BULLYING

It is the goal of the Ohio State Board of Education, through the School Climate Guidelines, to foster a positive school climate which evokes non-violence, cooperation, teamwork, understanding, and acceptance, toward all students and staff in, and in transit to and from, the school environment.

Anti-Harassment and Bullying Anti-Harassment and Bullying PolicyPolicy

BULLIES PICK ON DIFFERENCESand differences are what make us unique!

Dysfunctional FamilyDysfunctional Family

Childhood DepressionChildhood Depression

Influences?

Understanding Bullying

Bullying is a form of harassment. It is a deliberate attempt to cause physical or emotional harm to someone. This type of behavior is unwanted, unwelcome, unsolicited, and usually persistent.  Bullying is an abuse of power.

 

Examples of Bullying

Name-calling, hurtful or racist names Hitting, punching, kicking, bumping Threatening Teasing or mocking Deliberately ignoring or excluding Spreading rumors/scandals Sending hurtful notes, emails, voicemail

messages Interfering with the property of another Sexual innuendo and harassment

Bullying is Like Spouse Abuse or Sexual Harassment in that it is:

Done by someone with  more power or social support to someone with less power or social support .

Often includes the abuser blaming the target for the abuse .

Often it leads to the "target" blaming him or herself for the abuse.

Students Who Engage in Bullying

Seem to have a need to feel powerful and in control.

Appear to derive satisfaction from inflicting injury and suffering on others.

Seem to have little empathy for their victims, and often defend their actions by saying that their victims provoked them in some way. 

Bystanders Also Play a Role in Bullying

The assistant who joins the bully. The re-enforcer who encourages the bully

by observing and laughing. outsiders who avoid the bullying by staying

away and not getting involved for fear of losing social status or being bullied as well.

Who Gets Bullied?

  Victims of bullying may be smaller, insecure,

cautious and suffer from low self-esteem. Rarely defends themselves or retaliates when

confronted by students who bully them.  May lack social skills and friends and thus are

often already socially isolated.  Victims tend to be close to their parents and may

have parents who can be described as over protective.

Bullying Happens in 4 Ways

Verbal

Physical

Sexual

Property

What Does it Look Like?

VERBAL– Ignoring / Isolation– Teasing– Jokes– Gossip– Threats– Group threats

What Does it Look Like?

PHYSICAL– Blocking someone’s path– Physical restraint– Pushing / Kicking– Hazing (eg. Taping to a pole)– Fighting– Drive-bys– Murder

What Does it Look Like?

SEXUAL– Teasing with sexual overtones– Touching– Slapping– Innuendo / Jokes– Pictures, emails, graffiti– Sexual assault– Rape

What Does it Look Like?

PROPERTY– Hiding belongings– Theft– Extortion (blackmail)– Vandalism– Destruction

Profile of a Bully

Aggressive, physically strong Routinely violent Poor communication skills High or low self-esteem Insecure, with a need to control From a dysfunctional family Thrives on domination

Attention seeking Immature and envious Disruptive, divisive,

oppositional A low achiever, low anxiety Lies, denies responsibility and

violates school rules Uncaring - lacks empathy &

remorse Exploitative

There are 3 Types of Bullies

The Confident Bully

The Anxious Bully

The Bully / Victim

Types of Bullies

Confident Bullies – physically strong– enjoy aggression– feel secure– average popularity– commit violence, theft & destruction of

property

Types of Bullies

Anxious Bullies– academically weak– poor concentration– less popular– less secure– use teasing & name-calling– use peer influence to socially exclude

targets

Types of Bullies

Bully /Victim– are bullies in some situations– victimized by bullies in other situations– generally unpopular– may taunt and provoke bullies

What are the Effects of Bullying?

EMOTIONAL EFFECTS: HOW DO YOU FEEL?

– left out– anxious– insecure– low self esteem– F E A R– depressed– withdrawn– aggressive– angry– vengeful

PHYSICAL EFFECTS: HOW DO YOU ACT?

– stomach aches / weight loss or gain

– headaches– grades drop– drug or alcohol use– sexual activity– drop out of school– assaultive– suicidal– homicidal

Effects of Bullying

More than 160,000 students do not go to school each day because they fear being bullied.

- National Education Association, National Psychology Association

The Numbers Tell the Tale...

1 in 7 kids is a bully or a victim of bullying. More than 160,000 kids don’t go to school each day

because they fear being bullied. 60% of kids characterized as bullies in 6th-9th grades

had at least 1 criminal conviction by age 24. Bullies are 5 times more likely to end up with a serious

criminal record by age 30. Targets of bullying are more likely to be depressed as

adults.

85% of Students are Neither Bullies, nor Victims.

They make up the silent majorityand they can build positive peer pressure

against bullying.

Tools TO STOP Bullying

Recognize it. Confront the Bully. Support the Victim. Get involved. Report the Incident. DO SOMETHING!

Tools TO STOP Bullying

Recognize when a student is being bullied.– Remember the four ways bullying happens:

Verbal Physical Sexual Property

Tools TO STOP Bullying

Confront the bully.– ask them what they are doing and why– tell them you don’t appreciate the way they are

acting– bullies only enjoy themselves when they get

APPROVAL from their peers!!!– Remember…the problem is the bully…NOT the

victim!

Tools TO STOP Bullying

Support the victim.– offer a compliment or encouraging word– let them know they aren’t alone– let them know their feelings ARE important– DON’T offer excuses for the bully’s behavior

Tools TO STOP Bullying

Get involved – Take an active role in changing the “norm”– Become a peer mediator– Participate in your school’s organizations

Peer Advocates / Natural Helpers S.A.V.E. (Students Against Violence Everywhere) C.W.D. (Creating a World of Difference)

Tools TO STOP Bullying

Report it! – Bullying is a violation of school policy.– Bullies need to be held accountable for their

actions.– Reporting bullying helps insure that the bully gets

the appropriate counseling.

Who Can You Tell?

Anonymous TIP Line Peer Advocate or

Mediator School Resource

Officer Member Parent

Guidance Counselor School Security Monitor Principal / Vice Principal Teacher or Staff

What Parents Can Do About Bullying?

1. Know the school policies.

2. Seek help from teachers, school guidance counselor, and school administrators, and hold them accountable.

3. Notify the police if your child is assaulted.  Get a restraining order so that the bully is required by law to have no contact with your child.

4. If school officials and the police do not follow policy or laws, take legal action.

Intervention

Combating bullying is a mission that requires cooperation between everyone involved.  Parents, the school, and the community must work together to stop bullying. 

A comprehensive intervention plan that involves all students, parents, and school staff can help ensure that all students can learn in a safe and fear-free environment.

School Climate Where Bullying is not Tolerated Use…

School surveys on bullying to identify the problem.

Awareness campaigns in schools, churches, places of worship, libraries, and recreation centers.

Educational programs, peer counseling, whole-school policies, classroom rules, cooperative learning activities, increased supervision during lunch and recess).

Okay, So What Can I Do?

BULLYING STARTS AND STOPS WITH YOU!! If you see another student being victimized by a bully

or bullies, tell someone. Offer a positive or encouraging comment. Helping

someone else feel good about themselves only makes you feel better!

DO NOT LAUGH OR PARTICIPATE. Teachers, counselors, school administrators, school

security monitors and school resource officers are all willing to listen and help.

•THE BIGGEST DIFFERNCE YOU CAN MAKE IS TO CARE. BY SAYING OR DOING NOTHING, YOU ARE SAYING IT DOES NOT MATTER. Remember…bullying is

EVERYONE’S problem.

GET INVOLVED

Okay, So What Can I Do?

Form of Bullying?

University of Cincinnati

P.O. Box 210109

Cincinnati, OH 45221-0109

Phone: 1-800-788-7254, option #2

Web site: ebasedprevention.org

Fax: 513-556-0782

The Ohio Resource Network for Safe and Drug Free Schools And Communities