Bullying TodayHave you ever been a victim of bullying or felt the substantial effects of bullying on its victims? Bullying is not only a problem for children and adolescents, but it also affects people of all ages. Harassment constitutes a major social dilemma in society today. Many people believe that bullying is simply a part of growing up and that it is a phase that some people go through. Personally, I believe there should be no tolerance for harassment. Despite all the anti-bullying research, programs and campaigns, bullying still exists and is not addressed to the extent necessary to stop and prevent it. Bullying among American elementary, middle, and high school students is a growing problem. Bullying can be defined as the use of aggression, force, abuse and intimidation to impose power or status on another person. Today more than ever before, children are victims of this often tragic problem. In fact, one in seven K-12 students is either a bully or a victim of bullying (MBNBD). An estimated 160,000 children miss school every day for fear of attack or bullying from other students (MBNBD). Bullying can be the result of prejudice based on race, class, gender, sexuality, religion and appearance. Bullying is a problem because it affects a person's self-esteem and emotional health. Bullying can make children or teenagers feel tense, scared and can also affect their self-confidence. Bullying can be a repetitive, habit-forming behavior. Oppression caused by bullying can take many forms. For example, direct bullying includes physical behaviors such as hitting, shoving, restraining, slapping, kicking, and other acts of violence. Verbal bullying is another form. Some ...... middle of paper ...... heir to the child in a more positive way. It is natural and normal for a child to have sad or negative experiences throughout their childhood. Yes, I agree that children must learn to cope with life in order to become stable adults. But the cruelty and violence of today's bullying is neither healthy, nor normal, nor necessary for children to learn lifelong lessons. Especially when, in very extreme cases, it is the cause of murders and/or suicides among children and adolescents. One could say that bullying is not a problem, or that it is simply a phase that children and adolescents go through at school. You could even say that they never had a problem with bullying, or that there is no bullying in my workplace. Harassment has existed in society for a very long time. Eliminating it completely could prove extremely difficult, but nevertheless possible..