Anti- Bullying Act of 2012: Bullies, Your Days Are Numbered

Are your kids being bullied? Well, fear no more!

Bullying is generally defined as physical and verbal abuse, anything that could hurt a victim.

At last, the Philippine Congress has passed a bill on anti-bullying known as the Anti-Bullying Act of 2012. Bullies better be aware of this development. Their days  are now numbered. It is regrettable that there was no law like this during my high school days. I must admit I was a victim of bullies like that classmate of mine who looked like a rabid, dung-eating dog (I cannot remember his first name anymore but his surname sounds like Taimoy).

Modesty aside, I was more intelligent than anybody else in the class and usually topped the exams but I was very skinny at the time and he was much bigger. Never a day passed without any insulting or sniping remarks from him and his companions like Tuyo, Gilagid, Negro, and Labi, who were also bullies. I nearly dropped out of school because of them. The only time I was happy was when I was cutting classes or being absent for two or three days so as not to see their faces. I would rather see a kung fu movie than attend a moronic class handled by an equally moronic, useless teacher.

There came a time when I got fed up. This idiot bully was burning matches and one stick thrown at me stuck at my polo shirt and made a big hole near the collar. I lunged at him and landed a right hand directly on his chest, which was the only part I could reach—he was much taller as I mentioned earlier. He retaliated by punching me on the jaw and before I could throw a counterpunch, someone held my hand and kept me away from him. From then on, no more fight, only verbal attack every now and then, but that was still bullying, eh? Bullying is generally defined as physical and verbal abuse, anything that could hurt a victim.

A UN study showed that at least 5 out of 10 children in grades 1-3, 7 out of 10 in grades 4-6, and 6 out of 10 in high school experience various forms of abuse from their peers or from their teachers. Effects of bullying on victims such as anger or depression may continue many years long after the bullies are gone. Me? If I come across them now, I will not have second thoughts. I would hit them like a kung fu master just the same, with or without anti-bullying law.

http://expertscolumn.com/content/bullies-your-days-are-numbered

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