Sticks and stones can break my bones but words also are painful. Middle school students voice their opinion of bullying.

*Bryan, 13

“I have witnessed some bullying and some teasing. It seems the kids in big groups of friends pick on kids with fewer friends. If my friend were being bullied, I would support him. If I don’t know the person, I would not know what to do.”

*Mischa, 13

“I have experienced bullying, but I would never intentionally hurt another

person. I try to resolve my problems. I tell the other person I don’t want to have problems with them I just want to be friends and it usually works. Other than that, I stay away from the person and try not to interact with them.”

*Matt, 14

“The whole thing is kind of immature, so I pick friends that don’t get involved in that.

I have different kinds of friends, some are loud and happy, some are quiet, and then there is me. It is kind of a junior high thing. In high school I think it changes. If I see it, I avoid it. If someone doesn’t have friends I say, ‘come join us.’ Sometimes if you mix friend circles there are problems. If I see bullying, I try to stop it.”

*Luke, 14

“If I see kids acting that way I quit hanging out with them. If the bullying gets bad I walk away. If I see it, I say, ‘hey knock it off’.'”

*Krissy, 13

“I think kids that get bullied just get meaner, just trying to stick up for themselves.”

*Ashlee, 13

“Some guys say mean things, like ‘get your ugly face out of here,’ and it hurts. The

teacher talks to them, but then they come back and laugh. Beating up someone is not the only kind of bullying. Words and hurt feelings are just as bad. You feel violated. The best thing to do is to say to the person, ‘I don’t appreciate what you did to me. You should feel bad about yourself.’ On the other hand, kids need to take as much as they can with a grain of salt.”

*Amanda, 13

“My friends and I tease each other. Girls can be rude to each other. I don’t

see it as a big problem with my friends.”

*Jonathan, 12

“At my school they told us if you bully others you will be

suspended. So I don’t do it.”

– Joan Hansen, Irvine World News