A closer look into the Chinese bullying epidemic

Dylan Snyder
Staff Writer
​      Wherever you live, there will always be bullies. All across the United States, there are programs in many schools to raise awareness and to reduce cases or find ways of doing this. Regardless of where it happens, it is a major problem that needs more attention. In China it has become an epidemic and gotten out of control.
      Huang Tanghong was beaten up by three bullies at his school on June 8th the night before his high school entrance exam. His mother, Liu Lizhu, described him as a shy and quiet boy who was hurt very badly that day and was too afraid to seek help. He went to school the next day  but ended up having to seek medical care when the pain became unbearable.  He was transported to the hospital where doctors had to perform major surgery on his ruptured spleen. The sad thing is that it was only after he was hospitalized that other students came forward about his bullying. His mother had no idea, but fellow students say that he was beaten up and bullied on regular basis because he was a quiet and easy target and for “the fun of it.” The bullies were arrested  but released when their parents agreed to compensate $33,000 for his medical bills.
      At least thirty bullying cases have been reported over the past nine months according to Chinese media officials. They have punished these kids by making it have a permanent mark on their school record. They have also banned websites of posting images or videos of these graphic events. In Guangdong, 21% of middle school students say that they either have been a bully or victim or both. It has become an epidemic because most bullies have been bullied themselves and it creates a vicious cycle and triggers more violent events. 
       What needs to be done all comes down to education for the parents and kids on how to deal with these events. The students need to know that no matter what they can tell their parents and parents should know how to recognize signs of bullying or how to confront their child over it. Students should also face stricter punishment and be able to press assault charges and have these kids face harsher punishment legally not just at school. The key, though,is education on the topic because if more kids learn ways to seek help and defend themselves, and bullies realize there are harsher consequences for their actions and they cannot get away with it, the problem can be reduced greatly slowly eliminating this “cycle” in bullying. 

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