Bullying

1. Bullying What it is, what it isn’t and what to do about it. If you haven’t already viewed the Bullying video on MediaCast, please do so at this time—this is located in the MCHS Advisement Folder.

2. Pop Quiz!! T/F Most bullies are deeply troubled. Bullying others makes a bully feel better about him/herself. People who are bullied often ask for it by dressing or acting differently than the crowd. Spreading gossip and rumors is not a true form of bullying. Telling an adult about the bully usually makes the situation worse. If you help a friend who is being bullied you are asking to be the next victim. Bullying is a normal part of being young. Nearly 1/3 of American teens are involved in bullying. Most bullies discontinue aggressive behavior in adulthood. Witnesses often end friendships with the victim and feel guilty for not reporting the incident. True True False False False False False True False True

3. Statistics on Bullying • 10% of high school students bullied have brought a weapon to school. • 282,000 students are attacked in secondary schools across the nation each month • 50% of high school students report that they have either been bullied or have bullied others. • 1 out of 4 kids are bullied • As many as 160,000 kids stay home each day because they fear being bullied at school. • 24% of high school students fear school and find school an unsafe place to be.

4. Repercussions of Bullying Everyone deserves to be safe at school. Being a victim of bullying often leads to the following: being anxious, depressed, low self-esteem, lack of social skills, experiencing loneliness, sleeplessness and sometimes suicidal thoughts. Suicides, unfortunately, have become more prominent in the past decade.

5. GA Law and Bullying Definitions • Bullying, as defined by Georgia Law: • An act which occurs on school property, vehicles, bus stops or at school related functions or activities, or through computers or systems that belong to the school system (cyber bullying), that is:

6. GA Law and Bullying Definitions • Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another person, when accompanied by an apparent ability to do so. • Any intentional display of force such as would give the victim reason to expect bodily harm

7. GA Law and Bullying Definitions • 3. Any intentional written, verbal or physical act which a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass or intimidate that: • Causes another person substantial physical harm or visible bodily harm • Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s education • Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment or • Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school

8. Bullying: What it isn’t • In many cases, it is difficult to determine whether or not behaviors constitute bullying or a lesser offense such as teaching or harmful words/actions. Let’s define the differences: • Teasing • Often reciprocal (involves both parties) • Intended to poke fun in a light-hearted, clever, and harmless way • Meant to get both parties to laugh • Dignity of all parties involved is maintained • STOPS when person becomes upset, objects, or is hurt by the teasing (especially when addressed by the student or an adult) • Harmful Words/Actions • May or may not be reciprocal in nature • Intended to bother or trouble another person • Receiving party is likely upset by the words/actions • Occurs once, infrequently, or intermittently • STOPS when addressed by the student or an adult

9. Bullying: What it is • It’s when someone repeatedly and over time, says or does mean or hurtful things on purpose to another person who has a hard time defending him or herself • Intent is harm or humiliation • One-sided and imbalanced • Repetitive, over-time • Involves humiliating, cruel, demeaning or bigoted language thinly disguised as jokes • Meant to diminish the self worth of the target • Continues, despite victim’s objections or distress Hitting & kicking Spreading rumors & gossip Pushing or shoving Social exclusion Calling Names

10. Types of Bullying • Verbal bullying including derogatory comments and bad names • Bullying through social exclusion or isolation (ignoring) • Physical bullying such as hitting, kicking, shoving, or tripping someone • Bullying through lies and false rumors (gossiping) • Written comments about others either passed in notes, written on walls, etc. • Being threatened or being forced to do things by students who bully • Racial bullying • Sexual bullying • Cyber bullying (via cell phone or Internet or other electronic devices) (More on Cyber bullying later)

11. Why People Bully Information about bullying suggests that there are three interrelated reasons why students bully: • Students who bully have a strong need for power and negative dominance. • Students who bully find satisfaction in causing injury and suffering to others • Students who bully are often rewarded in some way for their behavior with material or psychological rewards

12. Why People Bully Not all students who bully others have obvious behavior problems or are engaged in rule-breaking activities, however. Some of them are highly skilled socially and good at ingratiating themselves with their teacher and other adults. This is true of some boys who bully but is perhaps even more common with bullying among girls. For this reason it is often difficult for adults to discover or even imagine that these students engage in bullying behavior. This is why we need students to report this behavior.

13. What to do about it • If you are being bullied or you witness someone else being bullied • Tell the bully to stop. If it persists tell a teacher, staff member, counselor or administrator. • Do not “stoop to the bullies level.” • Bullying is a serious issue and can have serious repercussions for both the bully and the victim. • If you think you are the victim of bullying you should tell an adult that you trust, either a parent, teacher, counselor, or administrator.

14. Bystanders or witnesses play a crucial role in the bullying process. They have the power to either help or harm the victim. The Bystander’s Role Hurtful Bystanders • Some bystanders . . . instigate the bullying by prodding the bully to begin. • Other bystanders . . . encourage the bullying by laughing, cheering, or making comments that further stimulate the bully.  • And other bystanders. . . joinin • Most bystanders . . . passively accept bullying by watching and doing nothing. Helpful Bystanders • Some bystanders . . . directly intervene, by discouraging the bully, defending the victim, or redirecting the situation away from bullying. • Other bystanders . . . get help, by rallying support from peers to stand up against bullying or by reporting the bullying to adults. 

15. The Bystander Most high school kids agree that they would stand up for their friends, but what about the new kid who doesn’t have friends yet? Or the kid whose friends aren’t around? Will you stand up for them or get help for them? Do the right thing! What would you do if you were witnessing bullying?

16. Take Control: How to Deal with a Bully • Try to meet new people. Having friends around is a great way to discourage bullies. • Never use violence to deal with a bully. • Laugh, shake your head and walk away! • Ignore the bully completely. • Stand up for yourself and tell the bully how you feel. • Practice possible responses to a bully • Keep a diary or journal of what is happening, this will help you explain things to others. • Tell a teacher, counselor, coach, or other school staff member. • Avoid places where the bully hangs out.

17. Respectful Raiders MCHS tries to impress upon all it’s students the importance of being respectful. We realize that you are not going to like EVERYONE you are in school with, and that’s ok, you don’t have to like everyone, but you do need to learn how to get along with people who are different from you.