Prepared under a grant from the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice (97-MU-FX-K012). Opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this document are those of the Institute and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

And Words Can Hurt Forever: How to Protect Adolescents from Bullying, Harassment, and Emotional Violence

And Words Can Hurt Forever offers a thorough and candid look at bullying, a problem too often trivialized as a normal part of growing up. Chapter by chapter, James Garbarino, Ph.D., author of Lost Boys, and Ellen deLara, Ph.D., have filled the book’s pages with compelling evidence for dispelling the old adage that claims, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.”

Statistics pale to the words of those on the front lines who have witnessed or have been victims of bullying in its many forms. As the reader learns, many victims have turned their feelings inward and have taken their own lives. In other extreme circumstances, young people have turned their despair outward.

In the words of one bullying victim, “The principal told me to just start ignoring everybody. After a while, you can’t take

it anymore [the constant taunting]. I felt a sense of power with a gun. It was the only way to get rid of the anger.” Evan Ramsey, the book explains, is currently serving 210 years in prison for shooting an athlete and the principal of his high school at age 16.

The message buried in stories like these is that there were adults who ignored a student’s anguished cry for help. Many youth clearly feel the adults in school are out of touch with the realities that students face each day.

One of the wonderful features of the book, for those wanting to get more involved in eradicating bullying, are the practical action steps at the end of each chapter. Additional features at the end of the book include a resource guide and suggested readings.
– by Allison Seale

And Words Can Hurt Forever
By James Garbarino, Ph.D. and Ellen deLara, Ph.D.
The Free Press
ISBN: 0-7432-2898-7

In Our Next Issue:

HFI will start a new series focusing on information learned from its research. Look for information on improving school bus safety and building partnerships to improve school safety.