Eliminating bullying in schools a matter of respect

There have been at least six school shootings and 16 students have died since January. It’s a huge problem that bullying fuels many suicides and school shooting events. It has to stop. That starts with educating students and parents about the problem and solutions.

As a child in elementary school, I experienced bullying. I would come home crying and hurt by the words of my classmates on a near-daily basis. I’m 18 now, and to this day I still remember the nasty names they used to call me, the annoying little rhymes they came up with. It was never-ending.

I’m still insecure about myself in some ways because of the tormenting I received when I was younger. It changed me, even now.

So why do kids, adults and teenagers do it? Some say they deserve it, others are mostly jealous, but perhaps could it be a sign of insecurity in themselves?

This is what I’ve noticed while growing up. If you’re skinny, you’re anorexic. If you’re obese, you eat too much. If you wear make-up, you’re too pretty. If you don’t, you’re ugly. Do you see a pattern? I do, and it keeps getting worse through the years. When it’s not one thing, it’s the other.

Where does bullying occur? Schools, the bus, parks and even just hanging out with friends. It’s everywhere!

“It’s ridiculous. I am appalled at how little respect students have for each other,” says CHS senior Jordan Ertz. “And I’ve noticed it’s even worse in middle school. It’s time that people realize hurting someone else does not make them look cool, it makes them look horrible.”

Jordan, you got that right. It is ridiculous!

My little brother, Michael Kushin, is a sixth-grader at Colony Middle School this year. I, as an older sibling, cringe when I witness him tearfully retell the stories of what happened on the bus and at school, and no one doing anything to stop it.

It hurts my heart when I see others being picked on. There’s no point to this madness. It does not, and will not, make you a better, cooler or more popular person.

Even at the high school level there’s a major absence of manners and respect. Why? Well, possibly it’s how kids were brought up from elementary and middle school, what they’re being taught these days, and the things they see and hear from older siblings, friends or even adults. Nobody is cooler than anybody else. Bullying is never OK.

So how can we stop this? Be a friend. Let your voice be heard. Stand up for yourself and others. Let a teacher, administrator or an adult know. Put an end to this, don’t spread it.

I would like to applaud Colony High School for starting a RESPECT group aimed at ending bullying in our school.

I encourage you this week to find a student, someone you don’t know or maybe someone you do, and help them out.

Don’t walk past it. Together we can put a stop to bullying today.

Kayla Kushin is a Colony High School senior.