Muncie Times, Muncie, Delaware County, 10 February 2011 — Page 8

Page 8 • The Muncie Times • February 10, 2011

continued from page 6 for the Indianapolis Freeman, an African American newspaper which was criticized vigorously by Klan members. Because of the Klan’s presence, Woodruff faced discrimination and couldn’t find good work. When he asked for an advance on his wages, his employer found this unacceptable, and the result of this was that he couldn’t pay tuition for art school, forcing him to move to

Woodruff would study art abroad in France. Now this case isn’t the most pressing or important form of the Klan’s bullying, but it is a pertinent example of how bullying can greatly impact one’s life. One can only imagine the stress and emotional strain Mr. Woodruff had to go through while he spent time in Indiana. To have your livelihood and chance to better yourself in your preferred profes-

Peter Jett have stuck up for Mr. Woodruff or given him money so he could continue art school given the

the United States some level or form of bullying is taking place. Now at my school, in particular, I haven’t seen or experienced many cases of bullying, but it is going on even if people are not seeing it occur. Steven Biko, an African anti-apartheid activist, once said, “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” To me this quote explains how a bully uses their power to hurt others. It connects to Mr. Woodruff because he gave in to discrimination

and moved away. Together through cooperation and unity we can snuff out what bullying still exists in our schools. We can accomplish this by sponsoring convocations informing students of the harm bullying causes, inviting speakers who have been bullied in the past to express what they felt, and by refining and strengthening our policies regarding bullying. Hopefully one day in the near future we can finally rid our society of the nuisance that is bullying.

Chicago seeking other opportunities. Later Mr.

sion taken away by bullying must have been traumatizing. I, for one, would

opportunity. At any given school in

Trouble Makers in White Sheets

Written by: Richard Clark Wilson Middle School/ 6th Grade Mrs. Pam Dragoo The Ku-Klux-Klan (KKK) was formed in May, 1866 (just after the Civil War ended) by a “group white, male supremacists”. The KKK members wore white, cone-shaped hats made from cardboard, white robes, and masks from bed linens to hide their appearances. They were a secret group, only meeting at night and in their costumes. While dressed in these outfits, they would torture black people at night by breaking into their houses, dragging them out of their beds, beating them in the “most inhuman ways and sometimes killing them”! They, also, would set fire to their homes, bomb their churches, schools, and even burn crosses in their front yards! The KKK

tortured these black people to try and intimidate them into NOT using their new right to vote. They, also, wanted to frighten them into NOT participating in any “black protection groups.” These KKK members did not want the newly freed black Americans to become business owners. The KKK were not only prejudiced against black people, but they would terrorize white people who were helping these black people, or who were sympathetic to their treatment! Jews, Catholics, Socialists, Communists, and all immigrants were groups that the “KKK” was prejudiced against and was hostile towards. These groups of people, probably, felt very scared because they were in constant fear of what the KKK had already done against black people, and what they might get away with doing to them! I would have protested against the KKK, and tried

to support the laws that would find AND convict the people responsible for the torturing and killing of anyone! Bullying is any kind of “...physical assault, threat, harassment, or teasing towards another individual or group”. Bullying is found most commonly between the ages of “...seven years old up to the age of seventyeight years old”! Bullying has become a common behavioral problem among children and adolescents. It is being learned from their environments such as their home, school, and friends. Victims of bullying are generally “...boys that appear to be weaker than their peers.” Bullies have “little respect for others’ human rights, and (on most occasions) use violence to solve their problems.” Many times the victims of bullying have “...social and/or developmental issues which cause them to perform poorly in

Richard Clark school.” Some victims have “.. .attempted suicide in a desperate measure to draw attention to the bullying they are facing.” There are a few things schools can do to help these children who are victims of bullying. First, school counselors, teachers, and principals must step in and create an “early intervention program”. The schools need to teach “social skills’ to those students who are victims of bullying, and may become bullies themselves! Second, schools need to teach parents how to spot

signs of bullying in their own children. Thirdly, schools should train teachers to recognize the signs of bullying. Next, schools should assist in “changing the attitudes of their community towards bullying. Lastly, schools should maintain a positive environment, which could help reduce the incidents of “bullying and victimizing”. To prevent bullying at my school, I can get a principal, a teacher or any adult to stop students who are bullying others. I could become friends with those students who have been a victim of bullying so they will have someone to talk to if they need it... At most schools, even mine, people get bullied all the time - even ME! It doesn’t feel good to get bullied by other kids. E all need to stand together to stop bullying in our schools!