Solution to Cyber-Bullying

There is no true way to eliminate bullying due to its place in human nature, but there is hope to limit it. One place that can have a big impact is in the home and at school. If parents raise their children to grow up knowing bullying is wrong, it will carry over with them for their entire life. Parents have the power to reinforce these values into their kids, but it needs to be shown and displayed elsewhere to continue its effectiveness. At school, teachers can further teach students the wrongs of bullying. By exemplifying the way to interact with other people, teachers can help to bestow these values into the children they teach. For forms of punishment, I feel as if it isn't going to get the message across to younger children if you meet negative punishments in response to negative actions it won't produce the desired result. If children were punished by having to do something kind to the one they punished, it would likely create a much more positive result. For example, if one kid bullies another, then he should be made to do something of kindness, like make a card or picture or play ball with them, to apologize. This would lead to much more positive outcomes than a negative punishment system. Kids could then potentially become friends, or at the very least, if done correctly, the one who was bullied can feel some kindness done to them instead of vengeance or fear of further bullying due to the bully being punished. Negative reinforcement typically doesn't produce positive results, and by implementing a system where positive reinforcement with positive acts of kindness are deemed "punishment" then there is hope for limiting bullying. For cyber bullying, it is an extension of natural bullying, but is easier for children to do due to the lack of face to face interaction. Kids can say anything over the internet and never see the pain that is brings people outside of the comments they make in retaliation. Cyber bullying is a form of bullying that is the most difficult to address and correct due to the lack of personal interaction that natural bullying requires.