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Bullying Information

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What is Bullying?

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived threat or power imbalance.  Bullying behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated.

 

Types of Bullying

Verbal Bullying involves saying or writing mean things.  It can include:

  • Taunting
  • Malicious teasing
  • Name Calling
  • Threatening to cause harm
  • Sexual Harrassment

Social Bullying involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships.  It can include:

  • Leaving someone out on purpose
  • Telling other children not to be friends with someone
  • Spreading rumors
  • Embarrassing someone
  • Extortion
  • Intimidation

Physical Bullying involves hurting a person’s body or possessions.  It can include:

  • Hitting
  • Kicking
  • Tripping/Pushing
  • Spitting
  • Taking and/or breaking someone’s things

Effects of Bullying

Being Bullied by Others

  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Sadness
  • Loneliness
  • Health complaints
  • Decreased academic achievement

Kids Who Bully Others

Kids who bully others are more likely to:

  • Abuse alcohol and other drugs in adolescence and as adults
  • Get into fights
  • Vandalize property
  • Drop out of school
  • Engage in early sexual behavior
  • Have criminal convictions as adults
  • Be abusive towards family members

Warning Signs of Bullying

Signs a Child is Being Bullied

  • Unexplained Injuries
  • Sudden Loss of Friends
  • Declining grades
  • Not wanting to go to school
  • Lost or destroyed possessions
  • Frequent headaches or stomachaches
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Decreased self-esteem
  • Self-destructive behaviors (harming themselves or talking about suicide)

Signs a Child is Bullying Others

  • Get into physical or verbal fights
  • Are friends with those who bully others
  • Behave aggressively
  • Blame others for their problems
  • Have new belongings or money without explanation
  • Worry about their reputation or popularity
  • Don't accept responsibility for their actions

Cyber Bullying

Cyber bullying is bullying that is committed through transmission over electronic media.  For more information and resources on cyber bullying, visit our Technology Department web page.

Resources:

stopbullying.gov

American Psychological Association - Bullying

What To Do If Being Bullied

  • Report bullying incidents to an adult and ask for help
  • Avoid the usual times and places where student comes in contact with the bully
  • Choose safe places to be at school, stay with someone, and avoid being alone in a secluded area at school
  • Stay calm:  do not allow the bully to anger, embarras, upset, or scare you
  • Distract the bully by changing the subject
  • Ignore the bully's remarks
  • Walk away from the bully

What Can Parents Do?

Parents can model appropriate behavior for their young children by:

  • speaking and acting in a respectful way
  • solving problems fairly and peacefully
  • building their children's self-confidence and independence
  • reassuring their children
  • monitoring the use of their children's Internet

Parents of teenage children should remain active and involved in their teenagers' lives.  They must remain proactive and reinforce respectful behavior.  Parents can:

  • continue to anchor the values that guide their children's actions and decisions
  • remain vigilant and understand school policies
  • keep communication flowing between them and their children's teachers and staff
  • report bullying problems at school to school staff and ask for help
  • monitor the use of their children's internet