Assistant Executive Director, Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services, Inc.

The recent incident in Levittown in which two children attacked another child with a baseball bat outfitted with nails should be extremely disturbing to parents, the local school system, law enforcement and our local communities. A baseball bat with or without nails is a dangerous weapon. In the hands of a bully or violent youth, it can become a lethal weapon.

Unfortunately, violence has become a way of life for many children who try to cope with perceived social and/or emotional pressures. Given the images we encounter daily through television, movies, in music videos, on the Internet or in our homes, bullying and youth violence is a significant social problem facing families today. The incidence of youth violence in our nation is so prevalent that the Surgeon General, under President Bill Clinton, was asked to develop a special report describing the magnitude of the problem, its causes and potential responses.

What would possess children to threaten or hurt other children? Current literature and research suggests several factors that may contribute to bullying and youth violence. Among the more common causes are substance use; low family socioeconomic status; antisocial behavior at home; harsh or poor parental discipline; neglect; psychological conditions; and peer pressure. Because public health research is based on observation and statistical probabilities in large populations, risk factors can be used to predict aggression and violence among groups of children with particular characteristics or environmental conditions, but not among individuals.

As parents, we must adopt a systematic and proactive approach to dealing with bullying and youth violence. The responsibility to address this problem rests with all parties affected including, families, schools, law enforcement and local communities. If your child is being threatened, stalked, harassed or abused you must take this issue seriously. As parents, we must do everything rational in our power to protect the health and safety of our children. If your child is being threatened or victimized, report any incidents to the appropriate parties.

For instance, by working cooperatively with school personnel you can determine the most effective way to proceed by involving law enforcement, the parents or guardians of the offender or the courts. When school is closed it may be necessary to begin by contacting law enforcement. However, the local police may not be able to involve themselves because our laws are written in ways that only allow them to respond if an actual crime has been committed, something we would all like to avoid at any cost.

The incident in Levittown is sadly only the tip of the iceberg. Bullying and youth violence is a serious problem that affects the quality of life for innocent children and families. There are trained mental health professionals that can help both the victims and perpetrators of these acts. The important step for parents and families rests in an ability to take action to stop the aggressive behavior and avoid a social and emotional catastrophe.

If you feel that your child or family needs help, contact Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services, Inc. at 822-6111.