Bullying battle: Education might be the key to changing the patterns

There is a bullying problem in just about every school in America.

Face the fact. It is the truth.

As much as many of us would like to think that children treat each other with tenderness and a blind eye to differences, school days are still very much like those we encountered as children.

There are cliques. There are hierarchies and there are merciless teasing and labels for those who might not fit the typical student definition.

And all that can sometimes mean that children suffer -- sometimes in silence and sometimes so much so that a tragedy results.

Battling the problem requires a multi-faceted approach -- discipline and teacher vigilance will always be key components.

But perhaps there is another way, too.

Maybe if we can catch them early, show them what bullying does and why it is wrong, perhaps we can plant a seed that will take root and last through those difficult days in high school.

No one has the ironclad, lock down answer.

And there will always be some who refuse to learn the lesson.

But if even one child gets the message, it could start a trend -- one we want to encourage.

Published in Editorials on February 22, 2013 10:35 AM