Eleven-year old Eric Smith killed a schoolmate in Texas after enduring years of systematic and constant abuse through bullying and harassment at school. Bullying, as a specific form of violence has been defined as repeated oppression, psychological or physical, of a less powerful person by a more powerful person or group of persons. Virtually every person who has been to school has either seen or experienced some bullying. We are each affected by it. Risky health behaviors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, drug use and abuse, and eating disorders including poor nutritional choices can be seen in children who are not well adjusted in school.
Violence is undeniably a public health issue.
We have seen an epidemic of school violence around the country. The high-profile cases have not been committed by black children living in the inner city where it is more or less expected by mainstream America. And the nation is shocked. Each of those children who killed classmates probably had a pediatrician. Pediatricians are already trained for intervention and prevention of disease, disability and death.