Bullying

1. Bullying What’s in a Label?

9. Labeling • “Labeling Theory” refers to the idea that, by giving a label to a person, we give that person permission to fulfill the label. • “If you’re given the name, then you’ll play the game” – Professor Hodges • New studies suggest that labeling people in a negative manner has a lasting detrimental impact on those who experience the prejudice. • Studies have shown that people are more likely to be aggressive after they’ve faced a prejudice in a given situation. They are more likely to exhibit a lack of self-control and trouble making good, rationale decisions.

10. Stereotyping • A popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals – a generalization about a group of people. • Multiple theories on why people stereotype • Negative effects of stereotyping include: Forming inaccurate opinions of people, scapegoating, erroneously judgmental, preventing emotional identification, distress and impaired performance.

11. Bullying • Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Incidents of bullying often happen repeatedly over time. Types of bullying include: Physical (hitting, shoving, kicking) Verbal (labeling, name-calling, rumor spreading) Social isolation (shunning or leaving someone out on purpose) Cyberbullying (using the internet, cell phones or other digital technologies to send harmful messages/images)

12. Bullying Statistics According to the CDC, in 2009: an estimated 20% of high school students reported being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey; the prevalence was higher among females(21.2%) than males (18.7%) • 5% of High School students did not go to school on one or more days in the 30 days preceding the survey because they felt unsafe at school or on their way to or from school. According to Cyber bullying statistics from the i-SAFE foundation: • Over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online, and about the same number have engaged in cyber bullying. • More than 1 in 3 young people have experienced cyberthreats online. • Over 25 percent of adolescents and teens have been bullied repeatedly through their cell phones or the Internet.

13. Effects of Bullying • Be unwilling to attend school • Receive poor grades • Have lower self-esteem • Experience more health problems • Social isolation • Depression • Increased risk of substance abuse • Increased risk of suicide

14. Dignity for All Students Act • In September 2010, New York State Governor Patterson signed into law this bill in an effort to help ensure that students are protected from harassment, discrimination, and bullying at school grounds and at school functions.

15. Dignity for All Students Act requires school districts to: • Revise their codes of conduct and adopt policies intended to create a school environment free from discrimination; • Adopt guidelines to be used in school training programs to raise awareness and sensitivity of school employees to these issues and to enable them to respond appropriately • Designate at least one staff member in each school to be trained on non-discriminatory instructional and counseling methods and handling human relations.

16. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoPoQdBZUDc

17. Resources • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline – 1-800-273-TALK (8255) • Dutchess County Helpline – 24 hr Crisis Counseling, Referral and All Clinic Appointments(845) 485-9700 • Arlington High School Tipline- 486-4860 T-I-P-S(8477)

18. Assignment • What on-going efforts would you like to see school officials implement to decrease bullying and to increase social tolerance and acceptance? • What would the disciplinary actions be for cases of bullying? Would discipline differ according to the type of bullying behavior? • How would you create a culture of student proactivism? • Create your own anti-bullying flyer