Though the 2024 fall semester is only weeks old, media reports show that bullying is alive and well in schools across the United States. For example, in Bakersville, Cal., two teens forced a middle school boy to lick their shoes. Fun times! In Keene, NH, a middle school student died by suicide last week after she experienced constant bullying. Meanwhile, Chalkbeat New York reports that "more New York City students than at any point in the past five years say kids in their schools regularly bully each other." Additionally, says Chalkbeat, "roughly 43% of students reported seeing regular bullying and harassment online this year, compared to 35% in 2019."
And bullying doesn't just happen between students. Increasingly, students bully their teachers. A recent New York Times article reported that 7th and 8th grade students in Malvern, Penn. found a creative and deeply disturbing way to bully their teachers online. The students created fake Tik Toc accounts for the teachers and posted "disparaging, lewd, racist and homophobic videos in the first known mass attack of its kind in the U.S."
Behavior like this is one reason why some schools are banning cell phones in school. But in a culture where kids spend most of their time online, banning cell phones for six hours/day won't prevent incidents like this No one really knows what will. Despite the many well-meaning and well-researched anti-bullying and social-emotional learning programs that schools put in place, students continue to bully. Indeed it seems like there is no end to the meanness.
Tonight, many of us will watch the presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. While it hasn't happened yet, we know what to expect. We already know that Trump will assail Harris with a steady stream of lies about her policies and plans for the country. We know he'll make demeaning and misogynistic comments about her appearance and intelligence. Bullying has been around throughout human history and Trump isn't the first bully we've ever seen. But, since he entered politics in 2016, the former president has encouraged millions of supporters to believe that bullying is perfectly acceptable. Call it trickle-down bullying.
The headline for a June 26 Time Magazine article by Philip Elliott put it this way: "Donald Trump Has One Debate Mode: Bullying." Elliott goes on to write: "the general throughline—beyond the perpetual lying—has been [Trump's] inclination to retreat to bullying whenever he feels even remotely threatened."
Is it any wonder then, that American school kids are bigger bullies than ever? How can we expect young people to stop bullying when they see their leaders doing it on a daily basis.
Will bullying decrease in a Harris presidency? Probably not. Trump's supporters will be angrier than ever if Harris wins. They're bound to strike out against their fellow Americans.
Is it too late for us to change? We can only hope not!
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