Bullying: What’s New and What To Do Presented by Jane Cook, EASTCONN Staff Development/Literacy & Tech Specialist Adapted from Materials from the National Crime Prevention Council

Objectives As a result of participating in this PD session, teachers will: Content Objectives Role play scenarios and problem solve how to handle potential bullying situations at WMS Role play scenarios and problem solve how to handle potential bullying situations at WMS Develop a Team Action Plan for preventing bullying at WMS Develop a Team Action Plan for preventing bullying at WMS Language Objective Explain what bullying is and what their responsibilities are as teachers in dealing with bullying Explain what bullying is and what their responsibilities are as teachers in dealing with bullying 2

QUIZZES Anti-bullying Quiz Anti-bullying Quiz Cyberbullying Quiz Cyberbullying Quiz 3

What is bullying? Think, Pair, Share Turn to a partner and discuss the answer to this question. 4

Bullying is… An imbalance of power Repeated and systematic harassment and attacks on others Repeated and systematic harassment and attacks on others Perpetrated by individuals or groups Perpetrated by individuals or groups 5 Source: Health Resources and Services Administration National Bullying Campaign, 2004

Bullying Can Take Many Forms Physical violence Physical violence Verbal taunts, name-calling, and put- downs Verbal taunts, name-calling, and put- downs Threats and intimidation Threats and intimidation Extortion or stealing money and/or possessions Extortion or stealing money and/or possessions Spreading rumors Spreading rumors Harassment via technology ( , text messaging, etc.) Harassment via technology ( , text messaging, etc.) 6 Source: London Family Court Clinic, London, Ontario, Canada

Some Statistics… 93% of American youth in the U.S. are online 73% of American youth have a cell phone IM-ing, text messaging, social networking and tweeting are a vital means of self-expression and a central part of the social lives of the Millennial generation Having such an online presence can lead to cyberbullying 7 Source: Cox Communications and the Pew Internet & American Life Project

Cyberbullying is… Harassment and bullying that takes place online or through other mobile devices Examples include: Spreading rumors about someone through instant messaging (IM) Spreading rumors about someone through instant messaging (IM) Threatening someone on a blog Threatening someone on a blog Creating hurtful websites against someone Creating hurtful websites against someone Posting photos or videos that are harmful to others Posting photos or videos that are harmful to others 8

Cyberbullying: A Survey of Teens Revealed Cyberbullying was experienced at least one time by 43% of teens, aged 13 to 17. Teens report that in 77% of the cases the cyberbully is someone they know. Girls claim to have been cyberbullied more than boys – 51% to 37%. 9 NCPC Cyberbullying Research Report, 2006

Who bullies? Who is bullied? Demographic Characteristics Children who bully… Can come from any economic, cultural, or religious background Can come from any economic, cultural, or religious background Are often in late elementary or middle school Are often in late elementary or middle school 10

Who bullies? Who is bullied? Personal Attitudes/Behaviors Children who bully… Want power Want power Have a positive attitude toward violence Have a positive attitude toward violence Have quick tempers Have quick tempers Have difficulty conforming to rules Have difficulty conforming to rules Gain satisfaction from inflicting injury and perceive “rewards” (prestige, material goods) from their behavior Gain satisfaction from inflicting injury and perceive “rewards” (prestige, material goods) from their behavior Have positive self images Have positive self images 11

Who bullies? Who is bullied? Attitudes Towards Others Children who bully… Lack empathy Lack empathy Are concerned with their own desires rather than those of others Are concerned with their own desires rather than those of others Find it difficult to see things from someone else’s perspective Find it difficult to see things from someone else’s perspective Are willing to use others to get what they want Are willing to use others to get what they want 12

Common Characteristics Among Youth Who Are Bullied Children who are bullied often stand out as different in some way because of: Appearance Appearance Sexual orientation Sexual orientation Intellect Intellect Socio-economic background Socio-economic background Cultural or religious background Cultural or religious background 13

Gender Differences in Bullying Boys and girls are bullied in different ways ◦ Boys are more likely to be bullied physically. ◦ Girls are more likely to be bullied socially. 14

How widespread is bullying? A national study of 15,600 students in grades 6-10 found 19% reported bullying others “sometimes” or more often 19% reported bullying others “sometimes” or more often 16% reported being bullied “sometimes” or more often 16% reported being bullied “sometimes” or more often 6.3% reported bullying and being bullied 6.3% reported bullying and being bullied 15 Source: Nansel et al., 2001

The Negative Impacts of Witnessing Bullying More than 50% of teens (ages 12 to 17) witness at least one bullying or taunting incident in school each week (NCPC, 2005). More than 50% of teens (ages 12 to 17) witness at least one bullying or taunting incident in school each week (NCPC, 2005). Students in grades 7 to 12 say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings; 86% said, “other kids picking on them, making fun of them, or bullying them” can cause teenagers to turn to lethal violence in schools (Cerio, 2001). Students in grades 7 to 12 say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings; 86% said, “other kids picking on them, making fun of them, or bullying them” can cause teenagers to turn to lethal violence in schools (Cerio, 2001). 16

Signs That a Child is Being Bullied: Physical Signs Cuts, bruises, scratches Cuts, bruises, scratches Headaches, stomachaches Headaches, stomachaches Damaged possessions Damaged possessions “Missing” possessions that need to be replaced “Missing” possessions that need to be replaced 17

Signs That a Child is Being Bullied: Emotional Signs Withdrawal and/or shyness Withdrawal and/or shyness Anxiety Anxiety Depression Depression Aggression Aggression 18

Signs That a Child is Being Bullied: Behavioral/Social Signs Changes in eating or sleeping habits (e.g., nightmares) Changes in eating or sleeping habits (e.g., nightmares) No longer wanting to participate in activities once enjoyed No longer wanting to participate in activities once enjoyed Beginning to bully siblings or mistreat family pets Beginning to bully siblings or mistreat family pets Hurting self, attempting or threatening suicide Hurting self, attempting or threatening suicide Suddenly changing friends Suddenly changing friends 19

Signs That a Child is Being Bullied: Academic Signs Not wanting to go to school Not wanting to go to school Changing method of going to school (e.g., changing walking route, wanting to be driven instead of riding the bus) Changing method of going to school (e.g., changing walking route, wanting to be driven instead of riding the bus) Drop in grades Drop in grades 20

What To Do About Bullying: Prevention Strategies for Children Who Are Bullied Prevention strategies Tell an adult. Tell an adult. Talk it out. Talk it out. Walk away. Walk away. Distract the bully with a joke. Distract the bully with a joke. Avoid the bully. Avoid the bully. Hang out with friends. Hang out with friends. 21

What To Do About Bullying: Prevention Strategies for Children Who Witness Bullying Tell the bully to stop. Tell the bully to stop. Help the victim walk away. Help the victim walk away. Recruit friends to help the victim. Recruit friends to help the victim. Befriend the victim. Befriend the victim. Get an adult. Get an adult. 22

Children Who Witness Bullying When peers intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds, 57% of the time. 23 Source: Hawkins, Pepler, and Craig, 2001

Bullying Role Plays: How To Implement Prevention Strategies 24 Work with your Grade Level Data Team colleagues to create a scenario where bullying or cyberbullying is taking place at school. Specials Teachers – Please divide yourselves evenly across the Grade Level Data Teams. Plan a 5-minute role play to demonstrate a bullying behavior with a response. At the end of 10 minutes, be prepared to present the role play.

Role Play Review What was the bullying behavior? What was the bullying behavior? How did the bullied child react to the bullying? How did the bullied child react to the bullying? How did the other children react? How did the other children react? How did the bullying child react to the actions of the child who was bullied or the other children? How did the bullying child react to the actions of the child who was bullied or the other children? Was the bullying managed in an effective way? Was the bullying managed in an effective way? What are other ways the bullying could have been handled? What are other ways the bullying could have been handled? 25

Taking Action: How Can We As Educators Help Prevent Bullying? Work with your Interdisciplinary or Specials team members to devise strategies that you can implement in your team. Work with your Interdisciplinary or Specials team members to devise strategies that you can implement in your team. Develop a Team Action Plan using the template on the grant Wiki at: Develop a Team Action Plan using the template on the grant Wiki at: Post your Team Action Plan at the bottom of the page by your team’s name on the Wiki: Post your Team Action Plan at the bottom of the page by your team’s name on the Wiki:

Resources Anti-bullying and Cyberbullying Resources on Wiki at: Jane Cook’s Anti-Bullying Delicious Bundle: McGruff Crime Prevention Web site: National Criminal Justice Reference Service: Stop Bullying Now! - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration Take a Stand! Lend a Hand! Stop Bullying Now! online webisodes games and Resource Kit Web site: