by Lyonel Doherty
Editorial

Is your child a bully? Is he or she being bullied?
This is something you should find out before it’s too late.
Sadly, it was too late for 11-year-old Mitchell Wilson from Pickering, Ontario. He committed suicide before he was slated to testify against a bully who assaulted him. Mitchell, who suffered muscular dystrophy, ended his life by tying a plastic bag over his head.
Bullying is more of a problem than we realize. According to statistics, more than 280,000 students in Canada report incidents of bullying every month. That is huge.
In Canada, studies suggest that roughly six per cent of students aged 12-19 report bullying others on a weekly basis, and eight per cent report that they are victims of bullying weekly
Bullying surveys also indicate that many more boys than girls report being victims of bullying, and almost all boys named male peers as the aggressors. Statistics suggest that physical bullying peaks in Grades 6-8, and gradually declines thereafter.
Often victims of bullying will not report the incidents for fear of reprisals. This can result in a downhill spiral of depression, which can lead to suicide.
Years ago bullying in school was not treated very seriously. The parents were notified, and it was hoped that would resolve the problem. If the victim was lucky, he wasn’t beaten up again by the bully who suffered reprisals at home.
Fortunately, there is much more awareness about bullying today and the damage it can do. A relatively new breed of bulling is happening online; a big problem that needs more attention.
The bottom line is we need more support programs for victims to let them know they are not alone and that suicide is not the answer. We also need tougher penalties for youth who bully, especially those who drive their victims to kill themselves.
The 12-year-old bully who assaulted Mitchell should not escape penalty, regardless if no witnesses are left to testify against him.
What we’d like to see is this bully face Mitchell’s parents in a sanctioned meeting so he can see and feel the true pain he caused. No other penalty would make him see the error of his ways. Again, this is another perfect case for the “Restorative Justice” program.
We must mention that School District 53 is being pro-active by incorporating the “Roots of Empathy” program in its classrooms. This program has shown dramatic effect in reducing levels of aggression among school children by raising social/emotional competence and increasing empathy.
The district has trained six new instructors, who will make a difference in bullying prevention. If they only stop one bully in his tracks, the expenditure is worth it.