The Hawkeye would like to remind people of one the lesser known awareness causes of October: National Bullying Prevention Month.

It was started in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center because they felt that bullying was an underrated problem in America.

Although the National Center for Educational Statistics says bullying rates are down since 1995, the rates aren’t low enough that the month isn’t needed.

Some schools created anti-bullying programs to combat bullying but studies show that these programs actually increase bullying.

Anti-bullying programs often show new ways to bully, and in some cases how to get a way with bullying.

It’s important that if a school makes an anti-bullying program to avoid giving the tormenters new ways to avoid making other kids lives even harder.

Schools also need to realize that bullying can’t be stopped in a month and needs to be a year round effort.

Another way to stop bullying in schools is to encourage or kids to stand up for victims of harassment.

For example, in Arizona a high school quarterback and his teammates started looking out for a girl with a brain disorder, per her mother’s request, who was being called names and had trash thrown at her. Now she longer gets bullied and they have a new fan.

Teachers and other administrators can’t always be there to supervise kids. That’s why it’s important for the victim’s peers to look out for them.

However it’s important for adults to actually supervise kids and take reports about bullying seriously. Better to be safe than sorry.

The most important part of bullying prevention falls on the parent’s shoulders. Monitor your kid’s social media to make sure they aren’t bullying or being bullied. Schools and courts can’t always take serious actions against bullies but parents have a chance to stop it.

There may not be a ribbon for anti-bullying but that doesn’t make it any less important than other causes.