Sometimes we must ask ourselves how bullying has become such a huge issue throughout New York City public schools? The recent media coverage forces parents and schools to ask other questions as well. Have you ever considered your child a bully? Have you ever thought about how many different ways one can be bullied? On December 7, 2011 Mr. Halligan father of Ryan Halligan came to New Dorp High School to speak about his personal experience with bullying. Halligan had a son named Ryan who attended a Vermont high school. Ryan was a freshmen in High School and endured severe bullying by his peers. According to the American SPCC in New York City 17% of kids who attend high school experience bullying on a daily basis. New York State has put necessary programs in place to reduce the amount of bullying that takes place in local schools. For instance, New Dorp High School has a Respect For All program and new peace program that allows students to participate in respecting their peers and learning the typical signs of bullying.
Mrs. Grippo, guidance counselor , played a huge role in getting Mr Halligan to come to our school . “ The reason I picked Mr. Halligan out of all the people that go around to schools sharing their stories was because he was such a devoted person and father like figure to the kids of recent schools said Grippo in an interview. Kids should learn to respect each other”.
Many people don’t really realize how damaging bullying can be not only physically but mentally. There are many types of bullying, such as cyber bullying, racial bullying, verbal bullying, physical bullying, and sexual bullying. All have different outcomes but often stem from the same reasons, such as depression, alcohol problems, low grades, health problems, and negative surroundings. Most bullies have been picked on all their life and now feel that the world owes them something.
Ryan was experiencing the form of social and cyber bullying in and out of his school. Ryan could only take so much of this until he committed suicide in 2003. Mr. Halligan found his son Ryan hanging in his bedroom. Mr Halligan has so much resentment and anger toward bullies that he goes around to schools and bravely tells students and staff about his horrific story.
Many kids who experience bullying end up hating themselves because they don’t know what else to believe. Today’s teens don’t really share their personal business with their parents because it’s simply “not cool” John was specifically angered by the fact that none of Ryan’s friends would stick up for him or even call a teacher to Ryan’s attention. “Bullying does not only affect the victim but also affects friends and family” added Grippo . Ryan’s friends were so scared to call a teacher and rectify the catastrophe that they allowed the bullying to continue. Ryan’s family is heart broken by this catastrophe. They can’t understand why nobody spoke up. “Why didn’t anybody help my son?” Halligan in the assembly stated. Ryan will be remembered as a good student who went through such an unfortunate phase of bullying. Teachers and students must collaborate so that we can find more ways to reduce bullying in schools.
Mr. Halligan has made a clear point to students and victims of bullying not to take their abuse, and notify a teacher. “if somebody had notified a teacher about what Ryan was going through then he might not be dead.”No one should be bullied, everyone should be able to be who they are without being penalized for it” said Jeffrey Rivera a New Dorp High School Junior.
To this day bullying is still a wide spread problem all over the world but if we can just think of one person that we have put down or bullied and apologize to them then we could be saving a family and a innocent life. “It is almost a guarantee that there will be conflict or bullying when a building contains over 3,000 kids and 10,000 personalities” but if we work together we can pull through this and overcome a bad situation”, concluded Grippo.
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