Ban Bullying at Mahwah High School

Is the leadership at Mahwah High School attune to the pervasive student social culture of bullying? Sadly, it does not appear so because bullying either directly, indirectly or in cyberspace is the lay of the land.  

Children are relentlessly picked on, ridiculed, whispered about, threatened, demeaned, and hypocritically treated by their peers. Of course, this behavior is unacceptable by the leadership, so they suggest to fill out a form, lodge a complaint. But that does not solve the fundamental bullying problem since it is so widespread and not just isolated incidents. 

Besides, children fear repercussions; the prey fear the predator.

What is sorely needed and has been enacted in other high schools across the land, is basic workshops, daily reminders, hall posters teaching and reminding children to be just plain nice to each other until it becomes convention and peer pressure would not tolerate anything other than civilized behavior.

Children should not fear going to school; it should be a pleasant experience, the good of learning the primary focus. Countless high schools across the country have institutued anti-bullying programs successfully, as a recent PBS documentary has witnessed. It is imperative Mahwah High School do the same for the sake of our children because only the leadership can set the proper learning environment.