Bullying What is it? How do we stop it at Vineyard?

What is Bullying?  A bully is someone who repeatedly hurts, teases, or frightens other people.  A bully’s behavior is intentional – they purposely do unkind things to be mean.  A bully looks for an imbalance of power – they want to overpower the victim in some way such as being bigger, older, or causing someone to feel helpless.

Bullying has many names Gossiping Rejection Teasing/taunting Assault/hitting Harassment Stealing/extortion Threatening Profanity Cyberbullying Indirect: Intentionally excluding someone making them feel isolated

Reason for this Presentation Bullying has become a major problem in our school. Students need to understand what it means to bully someone. Students need to know what to do when they are bullied. Students need to know ways to help others who are being bullied.

FACTS Bullying interferes with learning. In recent studies, it has been reported that 88% of junior high school students have experienced being victimized by bullying in school. 160,000 students miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by a bully.

FACTS In 2007, about 32% of students aged 12 to 18 reported being bullied at school. More common in younger kids: 43% of 6 th graders 24% of 12 th graders In all: 21% reported that they had been teased 11% were physically bullied 4% cyber bullied 6% threatened bodily harm

Bullies Bullies are more likely to drop out of school. Bullies are more likely to be associated with delinquency. Bullies are more likely to be become criminals. Bullies tend to develop violent traits.

Bullies Are more likely to: Be physically aggressive/fight Vandalize Steal Drink and smoke Skip school Drop out Carry Weapons

Bullies are Cowards Bullies tend to bully others when teachers and adults are not watching. Bullies tend to bully and intimidate others when they have an audience of “friends.” Bullies tend to look for weakness in their victims.

VICTIMS Fear of being bullied leads to higher rates of absence and truancy. Victims develop a loss of self-esteem, depression, and isolation. As students and later as adults, victims may be hesitant to take social, intellectual, and emotional risks.

VICTIMS Victims are more likely than non- victims to grow up feeling insecure. Grades may suffer because attention is drawn away from learning. Fear going to school, using the school restroom, riding the bus

BYSTANDERS They are afraid of associating with the victim because they fear retribution or becoming “victimized” themselves. They fear reporting bullying incidents because they may be termed as a “snitch,” “tattletale,” “rat,” etc. Are sometimes drawn into bullying behavior by group pressure Feel unsafe, unable to take action or a sense of a loss of control

FORMS OF BULLYING! Verbal/name calling Physical/hitting Threatening Sexual Electronic/cyberbullying

Sexual Harassment a form of Bullying Verbal Physical Written Gestures

Examples of Sexual Harassment Sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or looks Showing, giving, or leaving sexual pictures, photos, notes, etc. Writing sexual messages about another student on bathroom walls, etc. Saying another student is gay or lesbian Spying on another student when dressing at school in locker rooms

More examples of Sexual Harassment Touching or grabbing or pinching another student in a sexual way Intentionally brushing up against another student in a sexual way Pulling at clothing (pulling off or pulling down clothing - pantsing) Blocking another student or cornering them in a sexual way

Electronic/Cyberbullying a form of bullying when the Internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person

Electronic/Cyberbullying Cyber-bullying can be as simple as continuing to send to someone who has said they want no further contact with the sender, but it may also include threats, sexual remarks, pejorative labels (i.e., hate speech), ganging up on victims by making them the subject of ridicule in forums, and posting false statements as fact aimed at humiliation.threatshate speech

Electronic/Cyberbullying Sending “mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images Posting information that is personal, sensitive, or untrue Posting untrue information as if one was that person Exclusion from online groups Threats Rumors/Gossip Damaging Information Altering/Disseminating Photos Stealing passwords and user names Recording conversations

True or False ? ? If a girl wears tight jeans or a short shirt, she is asking to be sexually harassed.  False Boys don’t usually get sexually harassed.  False Spreading rumors around school can be a form of sexual harassment.  True

/ True or False ? ?  Bullying makes kids feel good about themselves.  False  Bullying is a way of showing you have power over someone else.  True Calling someone “gay” or “queer” is a form of sexual harassment.  True

True or False ? ? You can go to jail for sexually harassing someone.  True Sexual harassment isn’t a problem at this school.  False If you see someone you don’t know very well being sexually harassed, you should mind your own business.  False

RIGHTS ! All children have a right to a school environment where they feel safe and can learn to the best of their abilities.

Difference Between Bullying and a Conflict Bullying is when someone is repeatedly and intentionally causing the victim to feel uncomfortable or afraid. A conflict is part of everyday living and can be resolved.

What can happen? Students can now be suspended or expelled for bullying, including cyber bullying.

So..... Take a stand. Lend a hand. Stop bullying now !!!!

What Can You Do ???? Seek adult help. Do not participate in the harassment of the victim. Offer kind words to the victim. Do not become involved in rumors and gossip. Do not become involved in physical or verbal fights with a bully.

What Can You Do ????? Remind the victim to walk away. If you can effectively communicate with the bully, tell the bully that he/she is doing inappropriate things or tell the bully to “leave the victim alone.” Invite the victim to hang out with you.

What Can You Do ????? Purple Slip Bully Box (Front office and Library) Safe School Ambassadors Teachers Staff

Education Code Suspension (a.1) (i) (n) (o) (q) (.2) (.3) (.4) Expulsion (b) (e)