Bullying

What is Bullying?Legal Definition:“A student is being bullied or victimized when

he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students.”

Bullying is emotional or physical abuse

DeliberateRepeatedPower Imbalance (real or perceived)Will not stop without intervention

Bullying/Cyberbullying Laws

http://www.cyberbullying.us/Bullying_and_Cyberbullying_Laws.pdf

List of Laws by State:

Types of BullyingPhysical: Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting,

“horseplay”

Verbal: Taunting, teasing, racial slurs, verbal harassment, threatening and obscene gestures.

Relational: Purposely excluding someone from groups and clubs (spreading rumors, gossiping)

Cyber-bullying: Use of technology to achieve bullying (texts, instant messages, e-mail, Facebook, social gaming sites, YouTube)

Types of Cyberbullying

Flaming: Angry, Rude ArgumentsHarassment: Repeatedly sending offensive messagesDenigration: “Dissing” someone online by spreading

rumors or posting false informationOuting and Trickery: Disseminating intimate private

information or talking someone into disclosing private information, which is then disseminated

Impersonation: Pretending to be someone else and posting material to damage that person’s reputation

Exclusion: Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

Cyberstalking: Creating fear by repeatedly sending offensive messages and engaging in other harmful online activities

The BullyCraves attention

Does not see other people’s side

Hurts others when adults are not watching

Blames & criticizes others to cover up their own faults

A possible sign of other serious antisocial/violent behavior

Five times more likely to have a criminal record by age 24 as compared to non-bullies

The Bully

Watches for the adult’s / teacher’s reactions to small transgressions and escalates based on that reaction.

The Target - natural responses to trauma

FIGHTBecomes aggressive, unreasonable Unexplained bruises, ripped clothingCarries a weapon, seeks revenge

FLIGHTSchool phobia:

Truancy, skipping classAnxiety, stomach aches, panic attacksAvoids certain areas of the school (cafe,

bathroom, gym) FREEZE

Flat affect, depressionRefuses to talk about what is wrongSchool work declines

The Target - natural responses to trauma

SUBMISSIONTrouble getting to sleep at night, cryingBecomes withdrawn, lacking confidenceAsking for money, starting to steal (to pay bully)Considers suicide (46% vs. 14.5% of non-bullied

students) †Attempts suicide (29% of targets vs. 6.9% of non-

bullied students) † † 2007 US Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance

ATTACHClinging to authority figures (hanging out in the

office, library, etc)

The BystanderDoesn’t intervene due to:

Fear of becoming the next target Doesn’t know what to doFeels powerless / doesn’t want to make it worse

Doesn’t report due to:Fear of being labeled a “snitch” Feeling that the teachers/administrators are powerless or

don’t care

Are drawn into bullying behavior by group pressureFeel unsafe, guilty, helpless Disbursement of Responsibility

Why Students are TargetedRaceReligionSexual OrientationPhysical AttributesMental AbilitiesNational Origin

Other reasons…New to schoolYoungest in ClassSocio-Economic (rich / poor)Trauma

Students with disabilities may:

•Be perceived as easy targets

•Attract negative attention

•Misread social cues and intentions

•Unintentionally provoke others

•Have difficulty developing peer support

•Have difficulty recognizing, responding to and reporting bullying

Students with Disabilities: Risk Factors for Bullying

How is Cyberbullying different?The bully can remain anonymous The bully cannot see the victim’s reaction

Does not recognize the harm they are doingTheir actions can “go viral”

The perception is that everyone knows about itAdults may not have the technical skills to

monitor online behaviorIt slips through the cracks

Whose jurisdiction is it?

Warning signs of Cyberbullying

The Target:Unexpectedly stops using the computer or cell

phoneCrying for no reasonAppears jumpy when a text or email comes throughDecreased interested in school and activitiesFrustrated or angry after using cell/computerAvoids talking about their online activityWithdrawing from othersLack of concentration, grades drop

Warning signs of Cyberbullying

The Bully:Anger / aggressionAttempts to hide online activity, avoids

talking about itQuickly switches screens or closes

programs when someone walks byGets upset if computer/cell privileges are

restrictedAppears to be using multiple accounts (or

an account that is not their own)

Cyberbully advice for parents:

Monitor your child's online activities (actively or by using tracking software)

Talk to you children about the risks of using social networking sites, chat rooms, etc.What they write, post, upload is no longer

theirs, it never goes away Talk about what is appropriate online

behaviorCreate an internet/cell use contract with

your child

Cyberbully advice for parents:

Save and print evidence of cyberbullyingUnfriend, block, and report the offenderAsk for a meeting with school administratorsContact the parent(s) of the offenderWork with the ISP, Cell Phone Company, or

Content Provider to investigate and remove offensive material

Contact school administration immediately if aware of a threat

Tier 1: bullying prevention

Survey the current school culture/climateEstablish /promote a positive school culture

Praise teamwork, inclusion, positive languageDiscuss internet safety & netiquette throughout the

yearAvoid traditional social networking sites in the

classroom, choose sites like http://youthvoices.net instead

Address bullying in general whenever it occurs “We don’t use that word in this class / school.”“I am not comfortable with name calling, its not ok here”

Be familiar with your school/district bullying policy

Awareness CampaignsAnti-bullying ralliesPoster campaignsAnti-bullying pledgeStudent created public service announcements

Thinking it Through activity Students discuss their experiences with cyber

bullying and ways to prevent itDrama lesson plan

Students create and act out a play centered around bullying

Tier 1: bullying prevention

• Access local resources – The Attic: LBGTQ organization in Philadelphia

that provides free assemblies for students – Bentley University: Student group organizes anti-

bullying rally and pledge signing

• Peer mentoring groups / Newcomer groups

Tier 1: bullying prevention

Tier 2: bullying intervention

• Act immediately if a student reports being bullied – offer support!• Follow your school/district protocol (report, investigation,

parental contact, counseling, reflection/discipline, etc)• Immediately report any threats you are aware of to the

administration, police involvement may be required!• Designate yourself a Cyberbully Trustee

• Intervene with perpetrators if you observe bullying

• Pull them aside, label the behavior, state it must stop

Tier 2: bullying intervention

• Empower bystanders• Model and encourage positive behavior• Point out that they would want someone to stand up for them• Ask 1 or 2 students if they notice bullying in your class• Offer one-on-one praise, thank you notes, etc

• Assign reflection activities to perpetrators/bystanders

• Solution Teams http://www.nobully.com/solutionteam.htm

For the perpetrator: Discipline / Police involvementCounseling Behavior planning / MonitoringAlternative programs

Boston: Counseling and Intervention Center (alt. suspension)

Philadelphia: Disciplinary Transfer (alt. school)

For the target:CounselingSafety transfer?

Tier 3: bullying intervention