How can we stop bullying? it is the common denominator in the lives of school shooters?

Question

Also, don't you think young victims of bullying are getting poor examples of how to deal with the problem? I mean they are getting ideas from what they see in media broadcasts. The Virginia Tech shooter appeared to admire the Columbine shooters. How can we stop all this madness? Are we going to have to homeschool our kids or have them take all their classes online?

Answer 1

Teaching respect for one another, and knowing how to take a joke. Knowing that you're not always going to be number 1, the best, the winner, the most popular, the best looking, the smartest. Accepting that we have to share the earth with all living things and have respect for ourselves. And most importantly - PARENTS THAT ACTUALLY PARENT THEIR CHILDREN.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, I think, that until all adults can be convinced that bullying is a problem, we'll always have bullies. I was bullied as a child - and I got it to stop by knocking the daylights out of a kid. But, this isn't a solution. When my child gets bullied, this is what I've done. I keep a journal of what exactly is happening. (You should too, if you're the one being bullied. Always keep a record - date it, and outline exactly what's happening. Tape record it, video, whatever you have to do) If you have a school handbook that states something like "every kid has a right to be safe in school" use this to your advantage. A kid who gets bullied apparently doesn't have this right. I speak to the teacher. (which, as a rule is useless, but part of the chain) If possible, I talk to the parent. (Sometimes this helps, but it depends on the parent) If these 2 things don't work, I have a letter that I send to the principal, parent, and teacher which outlines exactly what I'm going to do if th bullying continues. If it happens again, the letter says: I will go to the school, and insist on the cops being called. I will insist that the bully's parents be pulled away from work (esp since I'm calling the cops on their kid) I will demand a report. All documentation I've collected to this point will be put in an envelope and will be delivered to the school board. I'll get a lawyer. I will sue the pants off the parents, the school board and anyone else involved. I send this letter to the principal, vice principal, teacher, and I request (in the letter) that the letter be put in my kids file and the bully's file. They usually don't do this, but, since I have a copy, a hard copy and computer copy, I don't worry about it - it'll be their butts, not mine. This is *my* zero tolerance rule for bullies. I don't put up with it, period, and I make life miserable for everyone till it's resolved. Once I start talking lawsuit, the adults take notice. They realize I'm not going to let my kid get bullied because they can't control their kid. Amazing how fast they learn when money is at stake.

Answer 3

This is a really good question. Since most bullying takes place at school,there should be a zero tolerance to this problem. Teachers and parents need to come together on this to help stop the bullying. Some kids can take it and learn to fight back but other kids let it build up until they snap. I know some kids who are home schooled because of this very problem.

Answer 4

I don't think bullying causes mass murder. That's kind of a big stretch. This gunman was obviously a paranoid schizophrenic with the worst possible form of the illness. Most paranoiacs would never do such a thing. But paranoia is common in mass murderers, though many are not mentally ill at all.
That said, of course I agree that we should work to stop bullying. It does cause some serious social problems, and often most of all for the bullies themselves, who never learn to function well in society. This kind of behavior should not be tolerated.

Answer 5

I think a lot of people at some point in their life, will feel picked on or bullied. Adolescence is tough for a lot of kids. However, most of them deal with it, learn from the adversity, and grow up just fine. Anyone that can take a gun to their classmates has mental issues, and that is the deciding factor in how they react to problems they have with their peers.

I do think that teachers & school administrators should keep an eye out for bad cases of bullying, but so should parents. Parents should raise their children in such a way that they will feel comfortable talking to them about problems they are having at school.

I don't think home schooling is the answer, kids need to learn how to socialize with others. And they need to learn that not everyone will like them, the grown-up working world is also unfriendly at times. Keeping children at home and isolated will not help them when it comes time to grow up.

Answer 6

Parents need to start parenting their children. Period. Too many parents do not want to take the time to actually teach their children the difference between right and wrong, and being respectful to other people-so many children have no idea how to be kind to other people. They are too busy having the "It's all about me" way of thinking.
To be honest, I don't think that the news media is giving anyone any new "ideas". If they are that fed up with life in general, and feeling like a martyr, I guarantee they have already thought of doing things along the same like as what happened at VT.

Answer 7

There have always been mean kids - this is nothing new. Mental illness, poor self-esteem, poor coping skills, and poor social skills are all factors when on who was bullied snaps.

There will always be bullies. They should not be tolerated in schools. However, targets of bullies need help also. They need to be taught that self-esteem comes from doing good works. They need to be taught that who they are as a person, and their character defines them, not what some bully says about them. They need to learn how to defend themselves and resolve conflict successfully.

This is called life. Life is tough. Kids need to be taught how to successfully deal with the tough situations of life. Perhaps that is the problem - many adults don't even know how do deal with the tough situation of life - how are they going to teach the children when they don't do it themselves.

Answer 8

It's a growing problem with a lack of accountability among parents.

Teach your kids that it's not OK to be a bully. Be part of their lives. You should know if your kid is one.

On the flip side, encourage your children every day. A confident kid doesn't get bullied as much as the ones who are timid and un-confident. They just aren't as easy targets. And if they are getting bullied, they shouldn't be afraid to tell someone.

Parents need to be more involved. And they need to teach their kids to be empathetic, caring individuals. That's the only way to stop this stuff.

Answer 9

In order to strengthen a nation or society the family must be strengthened. We can learn and teach values and morales in our homes. That goes both ways for those who bully and those who receive the affliction. We can learn to be kind and caring in an environment of love in the home, which will be reflect in our families, friendships, schools work, on the road, in society, etc. If the home and moral standards are destroyed, then the society or a nation will follow with it.

Answer 10

Bullying does not excuse the actions of a mass murderer but it still is a blight in our schools. We have even had bullies write answer to this question saying "Stop whining". If you see bullying by young people put a stop to it right away. No one should be a victim of a bully, who is really just a coward.

Answer 11

Damn, I wish I could yell on a keyboard. YOU STOP BULLYING BY BEATING THE BULLY TO THE GROUND! KIDS NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DEFEND THEMSELVES INSTEAD OF COWERING AND "REPORTING" THE BULLY!

My generation (I'm 51) did not have these problems. Yes we had bullies... each of them finally met their match on the playground or in an alley and got bloodied up. We didn't get expelled for defending ourselves,indeed, we didn't even get in trouble. We had no school shootings. We had no bullying problems, at least none that lasted very long.