If the parents and teachers of the victims of bullying were aware that their beloved kids were exhibiting clear signs of being subjected to bullying, then they would have intervened and many young lives could have been saved.
Beyond Sticks and Stones: (Bullying, Social Media Cyberbullying, Abuse) by RJ. Parker is a valuable book for parents, teachers and anyone who could or should do something about bullying.
“Most of the time, children don't even bother telling their parents that they are being bullied. “ This is why parents should be vigilant to any signs of bullying which is not that difficult because “kids who are bullied tend to develop certain characteristics that set them apart from other, healthy students.” And most of them “tend to show obvious changes in their behaviors.” In this book, Parker goes through those signs and characteristics making it easier for the relevant adults to intervene and provide the appropriate help and support which is also covered in the book.
I was not very surprised to learn that “in virtually all incidents of bullying, a victim comes across bystanders… who are looking at what is happening to another student, but refuse to take notice or interfere to prevent it.” Nor I was surprised to learn that “Often times, a child who has been bullied, if given the chance, will end up bullying others.”
Though this book is not specifically about cyberbullying but it is covered extensively because it can be “much worse than actual, physical bullying” as most of the time the cyberbully is an anonymous person.
The statistics in the book are very alarming and scary:
- An estimated 81 percent of internet crime is currently related to a social media site.
- An estimated 50 percent of potential burglars use information posted by victims on social media to determine when they are going to be away from home.
- Around 160,000 children generally avoid going to school because they are unable to deal with their bullies.
- Only in American schools, the approximate number of bullies is around 2.1 million.
- Around 2.7 million students are victims of bullying.
- Around 56 percent of students have been first hand witnesses to some form of bullying acting in most cases as bystanders.
- Shockingly, 90 percent of the students who were surveyed from the fourth through eighth grade reported that they have suffered from some type of bullying in their life.
- In 2005, the total number of children who decided to commit suicide after being bullied amounted to 270. These were children primarily between the ages of 11 and 14 years.
With statistics like that, there is no doubt that bullying is a massive destructive phenomenon impacting the lives of millions many of which suffer through out their whole lives from the mental scars that result from bullying.
Although the author highlighted the negative uses of social media as manifested in cyberbullying, but he did not go as far as demonizing social media which I really appreciate. He highlights the positive uses of social media including enabling law enforcement to tackle crimes by being active on social media sites and tracking criminals through that.
Books like this are highly needed to counteract bullying and minimize its long lasting damages. But books are not enough and tangible actions by all of us should speak louder than words.
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Top reviews from other countries
NIZAR N NAKFOOR
A Highly Needed and Valuable Book
Reviewed in the United States on 27 January 2018Verified Purchase
RM
Parents or anyone who knows what it's like to have someone they love being bullied should definitely ...
Reviewed in Canada on 29 June 2015Verified Purchase
AmazonCustomer
It reads like a guide book for parents on bullying
Reviewed in the United States on 7 July 2016Verified Purchase
Kim
One Star
Reviewed in Canada on 6 June 2015Verified Purchase
Jenn
Very Informative
Reviewed in the United States on 19 March 2014Verified Purchase
