Bullying 101

What is Bullying? Bullying is different from normal disagreements or arguments between friends or other students. A lot of teenagers describe bullying as, “When someone tries to make you feel less about who you are as a person, and you aren’t able to make it stop.”

What is Bullying? Bullying must have the 3 P’s: Power – there is an imbalance of power. Power (also called an imbalance of power) includes things like: being older, being bigger & stronger, being popular, or when a group of kids picks on one kid. Purpose – the person intends to hurt you. Pattern or Persistence – the person continues the action over and over again.

4 Main Types of Bullying Physical bullying: Includes pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking, biting, pulling hair, touching inappropriately, breaking things, or taking other people’s things. Verbal bullying: Includes teasing, name calling, threats, intimidation, demeaning jokes, rumors, gossip, and slander.

4 Main Types of Bullying Emotional bullying: This bullying hurts people on the inside and makes them feel bad about themselves. Examples: leaving someone out on purpose, telling lies to hurt someone’s reputation, and humiliating someone publically. Cyberbullying: Using technology, a bully sends mean text messages, posts videos, stories, or photos that make fun of someone, and spreading rumors through social networking sites.

Cyberbullying Here are some tips on how to stay safe and help your friends!

Where have you seen bullying?

Why do we talk about Bullying? Students who grow up to bully, have a greater risk of getting into trouble with the law. By age 25, one in four bullies have spent time in jail. Bystanders (those who stand by and watch bullying without helping), have feelings like anger, guilt, and fear because they wish they could help but don’t know how. Each school day over 160,000 students in the US stay home because they are scared to be bullied.

No one ever deserves to be bullied, and if someone is being bullied, they have a right to feel safe in our school.

People Being Bullied What Can They Do? If you are being bullied: Tell the bully to stop. This may be really hard but you need to tell the person to stop and that what they are doing is hurting your feelings. If the bully doesn’t stop after you have asked them to stop, tell your parents, a teacher, a counselor, a principal, a secretary, or any other adult you trust. Talk with an adult about how you can react when you are bullied.

Witnesses – What Can They Do? What can you do if you see bullying? SPEAK UP! Tell an adult. Remember that bullying needs taken seriously! Be a friend. Try to say something nice to someone who is being bullied.

Bullies – What Should They Do To Stop?? Bullies need to learn that: Their actions are hurting another person. It is never ok to hurt or harm another person, through words or actions. Everyone deserves respect and differences are a part of our world. Talking with an adult can help them learn how to not be a bully anymore.

AMBASSADORS If you need help or need support with bullying, you can also talk to students on our Ambassador team!

Bully is never ok. Seriously.

Is this Bullying? A Case Study Mia was walking down the hall with her friend Jessica. They stopped at Mia’s locker and a group of boys was at the locker next to hers. Mia and Jessica had never talked to these boys before but today, they called Jessica fat and told Mia that she was the smelliest girl they had every met. They also kept shutting Mia’s locker while she was trying to get her stuff out. Mia and Jessica tried to ignore the boys but their feelings were really hurt. The boys never talked to them again. Is this a bullying situation (does it meet all 3 Ps)? What can Mia and Jessica do about the situation?

Is this Bullying? A Case Study Henry was a shy seventh-grader who recently arrived at school from out of state. One day as he was browsing a social media site he came across a page about the school with pictures of students, including one of him labeled “The Fat Nerd.” Upset, he posted a reply expressing his dismay. The postings became nastier, and soon some students were making loud comments in the lunchroom and on the playground. A teacher overhead some of the names, and asked Henry what was going on. He described the social media page and the cyberbullying. Talk about this as a class. Does it meet all 3 Ps? What could Henry do to stop the bullying?

References & For More Information: http://www.pacer.org/bullying/pdf/mh-starting-the-discussion- files/Bullying101.pdf http://www.growingwireless.com/be-aware/cyberbullying/news-case- studies-on-cyberbullying