Synthesis Essay On Bullying In Schools

Over half of adolescents have claimed they have been victims of cyberbullying. Bullying has been around since time began. It is often portrayed in movies we all grew up with. “Karate Kid”, “The Christmas Story”, “Bridge to Terabithia”, and “The Outsiders” are just a few were bullying has been a part of the story. We have all dealt with it ourselves at some point in time. Over the last several years, bullying has been stealing the spotlight. Suicides due to bullying have made the nightly news. The question that has come up is if schools should get involved with bullying that has happened off campus. Now with the changing of technology, the same question regarding cyberbullying. Technology is quickly changing. That should not change the fact

that what happens off school grounds should be handled off school grounds.
I remember the day when bullying was getting booked (getting your school books knocked out of your hands), getting shoved into lockers and getting out lunch dumped on us. The nerds would always get made fun of, girls would always talk about each other behind their backs. With the advancement in technology, it has changed the way we do everything, including bullying. Now kids behind the screen of a smart phone, iPad or computer can say whatever they want about whomever they want. It can span from anything from pictures or texts that threaten or degrade an individual. In the increasing number of forms of social media, the bullying increases. You have texting, Facebook, twitter, YouTube, snap chat, Instagram and many more apps and web sites out there. There are many more places other than the school halls, playground and local park that bullying can occur.
I also remember how we also just had to deal with the bullies ourselves. We were not allowed to tattle. We had to handle it ourselves. We also had an understanding that this too would past. We didn’t take teasing so personal. We may have gotten mad at someone for a rumor that wasn’t true but it was only a matter of time before someone else was the Vitim of the ridicule. It’s the circle of life. Does it make it right? No. The reality is we will always have that group of people that have nothing better to do with their lives but to make another person’s life a miserable existence. If kids take what someone says cowardly behind a computer screen or through a text, then they will not be ready for the real world. As far as people sending obscene pictures of each other, that’s a hard lesson that needs to be learned. If you do not want the world to see it, do not put it out there. I believe we are making a weaker society by cradling kids.
When there was a fight on school ground, punishment was handled in school. Parents were called, suspensions often happened and that was the end of it. If there was a fight in the local park, it was handled by either the parents of the students involved or the police if it got that bad. Bullying should be handled the same way. If the act was committed off school grounds and off school time then it is not the schools problem and they should let the parents handle it as they see fit. The parents need to be more involved in what their kids are doing online. They need to raise their kids and teach them right from wrong. We are also living in a day and age where children get coddle and have very thin skin. Kids need to learn how to stand up for themselves and others instead of running to a teacher or getting depressed about what someone typed online. Technology is only going to continue to change. Kids are mean to each other and they are only being given more and more ways to do so. They need to learn to deal with it now.
Some may say that something that is shared online may haunt a student. It is all they will think about to the point they will not be forced on their school work. They may fall behind in class and grades may drop due to cyberbullying. Some victims may want to get even with their perpetrator. They may decide that a school shooting is the answer. Now there is more devastation to families than there needed to be. There also may be lasting emotional damage that may even go into adult hood. They may become depressed and never be able to function as a normal adult.
I may not know everything I need to know about this topic.

It is something that I have heard about over and over again all through high school. I avoided all of because my parents did not allow me to get on Facebook and I had limited cell phone access. I hated it then but now I am thankful that they sheltered me from all the extra drama. Most of this was based on opinions from myself and others that I have heard tossed around over the years. I need to get more statistics on bullying and the affects it has. I want to find out how many people say they get bullied. I want to find out how many suicides a year are due to cyberbullying. What are the long term effects of cyberbullying? I also need to find out what schools have already put in place to combat this issue already. Are they already handling this? What exactly are the opposing views on this topic? Why do people think that the school versus the parents should handle this? I would also like to know what the legal punishments are for cyberbullying. Can the teenagers get prosecuted for bullying another student? To what extent? At this point I cannot decipher between what I think I know and what is actual fact. I just plan on taking one question at a time until I can get enough facts to make a strong stance of why what happens out of school should not be punishable in

school.
Despite the changing in technology, schools should not be involved in what happens off school time. You will meet jerks the rest of your life. There will always be someone who doesn’t like you for whatever reason and wants to make your life miserable. Let the kids learn how to deal with it now so they are better prepared for what’s ahead in life. Let the parents start to raise their kids and be more involved. Maybe then bullying will get out of the nightly news spotlight. Maybe then, less adolescents will say they have been cyberbullied.