Submitted Press Release
Micah’s Place
Lauren Birtles
Rural Outreach Advocate
May 14, 2014 7:30 a.m.
If the headlines in newspapers around the country are any indication, bullying is one of the major problems facing America’s youth and schools today. There have been numerous studies conducted on the issue of bullying, and the numbers all tell the same story:
• Nearly 1 out of 6 students in grades 6-10 are bullied every year
• 6 out of 10 teens witness bullying every day
• 160,000 students miss school every day out of fear of bullying
• 1 in 10 students who drop out of school do so because of repeated bullying
• Bullying has been linked to 75% of all school shootings
These figures are disturbing enough on their own, but domestic violence centers like Micah’s Place have an additional reason to be concerned – children and teens who are victims of bullying or are bullies themselves have a much higher chance of being involved in situations of domestic violence as adults. Victims of bullying may go on to be victims of domestic violence – or they, like childhood bullies, may continue the pattern of violence in their adult relationships. The situation is further complicated by the fact that some children who are involved in bullying, on either side, are living in households where domestic violence is present. The behaviors they model at school are ones they first learned at home. This trend has been made evident in the recent number of dating violence injunctions or repeat violence injunctions for bullying that Micah’s Place has seen or assisted with in Nassau County.
To break the cycle of domestic violence, we must also address the issue of bullying. For this reason, Micah’s Place has developed a curriculum for middle and high school students that focuses on bullying and dating violence. Led by a Micah’s Place staff member, students cover topics such as the effects of bullying, healthy and unhealthy traits of relationships, what to do when you encounter bullying, and the importance of talking to a trusted adult. Students also learn the warning signs of dating violence, and some safety strategies to use if they or a friend are involved in an abusive relationship. We have had opportunities to share this curriculum in several schools already this year, and are available to present our material at other youth or community gatherings as well. For more information about our bullying and dating violence programs, please contact us at (904) 491-6364 or visit www.micahsplace.org.