Bullying in the Bullying in the Classroom and SchoolClassroom and School

Bullying in the Bullying in the Classroom and SchoolClassroom and School

What it looks like and what to do about itWhat it looks like and what to do about it

What is Bullying?What is Bullying?

Bullying is any ongoing physical orBullying is any ongoing physical orverbal mistreatment where there is:verbal mistreatment where there is:an imbalance of power and the an imbalance of power and the victim (target) is exposed repeatedly victim (target) is exposed repeatedly to to negative actionsnegative actions on the part of one or on the part of one ormore other students. more other students.

(Loweu 1986, 1991 and 1993)(Loweu 1986, 1991 and 1993)

GOALSGOALS•Enhance or create a culture of respect.

•Celebrate diversity

•Empower members of the school community to challenge all forms of bigotry/intolerance

Forms of bullyingPHYSICAL• This form of bullying can be visually detected. This type of maltreatment involves physically contacting

the student (kicking, hitting etc.). It can also entail stealing or hiding the belongings of the affected students.

VERBAL• This form of bullying is difficult to detect, unless the adult is in the presence of the participants. It

involves name calling, insults, offensive and threatening language.

INTIMIDATION• This aspect could include gestures or comments, spreading rumours or stories, graffiti and defacing

property

CYBERBULLYING• This is the modern extension of bullying. This occurs via the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber

technology. This can include: (1) sending malicious text, e-mail, or instant messages (2) posting defamatory pictures or messages about others in blogs or on websites (3) using someone else’s user name to spread rumours or lies about someone.

• More commonly, students are using sites such as Facebook and Myspace to carry out bullying tactics.• It is essential that teachers be on the lookout for signs of bullying. Here are a few of the characteristics

that may be displayed by a student who is being bullied:• Unexplained bruises• A decline in academic performance• Anxiety in the class• An unusual sadness or withdrawal from peers.

Bullying can be:DIRECTDIRECT

Face to faceFace to face

VerbalVerbal

Insults, putdowns, Insults, putdowns, teasing, teasing, harassmentharassment

PhysicalPhysical

Shoves, pushes, Shoves, pushes, hitting, hitting, assaultassault

PsychologicalPsychological

Rolling eyes, dirty looks, Rolling eyes, dirty looks, uttering threatsuttering threats, , extortionextortion

Bullying can be:

Relational AggressionRelational Aggression

Telling people not to be Telling people not to be friends with a victim friends with a victim

INDIRECTINDIRECT

Behind someone’s backBehind someone’s back

ExclusionExclusion

Leaving Leaving out out ShunningShunning

GossipGossip

Lowering people’s opinion Lowering people’s opinion About the victimAbout the victim

Bullying StatisticsSource: www.bullyfreeworld.com

• Bullying against boys is a more frequent occurrence than by girls.• Around 10% of children have time off school due to bullying.• Up to 40% of children think teachers have no clue that bullying is

happening within the school.• About 17% of all calls to child help lines are made by children who are

being bullied.• More children in the age group of 12 call child help lines regarding

bullying than any other age.• Almost one third of secondary school children have reported being the

object of sexual jokes, gestures or comments.• Victims of bullying are more likely to suffer from common illnesses such

as colds, sore throats and stomach problems.• By the average age of 23 children who had been bullied in school were

found to still suffer from depression and stress related illnesses.• Nearly 60% of boys who were classified as bullies when they were

younger had been convicted of at least one crime by the time they were 23

BullyBullyStarts the bullying and takes an active part

Follower/Follower/HenchmanHenchman

Takes an active part, but does not start the bullying

SupporterSupporterSupports the bullying but does not take an active part

Passive SupporterPassive Supporter(Possible Bully)(Possible Bully)

Likes the bullying but does not display open support

Disengaged Onlooker

Possible Defender

Dislikes the bullying and thinks he ought to help but doesn’t

Defender of the Victim

Dislikes the bullying and helps or tries to help the victim

Bullying is violenceBullying is violence

Violence is any mean Violence is any mean word, look, sign, or act word, look, sign, or act that hurts a person’s that hurts a person’s body, feelings, or body, feelings, or things.things.

Source: http://www.bullyfree.com/resources/teachers.php

Strategies for Teachers

• Do not allow students to choose their own groups/teams

• Have assigned seating (and change seating plan if you see a problem arise)

• Be consistent! • Take every student’s complaint seriously• Have meetings with students to discuss bullying issues• Get parents involved!• Be approachable• Create an open and safe environment• Provide students ways to deal with bullying

Behaviour Action Plan• Teacher Response Process- Elementary School

• STEP 1: Reminder Given

↓• STEP 2: Logical consequence

↓• STEP 3: Time Out + Think Sheet

*all time outs are recorded• ↓

• STEP 4: Senior Staff• ↓

• STEP 5: Internal suspension• ↓

• STEP 6: External suspension

• • I promise to do my best to treat everyone fairly.I promise to do my best to treat everyone fairly.

• • I promise to do my best to be kind to everyone—I promise to do my best to be kind to everyone—even if they are not like me.even if they are not like me.

• • If I see someone being hurt or bullied, I will tell a If I see someone being hurt or bullied, I will tell a teacher.teacher.

• • Everyone should be able to feel safe and happy in Everyone should be able to feel safe and happy in school.school.

• • I want our school to be No Place for Hate®.I want our school to be No Place for Hate®.

No Place for HateNo Place for Hate®® Promise Promise