Many teens exposed to discriminatory behavior through politics, media

By Staff Writer

Teen bullying has become a hot topic among communities throughout America. As politicians jockey over immigration policies and debate the role of Muslims in America, many adolescents are entering a society that is conflicted on many fronts.

While the civil rights of other minorities - including women and African Americans - were granted in past decades, a new generation of conflict has surfaced regarding the freedoms of immigrants, homosexuals and people of Middle Eastern descent. These prejudices, many of which are magnified by the mainstream media, have led to incidents of bullying and discrimination at schools across the U.S.

However, many institutions are organizing events and implementing diversity training at their schools. For example, more than 90 Colorado high schools and youth organizations will participate in the Cherry Creek Diversity Conference on February 5. More than 1,000 teens will attend the conference, which will feature over 40 workshops.

In addition, three members of the Abrahamic Initiative - which is a group that encourages dialogue between Jews, Christians and Muslims - will deliver the keynote speech.

Teens who bully their peers may benefit from boarding schools, many of which encourage tolerance among diverse populations.