Four Eyes

Almost 30% of US students in grades 6-12 report experiencing bullying at school or online from their peers. About 160,000 children skip school each day to avoid being bullied (“Bullying Statistics & Risk Factors.” American SPCC), and bullying reportedly occurs most often in school hallways and outdoor grounds as well as in classrooms and the cafeteria, as it does for Rex and Scott in Four Eyes. The reasons that students choose to target others often include differences in appearance, gender, class, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or abilities. Students who are otherwise perceived as different (as Rex and Scott were because they wear glasses) may also become targets of bullying. Students who are seen as vulnerable, having low self-esteem, or who have few friends are often targets. Sometimes, students are targeted simply because they’re there.

Bullying has a wide range of negative effects on the person being bullied, the bullies themselves, and the school environment. Students who are bullied, particularly when it occurs repeatedly, are at a higher risk for issues like sleep loss, anxiety, depression, and lower academic performance. These students are likely to experience low self-esteem and to see themselves as less worthy of being liked. Bullying affects both physical and emotional health, as students who are bullied may begin internalizing or externalizing their hurt and frustration. They can also experience somatic symptoms like headaches, muscle pain, or stomach problems. (“Consequences of Bullying Behavior.” Preventing Bullying Through Science, Policy, and Practice, National Academies Press, 2016).

Some ways to prevent bullying include stepping in while it’s happening, involving an adult, and building a solid sense of self-esteem (all techniques that Rex and Scott use in the novel). Bullying can also be prevented through education, developing empathy (as Rex and Scott do), and emphasizing a positive and welcoming school environment.