GOP Name Calling Undermines Anti-Bullying Efforts at Local Schools

Heather Curtis

WASHINGTON (WMAL) — The name-calling among GOP presidential candidates is undermining efforts to combat bullying in schools around the nation, including ones in the D.C. metro area according to anti-bullying advocates.

Donald Trump has called Marco Rubio a loser. In return, Rubio called Trump a con artist, and these are just some of insults being thrown around among candidates. Susan Rosenstock with UMTTR (pronounced: you matter), an anti-bullying and suicide prevention group formed in Montgomery County after the suicide of Rosenstock’s son, Evan, said these comments are sending the wrong message to kids.

“It basically says that if it’s ok for Donald Trump to do it, it’s ok for me to do it,” Rosenstock said.

She said adults need to chose their words wisely because kids, especially teenagers, listen to what they’re saying. Evan’s death and the death of other kids around the nation who were bullied has taught their peers the negative effects of bullying.

“If I were to have my way, I’d love to take a group of students that are in high school and sit them down with candidates, and let them tell the adults what it means not to bully and why it’s detrimental to children that are in school that cause them to become isolated,” Rosenstock said.

Other effects of bullying include personality changes, withdrawal, hopelessness, agitation and in some cases suicide.

Rosenstock said adults need to help create a compassionate environment that contributes to positive self-esteem.