Human Relations Committee Joins Bully Fight

It’s no longer relegated to just the playground anymore. With the internet and social media pervasive in the lives of children and young adults, the intensity and speed though which bullying spreads is greater than ever.

At its Monday meeting, the spoke out against bullying and reaffirmed the need to bring it to an end.

“Bullying can affect everyone,” Committee Chairman David Pascale said. “Any one who is different is a target.”

Pascale said bullying isn’t new but that the internet, which is also responsible for worsening bullying in some ways, has helped shine light on the subject. Coverage and documentation of teen bullying has grown and often can be traced back to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

On the heels of New Jersey’s legislation, or HIB, which requires schools to report and investigate bullying incidents, the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office will be making a trip to Red Bank this spring to show parents and students the dangers of cyber bullying and how to help prevent it.

“The bullying that’s going on on the internet is insane, especially among young girls” Board member James Gramp said. “Some of these kids are being brutal.”

Pascale said it’s important to continue to fight bullying even as legislation and awareness makes inroads to help eliminate it. As long children continue to be victims there needs to be efforts to fight bullying.

“That’s enough of a reason,” he said. “Even if you only hear of a few, it’s too many.”