Bullying is a serious threat to our youth today. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bullying affects 20% of high school students and cyberbullying affects 16% of high school students. Surveys compiled by the CDC also show that 33% of students ages 12-18 who reported bullying at school and 27% of students ages 12-18 who reported cyberbullying indicated that they were bullied at least once or twice a month. Middle schools reported the highest rate of bullying (25%), at least once a week.
Bullying has lasting effects without question. The concern is what do we do with revenge seeking victims, who have been abused for a lifetime and whose cup has just emotionally run over. Rarely do you see a bully involved in a school shooting. It’s always the victim who believes that the only way to get even is to get even with the world as he/she knows it. More has to be done in the area of mental illness to address the clinical issues that victims face. Strengthening the victim with a resiliency based program can develop confidence and improve self esteem.
Here’s why I wish this was around when I was younger.
Bullying is something many of us can relate to. More so because it starts from our playground days and can last a lifetime.
It takes on so many different forms, but perhaps the worst of the damage lies not in physical confrontation (which is bad in itself already), but by callously and cruelly tossed words slung someone’s way.
The intent to injure with words goes beyond name-calling. It’s a systematic way of breaking down and crippling someone else’s self-esteem.
Words at times can do more damage then the physical abuse of bullying. We all have to filter what we say and determine if our words are truthful, kind, and necessary. If they are not then we have to evaluate our motives for saying what we say to others.
College is stressful. Every student faces challenges; some of which are common among peers, and others that are more individual. LGBTQ students, for example, have a unique set of challenges to consider. Fortunately, more and more schools are working to make their campuses, traditional and online, more inclusive. This guide takes a look at those colleges and universities leading the way in providing curricula and resources to support LGBTQ students throughout their college experience. Information on resources, curricula, and student organizations is provided, as well as candid interviews with LGBTQ community leaders to help alleviate some of the worries that LGBTQ students may have when it comes to postsecondary education.
A friendly and welcoming atmosphere needs to start to happen well before college. Schools and communities need to teach their student’s and children how to value the difference in others and be accepting in their actions and attitudes. Bullying occurs for two reasons weakness and difference. Prejudice is learned and we all must work toward a culture of change.
In dealing with the apathetic student it is important to know if the behavior is a learned behavior or a clinical problem.A problem that may require the assistance of a mental health professional. In doing so teachers can then work with social workers and psychologists to establish a plan. Once this plan is developed it will help this student overcome the apathy, and possible depression that is interfering with his/her academic potential. Too often the child can be labeled as lazy or even non-compliant when in reality there is far more going on within the child’s thoughts.
Epigenetics, as a simplified definition, is the study of biological mechanisms that will switch genes on and off. What does that mean? Well, if you are new to this whole thing, we first need a quick crash course in biochemistry and genetics before learning exactly what is epigenetics:
Cells are fundamental working units of every human being. All the instructions required to direct their activities are contained within the chemical deoxyribonucleic acid, also known as DNA.
DNA from humans is made up of approximately 3 billion nucleotide bases. There are four fundamental types of bases that comprise DNA – adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine, commonly abbreviated as A, C, G, and T, respectively.
The sequence, or the order, of the bases is what determines our life instructions. Interestingly enough, our DNA sequence is mostly similar to that of a chimpanzee. Only a fraction of distinctively different sequences makes us human.
Within the 3 billion bases, there are about 20,000 genes. Genes are specific sequences of bases that provide instructions on how to make important proteins – complex molecules that trigger various biological actions to carry out life functions.
This article explains the effects of experience and how life can alter genes for better or worse. Schools need to be aware of this concept and gain an understanding of the parents background and maybe even the grandparents. Trained social workers should perform extensive interviews to help reveal information that could be contributing to a students disrespectful, irresponsible, and non-complaint behaviors.
Parents who are angry and irate can wreak havoc in a school and can be intimidating. Learn how to defuse power struggles and maintain your dignity, and the dignity of the parent as you handle planned and unplanned parent /teacher conferences.This is a 5 hour self study course. The participants may be eligible for 5 hours of professional development credit.