October is known as a time when it’s fun to be scared. For some Michigan students, however, the year-round fear of bullying is all too real. The Michigan Department of Education is urging schools, parents, and communities to stand up against this problem.
The average number of bullying incidents has nearly doubled in the last decade nationwide. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and the Michigan Department of Education is urging communities to stand up against the problem.
Bill DiSessa is a spokesperson for the MDE. He said bullying is a serious and pervasive issue in Michigan schools.
“The Michigan Department of Education does a survey once every other year, and the 2017 survey asked the following question,” DiSessa said, “in the last 12 months, have you ever been bullied on school property? And almost one in four, in grades nine through twelve, answered yes, that they had been bullied.”
Michigan’s rate is higher than the national average of one in five students. The MDE has a goal to be in the top ten states in the country for education quality within the next ten years. There are many aspects to this goal, and DeSessa said student mental health is not one that can be overlooked.
He said students can’t be expected to reach their full potential if they’re dealing with the emotional and sometimes physical effects of bullying.
“In our schools, we want children who have good self esteem and also feel safe and supported in their environment so that we can do everything we can for their learning and their development.”
While DiSessa said there are many anti-bullying resources and events available to the public to participate in this month, he also urged people to take the issue seriously every month of the year.
For more information on anti-bullying resources and events, visit