The key to stopping bullying starts at home

Bullying has been around since the beginning of time and I consider it a learned behavior.

I vividly recall my own experiences in elementary and secondary school. I had large ears, which other students constantly flicked from behind. In class they used pencils to flick my ears. I took this abuse for many years until I finally decided to do something about it.

I was standing by my locker when a regular tormentor tried to flick my ears, but with lightening speed I spun around and delivered a lefft upper-cut square in the eye of my tormentor. Falling to the floor to nurse a nice goose egg and black eye, my tormentor was equaled.

I quietly closed my locker and walked away. I went to the principal's office to explain what happened; I was sent home. My parents were glad I stuck up for myself.

From that moment on I was left alone and not bothered again.

That summer my parents paid for me to have plastic surgery to reduce the size of my ears and all the bandages were gone before school started in the fall.

Needless to say, my problem was solved.

The root cause of bullying starts at home, so that's where it can be solved. Parents have to ensure their children learn the true meaning of compassion and understanding of those that are different, yet equal.

Mark-Alan Whittle

Hamilton Mountain