They say schools have a “no tolerance” policy for bullying, but from what I’ve experienced and witnessed, those words mean very little. I’ve been bullied from elementary school all the way through middle school. I tried to speak up, but most of the time, nobody really listened. Teachers would advise us to “report it” or “be kind,” yet when it actually happens, it feels like no one cares until it’s too late. It often takes a breakdown in tears or a victim starting to defend themselves for people to pay attention. It’s crazy that once the victim stands up for themselves, they are the ones sent to the office, while the bully walks away unpunished. This is a significant problem in schools, where the wrong kids often get in trouble. When a fight breaks out, schools have the audacity to say, “Instead of fighting, you should have reported the bullying,” as if we hadn’t tried to do that already. It’s frustrating because we did report it, yet nothing was done.
I’m tired of schools talking about stopping bullying without taking it seriously. This goes beyond just a rule or posters hung in hallways; it’s about people’s lives and mental health. The pain inflicted often goes ignored every day. When schools claim to have “zero tolerance” for bullying, it sounds good on paper, but in reality, it’s just a statement. I know this firsthand. I’ve been the one sitting in the office while the bully roams free in the hallways. I was told to “ignore it” or “just walk away” as if it were that simple. We are kids; we don’t fully understand these things yet, and our brains are still developing. The effects of bullying are felt every day, mentally, emotionally, and physically, whether we try to ignore it or not. Some people say, “If you ignore them, they will eventually stop,” but that’s a lie. Bullies will continue their behavior regardless.
What bothers me the most is that the people who are supposed to protect us often act like we are the problem. When I started standing up for myself, tired of being bullied, I began to defend myself verbally. Yet I was the one who ended up getting written up, not the ones who started it. That’s the part schools don’t discuss. They claim to care, but they only seem to take notice when something serious happens—a fight breaks out, or worse.
Schools make it sound like they are doing everything they can to stop bullying, but from what I’ve seen, they are not doing nearly enough. Handling bullying often just means bringing both students in and saying, “Talk it out,” which doesn’t resolve anything. It teaches bullies that they can get away with their actions repeatedly, while victims are left feeling scared, alone, and unheard. Many schools only take bullying seriously after something tragic occurs or when students reach a breaking point. It shouldn’t take a crisis for people to care. By then, it’s already too late; the signs are there, but no one pays attention until someone completely breaks down or a parent storms into the school, looking for answers. Only then do they seem to take things more seriously, but they should have been caring from the beginning.
Schools should impose real consequences on bullies, not just warnings or quick talks. If someone continues to bully others, they should face suspension or other penalties that make them recognize the wrongness of their behavior. This is not about revenge; it’s about accountability. Bullies get away with too much, while victims are punished for reacting. That is neither fair nor right. No student should feel unheard, unseen, or unprotected. Schools continue to say “no bullying,” but at this point, those words mean nothing without action. They need to show students that their voices matter before someone gets hurt or takes drastic measures.
I’ve been there, feeling like no one cared, like my pain didn’t matter. But does it everyone matter to everyone, and does every pain matter? It’s time for schools to stop waiting until someone breaks. They need to start listening and helping now because once someone reaches their breaking point, there’s no going back. By that time, all the apologies in the world cannot undo the damage that has been done.
