.stopbullying.gov/.

“The Importance of Anti-Bullying Programs and Laws.” ​TeenSafe​, 9 May 2017,

https://www.teensafe.com/blog/the-importance-of-anti-bullying-programs-and-laws/.

https://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/index.html