This poem, “A Child’s Plea,” sharply portrays the inner
struggles of children who cannot raise their voices amid bullying, as well as
the failures of adults and educational systems to truly listen. It conveys,
with urgency and poignancy, the importance of hearing faint, unspoken cries—and
the potential for writing to become a path toward relief and change.
A Child’s Plea
Have you ever truly listened to a child’s voice?
Have you heard a faint voice, almost fading
away?
Have you noticed the silent cry in their
eyes, as if trying to say something?
Have you ever asked, only to be told “it’s nothing,” and
let it pass?
Children blame themselves even when they
are bullied.
They carry their anxiety alone and suffer.
They shrink in fear, unable to speak.
They remain silent, unable to tell parents
or teachers.
They cannot tell teachers for fear of being
called a snitch.
Even if they speak, they are dismissed as “not bullying.”
In the end, they are made to shake hands
and forced to move on.
But behind the scenes, the cruelty only
worsens.
Others avoid getting involved and keep
their distance.
That is why they cannot tell their
teachers.
Teachers are too busy to hear children’s voices.
Because they are busy, they do not listen.
Because they seem busy, children cannot
speak up.
Because they are busy, children do not
approach them.
Some pretend to be busy and leave children
unattended.
Some use busyness as an excuse to run away
from children.
Even when bullying exists, they do not
notice.
They cannot even admonish it.
They assume it is not bullying.
They do not even understand what bullying
is and take complaints lightly.
Even when they know, they turn a blind eye.
They defend it by blaming the victim.
At times, they even join in and enjoy it.
When it comes to light, they claim they did
not know.
When pressed, they evade responsibility.
Those least able to address bullying are
often the most self-assured.
They insist it was just a prank, not
bullying.
Children see through such teachers.
They are judging whether adults will stand
on their side.
Untrustworthy teachers.
Unreliable teachers.
Teachers who ignore.
Teachers with two faces.
Teachers who play favorites.
Teachers who casually speak ill of others.
Teachers who bury the truth.
Overbearing teachers.
Cunning teachers.
Teachers who lie.
Jealous teachers.
Twisted teachers.
Teachers skilled at shifting blame.
Teachers who cannot teach.
Teachers who cannot guide.
Worst of all are teachers devoid of
humanity—dull and empty.
When problems arise, they fear being
exposed.
In truth, they are deeply cowardly.
Even when discovered, no one wants to take responsibility.
So the school hides it as an institution.
Even the board of education cannot be
relied upon.
I have learned that tears alone change
nothing.
I wrote a letter.
It does not matter if the writing is
clumsy.
“Please don’t bully
me anymore.”
Writing becomes the voice of the heart.
It is enough to be honest.
Through writing, the truth becomes clear—
who did what, and how it felt.
Through writing, people can be saved.
Teachers and even those who bullied can
confront life and the heart.
Writing can move adults.
Through a letter, action was taken swiftly
and resolution began.
Writing has the power to change the
present.
When schools cannot solve it, others will
act.
Writing becomes the strength to live
rightly.
So please, do not give up—write what
happened.
※As an anti-bullying measure, Neyagawa City
in Osaka distributes a monthly leaflet to public elementary and junior high
school students. It reads:
“Please tell us about the ‘bullying’ you feel—by letter.”
The lower half is formatted as a foldable
postcard. Once sealed, its contents cannot be seen, and no stamp is required.
It can be mailed directly to the city’s Crisis
Management Inspection Division, a department established in October 2019 under
the mayor’s office, separate from the board of
education. This initiative has expanded the options for children to voice their
concerns.
(Asahi Shimbun, December 9, 2022)
[Written on December 9, 2022.
A case in Neyagawa City that led to
resolution involved a 7-year-old child. Reflecting on the suicide case in
Asahikawa, both schools and boards of education faced criticism for inadequate
responses and lost public trust. It is hoped that Neyagawa’s system will spread nationwide.
As of the end of March 2026, however, the effectiveness of this measure does not yet appear to have been fully evaluated.]