An Open Letter to the Summit Shasta Administration

Dear Summit Shasta Administration,

My name is Ella and in my English class, we have been completing a project on the topic of human nature. We have evaluated various fiction and non-fiction resources as well as had many discussions regarding this topic. One issue in our society that has been brought to my attention through this project, the subject of bullying. This problem has been very prominent throughout history and manifests very early in our lives. Bullying is an epidemic that has affected the youth of our country for years. Young children are physically harmed or verbally abused for what they wear, how much money they have, and the color of their skin. These acts mostly take place in school and near school grounds. Those who have reported being bullied in their youth explain how actions have never been taken to prevent future acts from happening. A large portion of people refrains from reporting being bullied to teachers and staff which causes the cycle to continue. Children are scared to speak out in fear of what will happen. They are scared of what the adults in their life would think. They are scared of appearing weak, and in turn, choose to stay silent through the battles that they are going through. How would you feel knowing that the people that you love and care for the most are going through struggles that cause them to withdraw from the world? This emphasizes how schools need to do more to combat bullying and its effects on victims. These victims of bullying can suffer from many health issues and this, in turn, is more likely to cause kids to have lower academic performance and issues in school.

First of all, bullying can be very detrimental to the physical health of students. Bullying puts large amounts of stress on the bodies of these young children. According to the website healthline.com in a article medically reviewed by Dr. Stacey Sampson a board-certified family medicine physician titled “Can Stress Make You Sick?” the author states that, “Stress can cause a number of physical symptoms and illnesses […]Some of the symptoms commonly caused by stress include: increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, rapid breathing, shortness of breath, muscle tension, headache, nausea, dizziness”(Santos-Longhurst). Traumatic experiences that these children experience can lead to many conditions and injuries that are difficult to recover from. These issues can have underlying effects for years after. These symptoms will occur whenever someone feels threatened. When repeatedly feeling symptoms, stressful interactions may be associated with school and similar environments. This study proves that school bullying can lead to many health effects in students. Additionally, a study conducted by researchers at Duke University published on healthline.com references JAMA Psychiatry, a scientific journal publication website. It explains how “A group of 1,420 children aged 9 to 16 were examined 4 to 6 times over several years to determine whether bullying could predict psychiatric problems or suicide. The researchers found that people who are bullied have a higher rate of agoraphobia [fear of large or crowded spaces], generalized anxiety disorder, and panic disorder” (Alexander, Krans). This study reveals shocking statistics. Those who have been bullied have drastically higher chances of developing mental health issues! These conditions can further develop, leading to suicide and death. Death! All these harmful words and actions can severely impact others and can lead children to end their lives. Their mental illnesses cause them to spiral deeper and deeper into misery. Mental and emotional health is very important and experiences in childhood may affect their futures. Overall this data demonstrates how more has to be done in schools. An astounding majority of bullying takes place in school and actions have to be taken to prevent further issues from happening in order to preserve the health and well being of students.

Additionally, those who are bullied in their youth have lower academic success. When bullies are targeting victims in school, it can alter the victims behavior. An article titled “School Bullying Linked to Lower Academic Achievement, Research Finds” quotes research from the Journal of Educational Psychology, part of the Pathways Project, a larger study looking into the behavior of children. It states that “Children who suffered chronic levels of bullying during their school years (24 percent of sample) had lower academic achievement, a greater dislike of school and less confidence in their academic abilities.” This means that bullying has a strong parallel with your grades in school. Constant barrage on your what you look like, the way you speak, and how much money you have, can reduce your morale. How would you feel being targeted every time you step foot into school? This kind of daily scrutiny can keep students from wanting to go back and putting effort into their work. This information can provide insight into why academic performance may be dropping in formerly academically strong students. A study conducted by researchers at UCLA, an educational institute, describes the findings involving students in the Los Angeles area. It describes the relationship between bullying and grade point averages in school. It states that “Projecting the findings on grade-point average across all three years of middle school, a one-point increase on the four-point bullying scale was associated with a 1.5-point decrease in GPA for one academic subject (e.g., math) — a very large drop.” This means that more severe bullying directly correlates with a drop in grades. For every action against a student, their GPA drops 1.5 points. 1.5 points! These points could be the difference between passing or failing a class. Playing a sport in school. Getting accepted to your dream college. School is the start of a student’s future. It is the beginning of the rest of their lives and measures must be taken to ensure that school becomes an environment for students to thrive.

Some might argue that issues with mental health and academics in regards to bullying do not fall within the responsibility of the school. They believe that it is a natural part of growing up and should not be tampered with. Education Drive, who reports on topics related to education, states that “In the past, some teachers and administrators might have considered it a normal part of childhood or even a rite of passage” (Harper). However, attacks on the victims take place in school and affect their performance and mood in school. Without interception from an adult, the problem will continue to grow. Students could associate negative feelings with school environments. This could affect the teaching process and discourage students from wanting to go to school and learn. Bullying is not a temporary problem. It has lasting effects. It has effects mentally and physically on the victims. By targeting the problem as soon as it arises, you can prevent future events from happening and terminate the problems of mental health and performance issues.

Due to these reasons, I implore you to take more severe action towards bullying. Implement new programs and rules to educate others on the effects of bullying. Enforce stronger rules and zero tolerance policies for all actions. Investigate reports of bullying and consider each case with the utmost respect. This will drastically change the connection between students and success. It will set up students in positive environments where they have the tools they need to thrive. It will give them hope to do better. It will make them feel like they belong and can achieve anything. It is up to you. Your support will prepare future generations for what is ahead. Confidence in school will give children the confidence for anything that they come across. You hold the key to our future.

Thank you,

Ella Rodrigues