Bullying in Schools - New Epidemic?

Where do you start to teach human rights?
In the schools, at home, and at an early age we can do a lot to lower the incidence of bullying and make children aware of the rights of others. The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry says that half of all school children are bullied physically or verbally at one time or another, with cyberbullying being added to the mix. Children who bully are more likely to wind up in the prison system. The consequences of being bullied are diverse, including headaches, poor grades, depression, low self esteem, and even suicide. The Stop Bullying Now Program has developed many interventions that work, and teachers are being trained to recognize bullies and eliminate destructive behavior. Parents should be aware of changes in their child’s behavior and teachers need to pay attention to what is happening in the playground and school halls. A detention or lecture may not be enough. Training and counseling are often needed to assist the bully to learn better behaviors and to help the bullied redevelop self esteem.