Schools: Take care of this very serious issue, NOW.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-national/20101008/US.Bullying.One.Town/

If you read the article that can be found by clicking the link above, you will be astounded by the number of teenage deaths at Mentor High School that are directly related to bullying.  I am very glad to have an opportunity to write about such a serious issue.  Bullying will always be a part of growing up, but the increased exposure that children have to violence, sex, and drugs/alcohol is only making it worse.  Violence, sex, and drugs/alcohol are certainly not the only reason that children are acting out, but there is a definite, noticeable shift in our culture's society, specifically in our youth, from 50 years ago until now.

The second to last paragraph in this article describes one student's struggle with bullying due to her learning disability.  But this is just one story.  There are many other cases that often fly under the news radar concerning deaths among students with disabilities that are attributed to bullying. It's a serious problem.  Junior high school and high school are difficult for every child and even worse for children who don't fit popular or "normal" standards.

The biggest problem we have is that our educators and school administrators are not well-trained in strategies to prevent bullying. I believe that more colleges and universities should have courses specifically designed to address these issues, and in today's world, this is not asking much.  I also think that a universal disciplinary plan should be made for students who bully or harass others.  If every school had a rule that once a student bullied another, he/she would be suspended and sent to an anger management class, the number of bullies would significantly decrease.  And I know what you're thinking: some amounts of aggression or anger is healthy.  Of course it is--but don't children and teens fight enough with their parents, friends, or siblings?  They are exposed to every feeling possible throughout their childhood (maybe some more than others, but they do experience it).  For this reason, that counter argument can be diminished.

Perhaps such a plan would benefit not only schools, but also the country we live in.  If the children are our future, maybe we should be teaching them how to get along with others and accept them for who they are.  They don't have to like everyone, but they should treat others with respect.  "To each their own," so to speak.

We have to address this issue, and the time is now--before the youth's death rate increases even more.