Bullying in the Schools

An Overview of a Workshop by Region IV ESC

Presenter: Kendal Rylander

Determine whether each of the statements is a “myth” or a “fact”

MYTH OR FACT?

Activity: Perceptions

Think of a character(s) in a movie or T.V. program you would consider to be a bully.

List the types of behaviors that character exhibits

DEFINITION:

Targeting a child for repetitive negative actions

Imbalance of power so victim can’t defend himself/herself

Unequal levels of affect

BULLYING:

“Bullying is a form of terrorism that encompasses a group of antisocial behaviors, including assault, intimidation, extortion, some forms of vandalism, cruel teasing, and unwanted physical contact.”

BULLYIING

Approximately 6,250 teachers are threatened each day, and 260 are actually attacked.

Approximately 80% of high school students and 90% of elementary and middle school students reported being bullied.

PREVALENCE of BULLYING. . . .

There is a general decline in physical bullying as age and grade increase, but verbal abuse/aggression remains constant.

Boys bully and are bullied more than girls.

IMPACT OF BULLYING:

Serious problem20% of students directly involved

(bullies or victims)Creates climate of fearDeterrent to learningOften unpunished

EFFECTS OF BULLYING:

DepressionLow self-esteemPoor academic achievementIsolationDropping out of schoolThreatened, attempted, or

completed suicide

REASONS FOR BEING BULLIED:

Didn’t fit inPhysical weaknessShort temperedOverweightWho friends areClothingGrades too high /low

Cry easily

Facial appearanceShy/withdrawnEthnic originPerceived sexual

orientationDisability

TYPES OF VICTIMS. . . .

Passive Victims

Provocative Victims

PASSIVE VICTIMS. . . . .

Most common typeLack social skillsCry easilyLack ability to use humor to

defuse conflictLonely, depressedYield easily to bullying

PASSIVE Victims. . . .

Anxious/ insecure

Unable to defend themselves

PROVOCATIVE VICTIMS

Smaller groupIrritate/tease othersIneffectual aggressorsEasily emotionally arousedTend to maintain the conflict Tend to make you feel like they

deserve it

CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN WHO ARE NOT VICTIMIZED. . . .

Do not insist on their own way arbitrarily

ApologizeCompromiseShareBargain/negotiateChange the topic

Consequences for Victims

Lower self-esteem, self-defeating/fearful attitude

Anxiety, fear, sadness, and possible depression

Disrupted academic performance, lack of interest in school, excessive absences

Physical symptomsPanic and irrational retaliation

MYTHS ABOUT BULLYING

MYTH #1: Children learn to take care of situations involving bullying on their own.

“They will just have to learn to stand up for themselves.”

MYTH #2

Bullying causes no emotional harm.

“I was bullied at school and it didn’t cause emotional damage.”

MYTH #3

It is important to stand up to the bullies.

“Tell him to hit back-harder.”

MYTH #4

There is a “right of passage.” They will grow out of it.”

“He/she is just being a kid.”

MYTH #5

Verbal bullying is not serious and cannot do any real harm.

“Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you.”

THINK BACK. . . . .

Think back to a time when you were bullied.

What feelings, words, sounds, images come to mind?

Who if anyone assisted/supported you?

FACTS ABOUT BULLYING:

Children who bully often grow up to become perpetrators of violence.

Children identified as bullies by age 8 are more likely to be convicted of a crime.

FACTS Continued. . .

Peer bystanders find bullying disturbing to watch, but do not intervene.

Neither peer bystanders not victims tend to report incidents of bullying.

Bullying occurs most often on school grounds or during school events.

Teachers and others seldom recognize or intervene.

FACTS Cont. . .

Boys tend to engage in more physical bullying, while girls tend to use more indirect tactics.

Bullying is not restricted to children. Adults can and do bully other adults and children.

Bullying will not stop without adult intervention.

FACTS ABOUT BULLIES. . .

On the average, 2-3 children spend their lives afraid.

Some children avoid the playground, cafeteria, restroom because they feel intimidated.

Children usually do not tell adults about bullies.

FACTS ABOUT BULLIES. . .

Adults often expect children to solve these problems on their own.

Adults usually respond to these situations based on their own experiences with bullies.

To effectively deal with this problem, a school-wide intervention is necessary.

FAMILY ISSUES in BULLYING. . . . .

Violence is largely learned behavior, and the primary source of most early learning is the home.

Behavior that does not make sense in the context of the school may make sense in the context of the home and family.

FAMILY ISSUES in BULLYING. . . .

Familial factors in bullying:rejection by one or both parentsextensive use of physical punishment lack of nurturingparental disharmonysocial isolationchaotic home organization

FAMILY ISSUES IN BULLYING. . . .

Factors among victim families and bully families are very similar.

One predominate difference is victim families appear overly emotionally involved and entangled. Boundaries are unclear and enmeshed.

WHY DO SCHOOLS FAIL TO ADDRESS BULLYING?

Administrators often uninformed;

Eclipsed by more serious violence;

Unaware of extent of bullying;

“Boys will be boys” viewpoint;

Beliefs

BULLYING INTERVENTIONS. . . . .

Neither difficult nor expensive to implement

Requires adults to: believe that bullying is a serious

problemcommit to sustained action against

bullying

SCHOOL LEVEL INTERVENTIONS. . . .

Assess the level of bullying on the campus

Form a bullying prevention coordinating committee to plan and monitor school activities

Increase supervision during lunch, recess, and between classes

Develop school-wide rules against bullying

SCHOOL INTERVENTIONS….

Initiate a system to reinforce pro-social behavior

Establish class rules against bullying Set firm limitsEnforce sanctions against bullyingCreate a positive school environmentTeach skills of empathy

SCHOOL INTERVENTIONS

Provide on-going staff development

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

Regularly scheduled classroom meetings during which students and teachers engage in discussion, role playing, and artistic activities related to preventing bullying.

STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS. . . .

Involve students in establishing classroom rules against bullying.

Develop an action plan to ensure that students know what to do when they observe bullying.

Teach cooperation. Take immediate action when bullying

is observed.

STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS. . . .

Confront bullies in private;Refer victims and aggressors for

counseling;Provide protection for bullying

victims whenever necessary;Listen to parents and students who

report bullying situations;

STRATEGIES FOR TEACHERS . . .

Avoid attempts to mediate a bullying situation. The victim may feel further victimized.