MIAMI – Nearly one in four students between the ages of 12 and 18 experience bullying at school in Florida, USA, an action that can erode a student’s self-esteem and make attending school a “serious challenge.” ”, the state’s Southern District Prosecutor’s Office said on Monday.
In this context of bullying, the Law Enforcement Coordination Section of the Prosecutor’s Office recalled that recently more than a hundred fifth and sixth grade students met in the gym of a charter school in the city from Doral, near Miami, to attend a presentation on bullying in schools, cyberbullying and tips to stay safe online.
According to the research presented, “Someone typically bullies because they probably were bullied. And instead of stopping the cycle of behavior, he chooses to bully out of fear of becoming a victim.”
“When you are bullied, don’t take the bait. Don’t get mad, because that’s exactly what they want you to do. If someone tells you that you are ugly, respond well, I think you are beautiful,” said Darcey Lindsley, a specialist in this type of situation.
Lindsley warned of the importance of informing teachers or superiors whenever bullying is experienced or witnessed.
The expert from the Prosecutor’s Office pointed out that, in the past, “bullying generally occurred face to face”, but now “it is on all social networks and many children become victims” of this crime.
In the presentation and regarding internet security, Lindsley emphasized the need to always be skeptical of online chat. “That 10-year-old chat buddy could quite easily be a 40-year-old with bad intentions,” he warned.
That is why Lindsley urged students not to be so confident and “don’t reveal too much” about themselves, “because you never know who is on the other end of that message.”