1 Please seat yourselves in groups of 5-6.

2 An Overview of Bullying

3 Think of the most tolerant person in your building. What behavior would s/he have to be aware of before intervening?

4 Think of the least tolerant person in your building. What behavior would s/he have to be aware of before intervening?

5 Write the behaviors on the Post-It Notes. Most Tolerant -Least Tolerant

6 Shooting someone with a gun Stabbing someone Flashing a weapon Hitting/kicking Shoving/punching Spitting/pushing Intimidation/extortion Stalking Sexual Harassment Damaging property Stealing Taunting/ridiculing Name calling Threatening Writing graffiti Staring/leering Gesturing Starting rumors/ gossiping Eye rolling Violence Continuum

7 Think About 1. As a student in your building, what bullying behavior could you get away with at least half the time? 2. Why is this true? 3. What is the most frequent bullying behavior involving kids on kids that you observe in your building?

8 Definition of Violence: Violence is any word, look, sign, or act that hurts a person’s body, feelings, or things.

9 Definition of Harassment: Harassment in itself means to trouble, worry or torment, with repeated questions or attacks. The victim feels hassled and becomes very frustrated, as the harassment may be a continuous event. EPS Board Policy # 4420R

10 Definition of Intimidation: Intimidation involves making someone else afraid, intentionally making her/him timid, or forcing her/him in some manner by using threats of violence. EPS Board Policy # 4420R

11 Definition of Bullying: Bullying is aggressive behavior or intentional harming of another person. Bullying occurs within an interpersonal relationship characterized by an imbalance of power that involves exploitation of a less powerful person by one seeking an unfair advantage. It is repeated over time. EPS Board Policy # 4420R

12 Bullying happens when someone with more power unfairly hurts someone with less power over and over again. Power may be physical strength, social skill, verbal ability, or another resource.

13 Physical Bullying: Harm to another student’s person or property (threatening harm or gestures, tripping, hitting, starting fights, extortion, assaulting with a weapon, homicide.)

14 Emotional Bullying: Harm to another’s self worth using remarks, insulting gestures, harassing/frightening phone calls, challenging in public.

15 Social Bullying: Harm to another’s group acceptance by gossiping, playing tricks, spreading rumors, racial insults, exclusion tactics, arranging public humiliation, undermining other relationships, ruining a reputation.

16 Sexual Bullying: Reference is made to Board Policy #4810, as that policy was developed specifically to address this type of bullying.

17 Think of instances in your building that an adult’s behavior would fit the definition of bullying. Discuss this at your tables.

18 Board Policy # 4420R “Any employee engaging in the bullying of a student is subject to discipline, which could include but would not be limited to verbal or written disciplinary action, administrative transfer, suspension, demotion, forfeiture of pay or termination in accordance with applicable law.”

19 There are 2 Fuels for Violence:

20 Entitlement The belief that people have the right to use violence or threats of violence to express feelings, meet needs or satisfy desires.

21 Tolerance What we put up with or allow – or accept as the norm.

22 Occurs when violence is accepted as the norm through ignoring, rationalizing, and minimizing incidents of violence.

23 Entitlement and tolerance are not the behaviors but rather what drives behavior.

24 What causes students to tolerate or enable these behaviors? It works May be all they know Drama is inviting Expected Think it is okay

25 What groups enable violence to continue?

26 PersonnelParents Denial Guilt Nonreporting Blame Favoritism Sanction parties Ignoring or Teach violence minimizing Inconsistency Stop! Quit! Don't! StudentsCommunity Denial Deny the problem DN tell or report Guilt Glorify Nonrecognition Power or attention Leave it to law enforcement

27 Characteristics of Bullies Proactive Bully:Reactive Bully: * deliberate* emotional * detached* poor impulse control * unemotional*distorted thinking

28 General Characteristics of Bullies Average academically Not anxious or insecure Do not have low self esteem Usually have small network of friends Successfully hide their behaviors Excited by reactions of their victims (such as fighting back)…

29 Further General Characteristics of Bullies… Are excited by their bullying behavior Thrive on feelings of dominance and power Have low empathy and low compassion Enjoy causing pain Blame the victims Interpret ambiguous acts as hostile

30 Characteristics of Provocative Victims Pester and irritate others repeatedly Quick-tempered and will fight back Get others charged up Can look like a bully but always a victim in the end May be clumsy, immature, restless Provoke attacks…

31 Further Characteristics of Provocative Victims… Isolated Friendless Overly dependent on adults Distressed May be learning disabled - especially NVLD Often diagnosed with ADD or ADHD Bullied repeatedly

32 Characteristics of Passive Victims Have a lot of affect Rarely tell they are being bullied May carry weapons as self-protection Don’t invite attack Sensitive and cry easily Pushovers Lack social skills Often chosen last

33 District And Staff Responsibilities: EPS Board Policy #4420R * Provide classroom instruction in character education that addresses issues related to bullying. Communicate to students the following expectations :

34 A. We shall not bully other students. B. We shall try to help students who are bullied. C. We shall make a point to include students who become easily left out.

35 What Do You Know About Bullying?

36 1. All bullying involves physical aggression. 2. Only boys bully. 3. Once a bully always a bully. 4. Those who bully have low self esteem. 5. Children who bully are generally from families in lower socioeconomic levels…

37 6. As a rule, children who bully do poorly in school. 7. Those who bully appear agitated and aggressive. 8. Most bullying happens on the way to school or on the way home from school…

38 9. Putting a stop to bullying at school means only that the location in which this behavior occurs will move from the school to other places in the community. 10. Fighting back will deter bullying behavior.

39 Conclusion “Peace is active, not passive. Peace is doing, not waiting. Peace, like war, must be waged.” Jimmy Carter

40 Resources: * Oklahoma State Department of Health, June, 2002 * Sharon Heatly, Norman Public Schools * EPS BOE Board Policy 4420 and Regulations * Dan Olweus, “Bullying 101”