The issue of  bullying has recently become a passion of mine.  I have experienced being bullied when I was in school, and I totally detest those who bully others.  For the past several months, I have monitored an individual on Facebook group sites that we considered to be a bully and a troll (one who seeks out others to take advantage of).  However, after the recent loss of a young teenage girl from the Kasson-Mantorville school district, I have decided it was time for me to step up my efforts to see what I can do to help others deal with bullying.

Bullying has been around for centuries.  In fact, during the nineteenth century, society did not look at bullying to be an issue.  Instead, parents were allowed to treat children as they wished, and schoolmasters were often considered to be ones that instigated bullying by the way they treated students.  So, as one can see, the idea of kids bullying other kids became a norm that went on for many years, even here in the United States.

Today, however, civil rights groups have brought the issue to the forefront of the Justice System, causing laws and policies to be passed to help protect the rights of individuals to not be bullied.  Yet, as we all are aware, these laws and policies appear to have no effect.  Many school districts fail to enforce their own policies against bullying, much less enforce teachers to take action against any students they see bullying others.  This is not to say all schools fail to train their staff.  Many schools have become very vigilant and have reduced bullying greatly.

As community groups continue to publicize the issue, more parents and students are learning how to cope or reduce bullying.  It is not an easy task, but we are making progress.  We all need to do our part to publicize the dangers of bullying - and cyberbullying - on a daily basis, and to help make a difference to our children.

Just a thought..........