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School Bullies Are a Health Menace |
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Thursday, 08 March 2007 |
 Dr. Ernest Levister, Jr.
Too many children are being terrorized at school or on the
playground and remaining silent about it.
Following a spat of tragic school shootings, the AMA's House of
Delegates Council on Scientific Affairs reviewed bullying among U.S.
children and found that bullies represent seven to 15 percent of sampled
school-age populations and victims represent 10 percent.
In 2006 the AMA adopted a report calling on physicians,
teachers and parents to help reduce bullying behavior among children by being
vigilant for signs that children are living in silent fear. In elementary
schools, more boys than girls are involved in bullying, however the gender
difference decreases in junior high and high school, and social bullying among
girls - manipulation done to harm or prevent acceptance into a group - becomes
harder to detect.
Bullying is a behavior that involves a pattern of repeated
aggression, deliberate intent to harm or scare a victim despite apparent distress.
Bullying is usually due to age, strength, race, personality or size difference.
It is now widely believed the tragic Columbine school shootings could have been
avoided with intervention.
The AMA and the National Medical Association has joined
hands with teachers and parents in a national campaign to change attitudes
about bullying. Schools will be provided with "Anti-bullying" kits and asked to
conduct on campus workshops aimed at identifying signs of bullying. Parents and
healthcare providers are being encouraged to help build supportive home
environments, as well as teach children how to get along socially, resolve
conflicts, deal with frustration and cope with anger and stress. To get
involved in the AMA/NMA's bullying campaign, contact your child's school.
Without intervention, bullying can lead to serious academic, social, emotional,
and legal problems.
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