Do schools do enough to prevent bullying?
Be kind. Be a buddy, not a bully. ‘Always Fight For What Is Right’. These slogans may sound familiar as many students have heard them. Whether it was on a poster or in a PSA. For years they have left class for an assembly, and for thirty minutes or less, school staff lecture them on the kinds of bullying and how it is wrong.
The people who make public service announcements for bullying have good intentions and want their message to reach far and wide; however, the effectiveness of that message varies. Some believe bullying PSAs can be effective and appreciate them, but some think they are a waste of time since they are not taken seriously by many students.
“I don’t think bullying PSAs do anything, especially considering our modern generation has different priorities,” said Deerfield Beach High School senior Natalie Bullard.
Another piece of advice given to students is, if they see something, say something. The ideal result of telling a teacher would be them disciplining the bully and the victim being okay, but a teacher will sometimes have the opposite effect. In the case of Regaina Lumley, who was a victim of bullying, she did not tell a teacher as she was afraid it would just make the situation worse. Even though a teacher would have good intentions, when a student does inform a teacher about the situation, sometimes the teacher would do little to help, if anything at all.
“I don’t think teachers do enough to prevent bullying. I feel as if they either ignore it or contribute to it,” said DBHS senior Lailah Dorelus.
Not to say that all teachers do not care, but that they might not have the time or patience to deal with what seems to be idle teasing. In the age of holding people accountable for their actions, physical bullying has mainly become a thing of the past. Online trolls, who can hide behind their screens, have replaced bullies, allowing them to say or do whatever they want. At times, this does result in consequences, but other times, said bully manages to get away with their actions.
“I personally think bullying has gotten worse, seeing as how technology has advanced so much it is nearly impossible to track someone,” Natalie Bullard said.
If schools change their approach to anti-bullying, retire those outdated PSAs, and bring in a guidance counselor or a school representative, they could connect more with their students and begin making a difference. When schools improve on their strategies, hopefully, students will listen.
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