It may take different forms these days with the advent of social media and new technology, but bullying has been a problem for school children of all ages for a long time.
That doesn’t make it right, and that doesn’t mean it isn’t more visible now because of those advances in technology.
What hasn’t changed is the way it can make children feel — and the way that it can make them act out enough to hurt themselves or others if bullying is taken to the extreme.
On Sunday, the community has a chance to hear from a young woman who endured years of bullying and has now become an activist in the crusade to end the cruel treatment of others.
Jessica Brookshire of K.A.R.M.A. — Kids Against Ridicule, Meanness and Aggression — will bring her message to Jefferson Davis Community College. Parents and students are encouraged to attend the event, sponsored by the City of Brewton, JDCC, the Coalition for a Healthier Escambia County and Toomer’s for Tuscaloosa.
We hope that all parents will take the time to bring their children to this event — and that they will continue the conversation after they get home.
It takes all of us — parents, teachers, administrators, church members, community members — to guide young people in the right direction.
Bullying has become such a problem that for some children, it is not just something to endure but a roadblock that can derail them. We have all seen the news stories of those students who acted out after repeated bullying — stories that have ended tragically, either in suicide or in violence toward others.
Our hope is that students will see how destructive bullying can be — and that they will continue to treat each other and everyone with kindness.