Bullying: Prevention & Intervention Putnam City Schools July 2013

Some statistics to consider… • 1 of every 7 students from kindergarten to

12th grade has been a bully or bullied someone

• 56% of students has witnessed someone being bullied while at school

• 71 % of students report that bullying is an on-going problem

• Approximately 50% of teens have already been a victim of cyber bullying

Some statistics to consider… • The average bullying behavior lasts only 37

seconds • The height of bullying occurs between the 3rd

grade thru 8th grade • 71% of school shooters had been victims of

bullying • 1 out of 10 kids and teens had embarrassing

photos taken without their consent • Girls are the major participants in cyber bullying • (National Crime Prevention Council)

What is Bullying? • Bullying is any behavior that is

• Intentional and hurtful • Repeated over a period of time by an

individual or group • Characterized by a relationship involving an

imbalance of power, such as size or popularity • Characterized as harassment, intimidation,

threatening • (National Crime Prevention Council)

The Many Forms of Bullying • Verbal insults • Teasing • Threats &

intimidation • Name-calling • Put-Downs • Spreading rumors • Physical acts and

violence

• Cyber-Bullying • Various forms of

messaging • Posting embarrassing

photos, video, etc… (SNAP, Facebook, Instagram, etc…)

• Making threatening or harmful posts or messages

• NCPC Cyberbullying Research

Differences in Bullying • Boys:

• Bully physically (pushing, shoving, etc…)

• Use intimidation • Extort • Physical attacks • Verbal attacks

• Note: More likely to bully physically!

• Girls: • Bully socially • Utilize exclusion • Spread rumors • Manipulate • Embarrass • Resort to cyber-

bullying tactics

• Note: More likely to bully socially!

Characteristics of a Bully • Have difficulty

conforming to rules • Have positive self

images • Gain satisfaction

from inflicting injury (mental, verbal &/or physical)

• Lack empathy

• Are willing to use others to get what they want

• Find it difficult to see things from someone else’s perspective

• Typically are concerned with their own desires rather than those of others

Physical Signs of Bullying • Cuts, bruises,

scratches • Headaches • Stomachaches • Damaged

possessions • “Missing”

possessions that need to be replaced

Emotional Signs

•Withdrawal •Shyness •Anxiety •Depression •Aggression

Behavioral/Social Signs • Changes in eating or

sleeping habits • No longer wanting to

participate in activities once enjoyed

• Beginning to bully siblings or mistreat family pets

• Hurting self, attempting or threatening suicide

• Suddenly changing friends

Academic Signs • Not wanting to go to

school • Changing method of

going to school • Change in walking

route • Wanting to be driven

instead of riding bus • Drop in grades • Increased

absenteeism

Prevention Strategies • Tell an adult

• Parents &/or guardians

• Teacher • Counselor • Administrator

• Walk Away • Avoid the bully • Hang out with friends

If you see someone being bullied… • Tell the bully to stop • Help the victim walk

away • Recruit friends to help

the victim • Befriend the victim • Get an adult • When peers intervene,

bullying stops within 10 seconds, 57% of the time.

• Source: Hawkins, Pepler, and Craig, 2001

More Information For more information,

please contact the principal at your child’s school.