Tolerating a bully should not be just part of growing up. In response to a request from Stearns County school superintendents and principals, Stearns County Attorney Janelle Kendall is working with schools to raise awareness about bullying and harassment of students by other students. Kendall will present “Bullying – It’s Not Just a Fact of Life” at 10 area school districts beginning with school staff training in August. The program is also available to parent organizations and any other groups looking for up to date information on bullying and its long- and short-term effects on victims, bystanders, and the bullies themselves. Kendall hopes that encouraging early intervention will prevent bullies and victims from becoming involved in situations which result in prosecutions by her office. Research conducted over the last 15 years has resulted in a greater understanding of why it is worth our time to stop bullying and harassment of kids. Approximately 160,000 students skip school every day in America because of the fear of being attacked or intimidated by other students. Seventy-five percent of children nationwide describe themselves as victims of bullying, and 37 percent say they don’t feel safe at school. Combined with this, 49 percent of parents say they do not see bullying as a problem, while one in four bullies grow up to have criminal records and many victims end the pattern by harming themselves or violent retaliation toward their attackers. Adults should react immediately when they see someone getting teased, taunted or push ed around. The point of the program is simply to urge adults to say or do something – anything – when they see such behavior occurring. Silence by adults not only affirms the bully, but affirms the victim’s perception that they deserve it or should just take it. Schools nationwide have begun strengthening their anti-harassment policies to clarify that bullying behavior will not be tolerated in their schools. Noting that increasing public knowledge about the dangers of drunk driving and domestic violence changed society’s attitude toward tolerating those behaviors, Kendall hopes that raising awareness of the real effects of bullying will increase the awareness that degrading, humiliating and violent behavior among kids is no longer just part of growing up. Inquiries about the Stearns County Attorney’s Anti-Bullying program should be directed to Janelle Kendall at (320) 656-3880. The bullying program will be presented at Kimball Area High School at 7p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, in the cafetorium.
