Is bullying taken as seriously as it should be?

This week in EDU 100 we talked about social justice. One topic I believe deserves social justice in schools is bullying. Students who experience bullying whether it be verbal, physical, or on the internet face serious disruptions in their school-work. Children should go to school feeling safe. They should have the opportunity to focus on their schoolwork. They should not have to worry about dodging mean kids who are going to bother them. I do believe bullying is being taken more seriously nowadays due to the number of tragic incidents that have happened. Not only do they suffer academically, but many students result in self-harm or suicide from bullying. We talked about the zero tolerance policy for violence this week and I believe that policy should be implemented for bullying as well. Sometimes parents and teachers do not take minor incidents seriously, but they do not understand the tole it may be taking on the child. Bullying in an any shape or form should be unacceptable. This should be reminded and encouraged in all schools. There should be services and offices that students feel safe to go to for help. When I was in high school and was dealing with bullying, I wasn't even aware there was a specific office I could go to talk to someone. It should be continuously reminded that there is always somewhere to go for help. The bullies should face serious consequences if there behavior continues. If they just get a "slap on the wrist" they will never stop. In order to ensure every child has an equal opportunity in their education and success, we need to make sure we put a stop to bullying.