NOBODY LIKES A BULLY CURRICULUM FOR MIDDLE STUDENTS

BULLY definition Webster’s Dictionary defines bullying as: A person who hurts or frightens those who are smaller and weaker.

BULLY definition: Bullying is also: An intentional written, verbal or physical act against a student which is motivated by the bully’s perception of that student’s: race color creed gender sexual orientation or other distinguishing characteristics Paraphrased from Senate Bill 5528 adopted 03-09-02

I’m not bully, am I? ARE YOU A BULLY? In a recent study of almost 16,000 students, nearly 30% said that they had been involved in bullying. 8% of the student reported being bullied at least once weekly. The frequency of bullying was reportedly highest among 6th-8th graders. ARE YOU A BULLY? Journal of American Medicine (2001)

BULLIES PICK ON DIFFERENCES and differences are what make us unique! CLOTHING CULTURE HOBBIES INTELLIGENCE APPEARANCE PHYSICAL SIZE SEXUAL PREFERENCE RELIGION

Bullying happens in 4 ways Verbal: Direct and Indirect Physical Sexual Property

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? Verbal (Direct) VERBAL (Indirect) Threats Group threats Teasing Jokes VERBAL (Indirect) Ignoring / Isolation Gossip

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? PHYSICAL (Direct) 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

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 left out anxious insecure low self esteem F E A R depressed withdrawn aggressive angry vengeful PHYSICAL EFFECTS: HOW DO YOU ACT?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

WHAT ARE THE EFFECTS OF BULLYING? LONG TERM EFFECTS Violence Homicide Suicide Domestic violence Mental Health Disorders Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

EFFECTS OF BULLYING A recent national study found that 90% of those bullied reported psychological consequences, including: A drop in grades Increased anxiety Loss of friends

EFFECTS OF BULLYING More than 160,000 students do not go to school each day because they fear being bullied. - National Education Association, National Association of School Psychologists

TRUE OR FALSE? A kid who gets teased and bullied knows we’re just kidding around. Even if it does hurt his feelings right now, he’ll get over it. FALSE. Bullying is kind of like pounding a nail into a board. You can take the nail out, but the hole is still there. You can even use some kind of putty to fill the hole up. The bottom line is that piece of wood will never be quite the same again. People who have been bullied carry those scars, big or small, forever.

RESULTS OF BULLYING VIOLENCE The Secret Service did a study on school violence and found that bullying and tormenting were a factor in 37 school violence incidents.

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEADLINES... BARRY LOUKAITIS, 14, MOSES LAKE, WA, FEB. 2 , 1996. JOSEPH “COLT” TODD, 14, STAMPS, AR, DEC. 15 1997. ERIC HARRIS, 17, AND DYLAN KLEBOLD, 18, NEAR LITTLETON, CO, APRIL 20, 1999. - Barry Loukaitis: Walked into algebra class with a hunting rifle, two handguns and 78 rounds of ammunition. Killed the teacher and two students, wounded a third. One of the students killed had teased him. - Joseph Todd: Shot two students. Said he was humiliated by teasing. - Eric Harris & Dylan Klebold: Killed 12 students and 1 teacher, wounded 23 students and killed themselves. They had a complex plan including bombs and suicide. Both were known by peers as “outcasts.”

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEADLINES CHARLES “ANDY” WILLIAMS SANTANA HIGH SCHOOL, SANTEE CA, MARCH 6, 2001. - Andy Williams: Andy was the kind of kid no one took seriously. Originally from Maryland, he was teased constantly by people who called him “country boy,” said he had “big ears,” and “was gay.” Not only was Andy teased relentlessly at school, but he was attacked at home. Kids broke into his home, targeted his bedroom and vandalized his belongings. March 6, 2001 Andy came to school with a .22 cal rifle and 40 rounds of ammunition. He opened fire in the boys bathroom and didn’t stop shooting until 2 classmates lay dead and 13 others were injured.

VIOLENCE: IT’S NOT ALWAYS HOMICIDE SUICIDE: It’s the third leading cause of death among persons 10 to 24 years old US. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 500,000 teens attempt suicide every year. 5,000 succeed.

OK, SO WHAT CAN I DO? DO NOT LAUGH OR PARTICIPATE. 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.

OK, SO WHAT CAN I DO? If you are guilty of bullying…even once…make a commitment to recognize it and stop it…starting today. Most school district policies forbid bullying and those guilty of it might be subject to suspension or expulsion from school.

MISSION POSSIBLE…PART 1 YOUR MISSION IS TO LOOK AROUND YOU THIS WEEK AND FIND AN EXAMPLE OF BULLYING. Maybe you catch yourself doing it, or maybe you witness it happening to someone else, or maybe…it happened to you. WRITE IT DOWN.

MISSION POSSIBLE…PART 2 How did the incident make you feel? How did you respond? What would you change about how you acted or reacted? WRITE ALL THIS DOWN, TOO!

MISSION POSSIBLE…PART 3 CONSIDER THE CONSEQUENCES OF BULLYING. LOOK IN THE NEWSPAPER OR ON THE INTERNET AND FIND AN EXAMPLE OF THESE CONSEQUENCES. BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS THEM NEXT WEEK.