Forms ofBullying

Don’t be fooled by what you see. Bullying comes in all sizes, shapes, genders, races, religions, and ages. Verbal threats, stealing, intimidation, exclusion, physical harm, name-calling, humiliation, and manipulations are some tactics that are serious — and forms ofbullying.

Bullying doesn’t just consist of students bullying one another. I have seen children being bullied by their parents, guardians, teachers/educators and higher authorities. What does thatachieve?

Honestly, it is really sad. I think to myself, who are children supposed to trust? Who are they supposed to confide in if the “adults” are the ones who are the bullies? When a child is bullied by an adult how should a child respond? The child cannot fight back or take up for themselves when it comes to confronting an adult that is thebully.

When a child is being bullied by a grown-up it changes their frame of thinking, and at times they shut down because they feel confined in a box with no one to turn to. Some children hesitate to speak to their parents or a responsible adult because they feel an adult would believe the other adult over achild.

When I was in sixth grade, my teacher told my father I had disrespected him, which wasn’t true. The teacher was very upset because he asked me to wash the board and clean the band room as punishment for something I did not do. As I was sitting down in the band room, one of my classmates scooted my chair back without my knowing. I neglected to look to see if the chair was there before I sat down; because it had been there when I got up to adjust my stand and music sheet. After I cleaned my clarinet I “thought” I was going to sit in my chair; instead I landed right on a hard tile floor. I knew who did it, because once before the girl stole my clarinet and lied aboutit.

After I fell on the floor the entire class was laughing. It was humiliating. The band teacher was outside talking to another teacher. I jumped up and punched the girl in the face. I was sick of her always picking on me and stealing from me. I’d hadenough!

The teacher only saw me defending myself, yet he accused me of starting the fight without bothering to ask what happened. He sent me to the principal’s office. However, the girl stayed inclass.

I tried explaining to him what happened, but he began to yell at me, saying, “Go to the main office now!” After I went to the main offic