Peer Pressure and Bullying Youth Summit
Alcorn Extension Program, Natchez-Adams School District to host summit on peer pressure and bullying
Peer pressure and bullying has existed for decades. Youth would influence friends to do things that they knew were wrong. Bullies would take lunch money and threaten people. Peer pressure and bullying was not so extreme that their intent was to cause harm to another person.
Today’s youth have taken peer pressure and bullying to the next level. Harmful peer pressure occurs when youth influence or persuade friends to engage in situations that may result in death or incarnation. Youth also influence friends to participate in bullying activities. Bullying has become a national issue and is one of the major contributors to teenage suicides. Teen suicides usually occur because the youth feel they have nobody to protect them from the bully. Many youth report bullying to the proper authorities, but nothing is done. Youth are afraid. Bullying activities threatens the entire family life and can be detrimental to our future leaders.
Several studies have been conducted by renowned researchers on bullying. Card and Hodges (2008) study found that 30% to 80% of school-age youth have personally experienced victimization (bullying) from peers; 10 % to 15% are chronic victims. Jayson (2010) found that 47% of teens ages 15 to 18 have been bullied, teased or taunted in a serious and/or harmful way. Approximately 160,000 students stay home from school because they’re afraid of being bullied (Pollack, 1998). The studies are evident that an increase has occurred in bullying situations. It is also evident that a large percentage of youth have been victimized in one way or another. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2009), data indicates sizable prevalence of middle school (43.9%) and high school (30.5%) students are involved in or affected by bullying. Statistics for middle school students showed 26.8% reported being victims of bullying, 7.5% acknowledged being bullies, and 9.6% reported being bully-victims. High school students’ statistics showed 15.6% reported being victims of bullying, 8.4% acknowledged being bullies, and 6.5% reported being bully-victims.
Peer pressure and bullying effects need to be addressed to provide youth with the information and techniques necessary to eliminate any participation in detrimental activities. The Alcorn State University Extension Program (ASUEP) and the Natchez-Adams School District (NASD) are collaboratively presenting a Peer Pressure and Bullying Youth Summit on April 28, 2012 at Natchez High School. Registration begins at 9:00 a.m. The Summit begins at 10:00 a.m.
The purpose of the Peer Pressure and Bullying Youth Summit is to educate youth on the risky behaviors that can affect and even destroy their educational and social growth. The violence associated with engaging in peer pressure and bullying activities plagues the nation. Citizens must band together to eliminate this infestation and help make communities safe again for our children.
The topics to be presented at the Summit are Bullying; Healthy Relationships; Gang-Related Violence and Consequences of Bullying; Self-Esteem; Peer Pressure; and Psychological Issues of Peer Pressure.
The Youth Summit is free and open to the general public. For more information, please contact Brenda Robinson, 4-H Youth Development Educator at the Adams County Extension Office (601) 445-7959 or by email [email protected].
Ms. Brenda Robinson serves as the Area 4-H Youth Extension Educator for the Alcorn State University Extension Program.
