With the end goal in mind to stop the hate, schools across the nation are joining in the STOMP Out Bullying™ program. As technology continues to grow and develop, students worldwide are being exposed to more hate and higher standards at a younger age. This is why the month of October has been declared National Bullying Prevention Month in the United States of America. 

        Although teachers and staff try to prevent bullying, it is still a major issue in schools today. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services states, “In one large study, about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at school at least once during the past month…” This goes to show the need for being aware of kids’ behavior and their actions. 

        Bullying is not just a “one and done” kind of thing. It happens to numerous kids time after time. In today’s society, cyberbullying is also becoming more common. Giving kids and youth access to a variety of technology is not always a bad thing, but it creates more opportunities for others to share their negative opinions of them. This is why organizations such as STOMP Out Bullying™ are coming together to try to improve the life of bullied students. Throughout the month of October, they have certain days that act as anti-bullying spirit days. On these days, students are encouraged to wear blue, talk to their peers, and reach out to others. This organization’s motto summarizes the mission of many groups’ goal. This is “End The Hate … Change The Culture.” They strive to end the racism and encourage others to take a stand against bullying. Ultimately, these programs and organizations seek to change lives. During the month of October, raising awareness is especially emphasized.

       No matter what the month is, we need to be prepared and be uplifting towards those being bullied. This is vital in the world that we live in because too many kids are made fun of for their race, gender, hobbies, religion, and sexuality. Instead of tearing each other apart, we need to come together and make a difference.