"Isn't school supposed to be a safe place?"

This is a question that was posed to a colleague of mine by her 10 year old son who has frequently been the target of constant bullying and teasing at his elementary school. I wonder if students, Jaheem Herrera of Dunaire Elementary in Dekalb County (Atlanta) and Carl Joseph Walker-Hoover of Springfield, Mass. asked that same question to their parents before they took their own lives about a week apart from each other. Both hung themselves in their home after being teased and called "gay".

Both school systems have a "Anti-bullying policy". Dekalb County Public Schools Policy are as follows: "State law prohibits bullying. State law mandates a discipline hearing after the third incident of bullying with a referral to an alternative school setting upon a finding of guilt. The DeKalb School System will not tolerate bullying and other forms of harassment and, therefore, reserves the right to punish students after the first incident and upon a finding of guilt. Such punishment may include suspension, expulsion or a referral to an alternative school. Please note: Any form of elctronic bullying (cyberbullying) using school equipment, school networks, e-mail systems or committed at school is strictly prohibited."

But how much of this policy is actually being enforced at the time it needs to be? What will it take for school systems to take a stance and put into place more drastic measures that will prevent violence and constant taunting in schools. Many people constantly want to say, "It's our first amendment right to have freedom of expression." But not at the expense of pushing someone to kill themselves. Young people, especially ones at the age of these young boys, don't know how to handle their emotions and decipher what they hear into logical reasoning. They are also at the age where they don't want to snitch and get into trouble for fear of being beat up and teased, so they shut down, and internalize their emotions to the point of depression.


We are to do whatever we can as children of God to train, protect and teach our children to be Kingdom Citizens who walk in love and not violence towards others. How do we do that? With the word of God. In Proverbs 22:6 it states that we should, "Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he gets old, he will not depart from it." Violence does nothing but begat violence. And it's time we show love to our fellow man and learn that since God is love, and we are made in the image of Him, then it is our duty to see others the way God sees them. We are unique, special, peculiar, one-of-a-kind, original....I could go on and on.

I have some tips that I have provided on my website, http://www.lilylratliff.com, that I strongly feel you should sit down and discuss with your children about. I will list them again here for reference purposes.

~~Ignore the bully and walk away. It's not being a coward; it just shows you are the better person.

~~Hold the anger. A bully loves it when you cry or get angry. Never give him/her a chance to see you lose your cool.

~~Don't get physical. Don’t stoop to the level of the bully by using force.

~~Practice confidence. Do what you can do to look and feel your best. Exercise, eat healthy meals and snacks, and be around people that lift your spirits.

~~Take charge of your life, and stand your ground. Don't be afraid to say, "No" or "Stop It!"

~~Talk about it with your parents, teachers, and true friends. Find someone you can trust and tell them what’s happening to you at school. They can help stop bullying from going any further.

~~ But more importantly, Seek God for the sake of your child. Pray over them, rebuking the devil over their situations, and trust God through it that HE will bind the strongman, and loose peace and blessings over your child's life. Repeat this declaration over your child: Great is the peace of my child (ren) for they are taught of the Lord. According to Isaiah 54:17, No weapon formed against them shall prosper, and every tongue that shall rise against them in judgment shall be condemned! He (She) is the righteousness of God!

With God's help, and your support and prayers, I hope to take "An Act of Forgiveness" to as many elementary schools around Atlanta and abroad to shed some light on the effects of bullying and what we must do to stop innocent little children from taking their lives before their time. Please tell others about this post, and forward and share with others.

God Bless!

http://www.lilylratliff.com