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BULLYING IN SCHOOLS
From the Fall 2004 Newsletter decisions from SADD
Bullying is a social phenomenon that
has been around for years and is extremely common. It seems
only recently that Americans are becoming aware that what
some people call "harmless teasing" can escalate
into outright violence. The repercussions are rarely limited
to the victims and bullies alone. Students who observe bullying
report feeling unsafe, anxious, and less satisfied with school
than do students who are not exposed to bullying.
So exactly what is bullying?
The U. S. Department of Justice released this definition in
a recent publication.
"Bullying encompasses a variety of negative acts carried
out repeatedly over time.
It involves a real or perceived imbalance of power, with the
more powerful child or
group attacking those who are less powerful. Bullying can
take three forms:
· PHYSICAL (hitting, kicking,
spitting, pushing, taking personal belongings)
· VERBAL (taunting, malicious
teasing, name calling, making threats)
· PSYCHOLOGICAL (spreading
rumors, encouraging social exclusion,
extortion, intimidation)."
The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Health
Resources and Services Administration, and the Maternal and
Child Health Bureau have created a new campaign, called, "Take
a Stand. Lend a Hand. Stop Bullying Now!" Check out their
Web site, www.stopbullyingnow.org;
it is an outstanding resource for those concerned about this
problem.
HELPING A FRIEND
Maybe you are not being bullied but you know someone who is.
Don't ignore the bullying! You can help, and here are a couple
of suggestions for you to try:
- Refuse to join in. bon't
laugh at mean jokes or crowd around someone
who is being harassed.
- Correct classmates. If you
hear an untrue rumor, correct the person who spread it and
ask them to stop, repeating it.
- Try to be a friend to the person
being bullied. That person needs to know that people
will be supportive.
- Keep an eye on bullied kids.
If you see signs that concern you, tell an adult who is
close to the situation.
- Don't question the victims.
Kids get picked on through no fault of their own. Be careful
not to unintentionally make a victim feel as though he or
she did something to encourage the bullying.
- Let a teacher or other adult
know what's happening. Adult intervention can stop bullying
before it turns into violence.
- Don't fight the bully yourself.
Tell an adult instead.
TEN MYTHS ABOUT BULLYING
1. The Myth: Bullies
suffer from insecurity and low self-esteem. They pick
on others to make themselves feel more important. The
Research: Most bullies have average or above average
self-esteem. They "suffer" from aggressive temperaments,
a lack of empathy, and poor parenting.
2. The Myth: Bullies are looking for attention.
Ignore them and the bullying will stop. The Research:
Bullies are looking for control, and they rarely stop
if their behavior is ignored. The level of bullying usually
increases if the bullying is not addressed by adults.
3. The Myth: Boys will be boys. The Research: Bullying
is seldom outgrown. It's just redirected. About 60% of the
boys identified as bullies in middle school commit at least
one crime by the time they are 24.
4. The Myth: Kids can be cruel about differences.
The Research: Physical differences play only a small
role in bullying situations. Most victims are chosen because
they are sensitive, anxious, and unable to retaliate.
5. The Myth: Victims of bullies need to learn to stand
up for themselves and deal with the situation. The Research:
Victims of bullies are usually younger or physically weaker
than their attackers. They also may lack the social skills
to develop supportive friendships and cannot deal with the
situation alone.
6. The Myth: Large schools or classes are conducive to
bullying. The Research: No correlation has been established
between school size and bullying. In fact, there is some
evidence that bullying may be less prevalent in larger schools,
where potential victims have increased opportunities for
finding supportive friends.
7. The Myth: Most bullying occurs off school grounds.
The Research: Although some bullying occurs outside
of school or on the way to or from school, most bullying
occurs on school grounds: in classrooms, in hallways, and
on playgrounds.
8. The Myth: Bullying affects only a small number of
students. The Research:
At any given time, about 25% of U. S. students are the victims
of bullies and about 20% are perpetrators. It is estimated
that about 160,000 children stay home from school every
day because they are afraid of being bullied.
9. The Myth: Teachers
know if bullying is a problem in their classes. The Research:
Bullying behavior usually
takes place out of sight of teachers. Most victims are reluctant
to report the bullying for fear of embarrassment or retaliation,
and most bullies deny or justify their behavior.
10. The Myth: Victims need to follow the adage "Sticks
and stones will break your bones but names can never hurt
you." The Research: Victims often suffer lifelong
problems. They are prone to depression, suicide, and other
mental health problems throughout their lives.
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