Letter to the Editor (Independent News Herald)
To the Editor:
October is National
Bullying Prevention Month—October 19 is Unity Day
Bullying is the use of force, coercion, hurtful teasing, or threat, to abuse, aggressively dominate or intimidate. The behavior is often repeated and habitual.
Bullying includes: calling someone hurtful and derogatory names, spreading lies and bad rumors about someone, being mean and teasing someone, hitting, punching, shoving, spitting, and physically hurting someone. It also includes social exclusion or isolation (not including someone in a group), getting certain kids or teens to “gang up” on others, having money or other things taken or damaged, and being threatened or being forced to do things.
Cyberbullying is when kids or teens bully each other using the internet, cell phones or other cyber technology. This can include: sending mean texts, e-mail or instant messages, posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs or on websites, using someone else’s username to spread rumors or lies about someone or stealing someone’s password and spreading rumors about someone else making it seem like that person is the cyberbully.
Bullying happens everywhere: at school, on the bus, in the community, and anywhere children congregate.
October 19 is Unity Day—plan to wear and share the color orange as a tangible representation of the supportive, universal message that our society wants to prevent bullying, and is united for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.
If you would like more information, please visit the Pacer website at www.pacer.org/bullying or feel free to contact Hands of Hope Resource Center. Our business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or give us a call at 320-732-2319 or our 24/7 hotline at 800-682-4547.
Kimberly Cook
General Crime & Child Abuse Services Coordinator
Hands of Hope Resource Center