The parents of a 7-year-old girl have been making headlines recently for their decision to have her ears surgically altered to stop their daughter from being bullied.

While the parents’ compassion for the suffering of their child is admirable, the message they are sending to her and little girls everywhere is not.

Television, movies and fashion magazines already send unhealthy notions about body image to girls in this country. Now, this girl’s parents have reinforced these notions, essentially telling their 7-year-old, “It is what is on the outside that matters.” That’s a lesson not in any parenting manual.

They have also taught her impressionable young mind that it is desirable to take the quick and easy road.

Bullies have always been here, and they are not going away any time soon. But to bow to their bullying by taking such drastic measures as plastic surgery on a child is essentially justifying their actions.

Teaching children to be proud of who they are no matter what anyone else says is a far more valuable lesson and one that will serve the child well as they make their way into adulthood.