Here's the problem: In 2010...
-Over half, about 56 percent, of all students have witnesses a bullying crime take place while at school.
-A reported 15 percent of all students who don't show up for school report it to being out of fear of being bullied while at school.
-There are about 71 percent of students that report bullying as an on-going problem.
-Along that same vein, about one out of every 10 students drops out or changes schools because of repeated bullying.
-One out of every 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school.
-Some of the top years for bullying include 4th through 8th graders in which 90 percent were reported as victims of some kind of bullying.
-Other recent bullying statistics reveal that 54 percent of students reported that witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to violence in school.
-Among students of all ages, homicide perpetrators were found to be twice as likely as homicide victims to have been bullied previously by their peers.
-There are about 282,000 students that are reportedly attacked in high schools throughout the nation each month.
(http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-statistics-2010.html)
But I do believe we can change these ongoing bullying problems. We can form a safe environment where no one is judged.
Honestly, I'm probably one of the most awkward, weirdest people ever. And I don't have any really good friends that I feel like I can go to for help, and I know that's the case with a ton of people.
So here's how we change it: We rise against. We treat everyone here and out in the world with respect, because you never know what people are going through. We will be ourselves and be confident with that, and we will compliment each other on their unique traits. And we will never say anything bad about anyone else.
If you can vow to do that, then please join me. Together, we can start a movement.