WIESBADEN, Germany - Bullying happens every day. And nothing is said.
Adults and children both are targets. And nothing is said.
People are hurt emotionally, physically. And nothing is said.
"We have to remember to always, always, always say something," said Sgt. 1st Class Enrique Figueroa, with U.S. Army Garrison Wiesbaden Directorate of Emergency Services, as he spoke before Aukamm Elementary School students about bullying.
The school's Bully Free Zone Assembly April 29 introduced kindergarteners through fifth-graders to bully-proofing concepts - from myths about bullying to the correct way to handle a bully.
According to the National Center for Educational Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics, in 2009 one third of students reported being bullied while at school. And though violent crimes among young people have decreased in recent years, a study on the "Indicators of School Crime and Safety" found a small upswing in the amount of violence taking place at school.
"Bullying is rampant in the states," said Debra Powell, Aukamm Elementary School counselor, who organized the bully-free assemble. Powell noted that as summer approaches and waves of military children move back to the States, parents and students need to know the risks of bullying.
The assembly drew on Trevor Romain's "Bullies are a Pain in the Brain" anti-bullying program which has been implemented in schools throughout Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Europe.
The assembly's program encouraged students to "take a stand against bullying," to take an anti-bullying pledge and to use the school's bully-free zone boxes where students can anonymously write down instances of bullying.
The latter is an important element as students were encouraged to talk to teachers and their parents about instances of bullying. Powell said parents should visit stopbullying.gov in order to learn more about bullying and what to do if it happens to their child.
Stopbullying.gov is an official U.S. government website managed by the department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the Department of Education and Department of Justice.
As small hands darted into the air, Figueroa called on students who shared their stories on bullying.
"Everyone thought she was a weirdo because she was kind of pale. I used to go to German school and I felt left out. I was always picked on because I was smaller."
And after each story, students told of how they sought out an adult to help.
"So what should you remember to do'" asked Figueroa of the young audience.
"Say something," the students shouted back.
Social Sharing