Pansy, nerd, drip, and creep: these are just a few of the horrible slurs that schoolyard bullies, and many other popular students, direct toward their ostracized, vulnerable peers in the hallowed halls that form the American public school system. In and of themselves, these malicious words can quickly erode the self-esteem of their victims; however, words are not the only tool employed in the oppression of unpopular students. Violence towards the weak and emotionally unstable is a common theme in many American schools, and it is a grave threat to those students who cannot readily defend themselves. Following the infamous Columbine High School shootings, in which two students, both victims of bullying, embarked upon a murderous rampage …show more content…

the impact of bullying on its victims includes a loss of self-esteem and feelings of isolation which, according to new research, can last into adulthood (Dupper and Meyer-Adams 352).
Childhood and the early teen years are formative periods in one's development, and the problems and emotional scars inflicted upon a child will most likely burden him or her for the remainder of his or her life. There are times when youths are bullied to the point where they feel that they have no recourse other than violence or suicide. These notions often seem to be the only escape from the endless torment of their peers. … the effect of bullying on violence and suicidality has probably received the most attention, particularly in the press following Columbine. Students in schools where bullying is common or where a "culture of violence" has arisen are more likely to take weapons to school with them … and are more likely to contemplate suicide or engage in suicidal behavior (Lubbel and Vetter 170).
Perhaps there are outside factors in the "culture of violence" that sways a child's decision to kill either him or herself or to kill the tormentors: bloodshed on television, often with a dramatic emphasis on crime and guns, video games and even wars abroad may lead children to believe that violence is an appropriate answer to violence. Whatever the outside reasons, were