Bullying: A Film Analysis

In today's society, there is a deadly epidemic that has been spreading for many years that has gone unnoticed and overlooked. This frightening epidemic is bullying. Bullying is a major issue throughout all school systems which has been ignored and mistreated. Parents and school administrators are oblivious to the fact that bullying exists and results in mental instability, loss of self-esteem and confidence, and can be as tragic as death. Bullying has become the norm for students involved in all levels of schooling. Unfortunately, bullying does not have an easy solution. However, with the proper training and insight, parents and educators can provide reasonable and just solutions to the problem. Not only do students need to understand the …show more content…
In Michael Phillips's review on Bully, he states "The blunt force of Hirsch's film has less to do with grotesque cruelty and tragic consequences and more to do with the sinister casual quality of so much bullying, too quickly and too often shrugged off by kids and adults as "part of growing up"' (Source E). Specifically, the assistant principal at the middle school mishandles every bullying occurrence by blaming the victims and releasing the bully with a warning. Even after numerous, worried parents come to speak with the assistant principal, she excuses the situation by claiming "kids will be kids", "buses are notoriously known for being bad places", "all schools have this problem", and "there's not much the school can do" (Source A). These justifications are poor, weak, and unsatisfying to parents and students. Although bullying does not have a proper solution, educators should use common knowledge and training to assess the situation and solve the problem appropriately. Unfortunately, most administrations are all talk and no action. Claudia Puig admits in her article that, "The film, which tells the story of five victims of bullying, should be required viewing for everyone ages 8 to 18. In fact, it wouldn't hurt to make the documentary mandatory for parents, teachers, and school officials as well" (Source F). Hopefully, the film will ignite a …show more content…
Unfortunately, there is a lack of parental and administrative involvement for the victims of bullying. After watching the film, students, parents, and educators will be enlightened about the importance of bullying on the adolescent life. It is vital that all students, parents, and educators watch this film to become aware of the problem, analyze how to resolve the situation, properly handle the situation, and ignite a desire to prevent bullying everywhere. Everything starts with one to stop