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Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones
And Words Can Hurt, Too
By Donna Smith
"I was bullied," says Heather S. from Houston, Texas. "Even after 18 years, I can tell you her name, describe what she looked like, show you where she lived and tell you all the horrible things she did to me – in detail. She ruined all my memories of fifth and sixth grade. Those two years will always be remembered as the time that Christie tortured me."
Bullying is in the news, on the talk shows and is often the theme of television sitcoms and after-school specials. Millions of kids each year are bullied, mostly while at school. With that many kids affected by this problem, it's high time that grown-ups start taking bullying seriously.
What counts as bullying behavior? Name calling? Being pushed up against a locker? Being tripped in the lunchroom? Threatening bodily harm? Starting a rumor about a person? Simply put, bullying is when someone does something to have power over another individual. Kids will joke, call each other names and even "horse-play," but when one of the parties wants the interaction to stop and the other party won't, it's bullying. Normal teasing and horse-play are only fun if both children involved are enjoying it. Bullies want to make their victims suffer. They want power.
"I found myself being tripped while walking down the stairs, stared at from across the room, pushed, called names, followed home from school, my clothes written on with chalk, rumors spread about me and my parents' phone ringing off the wall every evening with hang-up calls," says Heather. "And you know what? I never fought back. That is one thing I will regret forever. If I had fought back, it would have stopped."
