BULLYING PREVENTION AND RUMOR CONTROL

WHAT IS BULLYING? Bullying is when a person

is picked on over and over again by an individual or a group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing

Bullying is when a person is being mean to someone for no good reason

EXAMPLES OF BULLYING ARE:

punching, shoving, and other acts that hurt people physically

spreading bad rumors about people

keeping certain people out of a group

teasing people in a mean way

getting certain people to “gang up” on others

OTHER EXAMPLES OF BULLYING INCLUDE:

sending mean texts or emails

posting mean pictures or messages about others in blogs or on websites

WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY?

Because it makes them feel stronger, smarter, or better

Because they see others doing it

Because it keeps others from bullying them

THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING

As many as 160,000 students stay home everyday in the U.S. because they are afraid of being bullied.

Students who bully are more likely to smoke, drink alcohol, get into fights, and drop out of school than kids who don’t bully. In fact 2/3 of middle school bullies have a felony by the age of 24.

HOW TO STOP BULLYING FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN

Tell an adult Stay in a group If it feels safe, stand up to the bully When dealing with online bullying, don’t reply

WHAT NOT TO DO IF YOU’RE GETTING BULLIED:

Don’t think it’s your fault Don’t fight back or bully a person back Don’t skip school or avoid clubs because

you’re afraid of getting bullied Don’t let it keep you from doing your

best at school

BULLIES ARE EVERYWHERE!

SHARE A SITUATION TO YOUR GROUP WHEN YOU WERE BULLIED OR SAW

SOMEBODY GET BULLIED.( 2 MINUTES)

BYSTANDERS STAND UP!

Studies show that people do nothing because they think someone else will take care of it

RUMOR ACTIVITY

Play the “telephone” game. Whisper a secret to a student and then have them pass it on from classmate to classmate. Share the “secret” at the end and discuss the results.

RUMORS There’s an old saying: Don’t believe half of

what you see and none of what you hear Be skeptical: don’t conform Don’t react before thinking: Sometimes

people just want to see a reaction from you Sad to say, some people use rumors as a

form of entertainment

CONCLUSION

Don’t bullyIf you are being bullied, tell an

adultIf you see somebody being bullied,

do something!Don’t believe everything you hear.Bullying has real consequencesPeople are different, value diversity