Bullying in School Proposal
Bullying in School Proposal
Randy Stites
DeVry University
Week 8 Final
ENGL135/Advanced Composition
Professor: Steve Singleton
Brandon Bitner was a freshman honor student at Midd-West High School from Middleburg, PA. Brandon was an accomplished violinist. In school he found the ability to express his interest as we as he by wearing black clothing and eyeliner. School was also his biggest torment. On November 9th, 2010 Brandon took his own life by stepping in front of a moving tractor trailer, as the result of constant bullying. In his suicide note that he left on his computer, said he felt powerless and could not endure another four years of being called “faggot” and “sissy”. Brenckle, 2010) Four more students across America commit suicide, Seth Walsh, 13, Asher Brown, 13, Billy Lucas, 15, and Tyler Clementi, 18, all in the month of September from being bullied. (Drexler, 2010) Even though not every victim of bullying results in suicide, it has to stop. I have had two friends commit suicide from the years of bullying they endured while in school. Bullying has not only led to an increase in teen suicides, an increase in school violence and shootings, it also has long lasting emotional and psychological effects beyond school. This not only has to change, it can change. No child should ever have to live in fear while trying to learn. This will not be an overnight fix, yet teachers, staff and lawmakers need to be proactive with anti-bullying and not reactive to something that has already happened and happening. The purpose of this proposal is to show readers that bullying is a serious problem and not just kids being kids. The problems are due to bullying from a victim to the bully, and the long lasting effects emotional and psychological if something is not done to prevent it from happening, and by implementing practices that promote social justice and equity in schools, will instill a level playing field for every student. One city
Randy Stites
DeVry University
Week 8 Final
ENGL135/Advanced Composition
Professor: Steve Singleton
Brandon Bitner was a freshman honor student at Midd-West High School from Middleburg, PA. Brandon was an accomplished violinist. In school he found the ability to express his interest as we as he by wearing black clothing and eyeliner. School was also his biggest torment. On November 9th, 2010 Brandon took his own life by stepping in front of a moving tractor trailer, as the result of constant bullying. In his suicide note that he left on his computer, said he felt powerless and could not endure another four years of being called “faggot” and “sissy”. Brenckle, 2010) Four more students across America commit suicide, Seth Walsh, 13, Asher Brown, 13, Billy Lucas, 15, and Tyler Clementi, 18, all in the month of September from being bullied. (Drexler, 2010) Even though not every victim of bullying results in suicide, it has to stop. I have had two friends commit suicide from the years of bullying they endured while in school. Bullying has not only led to an increase in teen suicides, an increase in school violence and shootings, it also has long lasting emotional and psychological effects beyond school. This not only has to change, it can change. No child should ever have to live in fear while trying to learn. This will not be an overnight fix, yet teachers, staff and lawmakers need to be proactive with anti-bullying and not reactive to something that has already happened and happening. The purpose of this proposal is to show readers that bullying is a serious problem and not just kids being kids. The problems are due to bullying from a victim to the bully, and the long lasting effects emotional and psychological if something is not done to prevent it from happening, and by implementing practices that promote social justice and equity in schools, will instill a level playing field for every student. One city
References: dams, F. D. (2011). Bullying victims: The effects last into college. American Secondary Education, 40(1), 4-13. Baldry, A. C. (2004) The impact of direct and indirect bullying on the mental and physical health of Italian youngsters. Aggressive Behavior, 30(5), 343-355. Carpenter, D. & Ferguson, C. J. (n.d.) History of bullying: Retrieved from Netplaces website: http://www.noodletools.com/noodlebib/cite.php?ADD=Web%20Site Center, P. (Ed.). (2005, October). What if your child is the bully. Retrieved from Pacer website: http://www.pacer.org/parent/php/PHP-c109.pdf Drexler, L. (2010, October 30). Teen bullying is not just 'kidding around ' The Patriot-News. Golgowski, N. (2014, September 24). Staff at Florida school where bullied boy shot himself was told to ignore trouble students: letter. Daily News, news. HelpGuide. (n.d.). Dealing with bullying. Retrieved from HelpGuide website: http://www.helpguide.org/articles/abuse/dealing-with-bullying.htm Rust, J., & Rieman, J. (n.d.). Stop bullying me:! Preventing bullying before it begins. Prevention Bullying Before It Begins. Sullo, B. (2010) Getting to the roots of bullying. Virginia Journal of Education. Terren, N. C. (2014, July 27) Racist victimization in schools in the United Kingdom. The Prisma. Ttofi, M. M., & Farrington, D. P. (2008), Bullying: Short-term and long-term effects, and the importance of defiance theory in explanation and prevention. Victims and Offenders, 3, 289-312. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15564880802143397 Whitson, S. (2012, March 26). What parents can do when bullying is downplayed at school. The Huffington Post, The Blog.