lollee,

I am glad to see you are taking up such an important issue for your persuasive essay. There are multiple reasons why children should not bully. Children who are involved in bullying (as a bully, victim, bully-victim, or bystander) are more likely to have negative consequences compared to their peers who are uninvolved in bullying.  These consequences include being more at-risk for depression, anxiety, poor academic performance, and loneliness for victims which can continue to be a problem throughout their entire life. Those students who engage in bullying behaviors are more at-risk for alcohol and drug use, dropping out of school, and committing a crime. Bystanders often have feelings of helplessness when they witness bullying. These feelings can lead to anxiety and depression depending on how strong these feelings are for the bystander. There are many helpful resources here on Education.com for more information.

Adam Collins, M.A.
School Psychology Doctoral Student
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Bully Research Network: http://brnet.unl.edu
Target Bullying Research Lab: www.targetbully.com
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