bully!!!

In the LA Times editorial ‘Defunding Bullies’ written on Thursday October28, 2010, the article states, “… U.S. Department of Education announces this week that it might withhold federal funding from schools that fail to stop bullying ….” Bullying has become a major epidemic in schools. One may believe that bullying happens in only elementary schools however bullying has been found to happen in high schools and as far as in college. The issue on bullying has been going on forever it is only up until recent that the government has interfered.  In many instances bullying has been known to result in catastrophic events. Schools have been given great amounts of money to start and enforce an anti-Bullying program in schools. However many schools have failed to comply causing the U.S. Education department to stop giving the schools federal aid. This makes no sense, the government has no rite to panelize the education of our youths for a really dumb issue that can be easily solved or prevented.

What is bullying you may ask. There are many different types of bullying, for example cyber bulling. This is when bullies forward or spread harmful images or text using technology. There is also emotional bullying which is when someone is excluded or isolated from participating in certain activities. Another, type of bulling is the one most commonly used which is physically bullying. This refers to any unwanted physical contact which includes kicking, pinching, hitting, hair pulling, and basically. “Bullying leads to tragedy” both long term and short term consequenses. In the past few years there have been many murders and suicides due to this issue. For example the most famous murder case was the Columbine shooting. The most recent cases are the four suicides of Ohio high school students in October 2008. The second most recent suicide case due to bullying took place in Massachusetts nine teenagers are being tried for the death of a fifteen year old girl. In bullying someone will always end up getting hurt.

            “Schools have been given an enormous amount of grants”…. to start anti-bullying programs. In doing so the government believes it will reduce the amount of bullying. The government is trying to pass federal laws in every state to help enforce the cause. The government has decided to stop funding private schools. If they see that the schools are not meeting up to the governments standards. Many schools are failing to meet the standards and as a result there loosing money. This does not only affect the schools, it also affects the students.  Teachers are being laid off creating more unemployment. The schools are being forced to increase the amount of students per class. Students will not have a table to write on or a chair to sit on. There will be no athletic equipment for children to play with. So what caused this massive chain reaction a little problem that can easily be fixed and or prevented?

            The article states that the education department has the right to use all the power at their disposal. I strongly disagree as I mentioned before there is no reason for the government to cut off funding. Bulling can easily be prevented for example by good parenting. Parents should take the initiative to talk with their children and find out their personal life. Kids should take self defense classes and find friends to talk about the issue of bullying. The government has no reason to penalize school, teachers, and students.