October is known as the National Bullying Awareness Month. Many schools have one day in this month to show their support towards anti-bullying. At Solon, on Oct. 16 there was a unity day where students wore orange to show our support towards anti-bullying.
Bullying is a problem all around the world. In 2010-11 there were about 28% of students being bullied in school, and since then it has been brought down to about 19% when it was last reported in 2021-22 according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. Over the past 10 years, that number has gone down by almost 10% because of school bullying prevention programs like unity day.
Guidance counselor Cynthia Russell said that here at Solon, there is a zero tolerance policy for bullying.
“These policies are established because we want everyone to know what types of behavior are considered bullying, so there is no confusion when it comes to a bullying claim,” Russell said.
Russell also said what happens when a bullying report has been made.
“The bullying report is reviewed,” Russell said. “Like if there are any witnesses, then we ask you to identify names, and we give out a consequence which is 10 out of school detention, sometimes even recommended for expulsion, and even sometimes people could make police reports from it.”
But there still are some students who get bullied but are too afraid to speak about it to anyone because they don’t want to get into more trouble with the bully.
Students will sometimes see bullying happening, and they don’t know what to do to help that person. Sophomore Myla Gallagher said she tries to help bullies.
“Tell them encouraging words to the kid that’s getting bullied and be their friend and try to stick up for them,” Gallagher said.
Sophomore Jordan Klein said how teaching students about bullying can help students stop bullying others
“I think that bullying can be prevented by teaching kids/students about bullying and how to be kind and empathetic to others,” Klein says, “If you are in a situation when you are getting bullied, you can prevent it by walking away or telling a trusted adult about the situation.”
Bullying is seen in schools all around the world, there are many reasons bullying starts, but why do bullies start bullying in the first place?
“I think bullies might be insecure about [themselves] do they take it out on other people,” Gallagher said.
Even though October is coming to an end, there are still many ways to prevent bullying at school all throughout the year. If you see someone being bullied don’t be afraid to go up to them and help them out, it could make them feel a lot better. Then help them find someone to talk to so the bullying is prevented from getting worse, like a guidance counselor or any adult in the building.
If you are being bullied in school you can go to a teacher, school counselor, school principal, school superintendent or State Department of Education, any of them will get you the help that you need to feel safe in school.
