Beating the bullies

想過自己可能不經意間也充儅了一把“街頭霸王”,或者給“校園霸王”欺負了一番還懵然不知？

　　Everyday Dong Zhen leaves home a happy boy. But as he gets closer to his middle school his happiness turns to worry and fear. There is an apartment building near his school and on most days there are three boys standing out front. As Dong Zhen tries to pass, they grab him and push him. They demand money. If Dong Zhen has money, the boys take it, laugh and let him pass. If Dong Zhen doesn't have money, they hit him. The boys are bullies and Dong Zhen is their victim.

　　Dong Zhen isn't a real person but his story is the real experience of many young students in all over the world. They are the victims of bullies and their lives have been made miserable. In a recent survey over 94% of Chinese middle school students said they were worried about the increase in violence and bullying in schools. And 40% of students surveyed in Beijing said they had been forced to give money to other students.

　　Bully as in “bull”

　　The word “bully” comes from the word “bull” and, like a real bull, the human bully can seem big and dangerous. But, in reality, most bullies aren't that big. They are usually just unhappy, immature young people who can only be happy if they make someone else unhappy. And they can only feel big by making someone else feel small. In some ways we should feel sorry for bullies but we should not tolerate them.

　　Beating the bullies

　　If you or someone you know is the victim of bullying, here are some of the things you can do to beat the bullies. First, tell everyone about it: tell your teacher, tell your parents, tell your friends. Silence is the bully's friend and being silent will only make you feel guilty: as if you deserved to be treated badly. Second, keep a record: write down what happened and when it happened. At some point you may have to prove you are being bullied and it will be your word against the bully's. Most bullies are good liars so, if you have a record, you can help prove that you are telling the truth. And, third, never use violence. If you think of a good plan to beat up the bully, you may be the one to end up in trouble. Some people may think the bully was the victim and you're the bad guy.

　　Strength in numbers

　　It's interesting to note that, in the United States, most bullying occurs at school during the lunch hour but, in China, most bullying occurs on the way to and from school. Walking to and from school with a group of other students may be a good way to avoid some bullying. There is strength in numbers and it's also more fun walking in a group than walking alone.