Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Endangered youth: Ways to help prevent bullying

  • October 13, 2022
  • Denise George
  • Endangered Youth Series, Featured, Latest News
man wearing blue hooded jacket standing on forest
(Unsplash photo)

Endangered youth: Ways to help prevent bullying

EDITOR’S NOTE — Across the nation, children and teens are plagued by a host of escalating tragedies. In this series, we look at several issues facing America’s endangered youth and offer ways you and your church can help care for the next generation. For more stories in this series, click here.

Bullying has become an epidemic in the United States, too often escalating with tragic and deadly results.

In 2019, after reportedly being bullied on his school bus, 10-year-old Seven Bridges came home and hanged himself. The boy from Louisville had allegedly been repeatedly teased, harassed and physically attacked by older classmates.

This is just one of other similar stories.

Currently, more than 282,000 school-aged students are physically assaulted each month in secondary schools, according to educationcorner.com.

More than 70% report they have witnessed bullying in their school; more than 160,000 each day refuse to go to school for fear of being bullied. Sixty-four percent who are bullied don’t report it.

Bullying can be physical kicking, hitting or blocking, causing a child to fear for his safety. It can be verbal, including threats, taunts, teasing, name calling or abusive language. 

Social bullying can involve spreading malicious rumors, shunning a child or teen from social groups or embarrassing them in public. The Internet has taken this reality to a new level — cyberbullying.

A bully can now torment a victim continuously through text messaging, video and photo clips, emails, instant messaging, chatrooms and other electronic means. It can happen at school, home,church or on buses or community playgrounds. 

Currently, no federal law directly addresses the problem of bullying, although in some cases it overlaps with discriminatory harassment. 

What can pastors, church and community members, teachers, caregivers and families do to help stop bullying?

Here are some suggestions: 

  • When you see it taking place, respond quickly. Call 911 if necessary.
  • Provide adult supervision in areas where children and youth gather. 
  • Educate yourself and others who are responsible for caring for children on the facts of bullying. Join with others to enforce zero tolerance of bullying violence. 
  • Watch for the warning signs of a child being bullied: unexplainable injuries, social isolation, sleeping difficulties or nightmares, self-destructive behavior, declining grades, a sudden loss of interest or changes in eating and other behaviors.
  • Watch for signs of a bully — a child or youth who is increasingly aggressive, gets into fights, is verbally abusive or humiliates others.
  • Talk with, listen to and teach children and youth that bullying behavior is serious, wrong and will not be tolerated.
  • Work together with agencies in the community to address the issue publicly through seminars, workshops and community functions.
  • Seek out and help provide professional help for both the bully and the victim.

Resources: 

To learn more about bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/laws/federal.

For information about how to talk with children and youth: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/how-to-talk-about-bullying. 

To become aware of current laws, policies and regulations: https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/laws. (Note: All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories address bullying differently.)

To learn how to support the aggressors and victims: https://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/support-kids-involved#address.

For more information about how to talk to children: https://www.unicef.org/end-violence/how-talk-your-children-about-bullying.

For deeper insight into bullying read “A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors” at https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv-technicalpackage.pdf.

 

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Study: Growing number of pastors losing confidence, considering leaving ministry
    Study: Growing number of pastors losing confidence, considering leaving ministry
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis
    Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

brown wooden pew bench

Study: Growing number of pastors losing confidence, considering leaving ministry

Pastors are feeling increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs, and more than 40 percent have considered leaving the ministry in the past 12 months. That’s according

Seminaries partner to equip leaders, care for Ukrainians in crisis

Could theological education be part of the solution for trauma? Leadership at Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary thinks so.  Sirens cut

Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies

Paul Gregoire, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary registrar for 29 years, passed away March 21 after a brief battle with cancer. “Paul Gregoire was a

boy leaning on black wall

Endangered youth: When parents fail their children

Researchers today consider bad parenting one of the most important public health issues facing our society. Uninvolved, abusive, irresponsible, absent or immature parents are endangering

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel