Bullying: It Affects Everyone

Christina Saad, School Psychologist Intern

San Juan Unified School DistrictFall 2012

Today’s Agenda

Facts/Stats on Bullying - some may shock you!

Types of Bullying - there might be more than you think

Looking at Bullycide – what is that?

Quiz - test your existing knowledge about bullying

Discussion - what do you think? How do you feel?

Be Proactive - Some ways you can put an end to bullying!

Bullying: The Facts

Did you know…•1 out of every 10 students who drops out of school does so because of repeated bullying

•Harassment and bullying have been linked to 75% of school-shooting incidents

•Over 160,000 kids miss school everyday for fear of attack or intimidation

•Over 19,000 kids attempt suicide each year because of bullying

www.stopbullying.gov

www.makebeatsnotbeatdowns.com

How might it affect your school?

• 56% of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school

• Among students, homicide perpetrators were more than twice as likely as homicide victims to have been bullied by peers

• Researchers say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings

Bullying: The Facts

Types of bullying you may see at school…

Traditional bullying, or schoolyard bullying, is often associated with three main characteristics: a power differential between bully and victim, a proactive targeting of a victim, and ongoing aggression (Shapka, 2012).

Physical – hitting, kicking, pinching, punching, scratching, spitting or any other form of physical attack. Damage to or taking someone else’s belongings may also constitute as physical bullying.

Verbal – name calling, insulting, making racist, sexist or homophobic jokes, remarks or teasing, using sexually suggestive or abusive language, offensive remarks

Indirect – spreading nasty stories about someone, exclusion from social groups, being made the subject of malicious rumors, sending abusive mail, and email and text messages (cyber bullying).

http://www.makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org/facts_new.html

http://www.publicaffairs.ubc.ca/2012/04/13/cyberbullying-and-bullying-are-not-the-same-ubc-

research/

Cyber bullying gets its own slide…guess why?Cyber Bullying - any type of bullying that is carried out by electronic medium. There are 7 types including:

1. Text message bullying

2. Picture/video clip bullying via mobile phone cameras

3. Phone call bullying via mobile phones

4. E-mail bullying

5. Chat-room bullying

6. Bullying through instant messaging (IM)

7. Bullying via website

FYI: Cyber-bulliers do not have the same “profile” or attitudes as your every day bully….why?

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/news/articles/2012/04/23/cyberbullying-may-call-for-new-prevention-tactics

Bullycide…A new review of studies from 13 countries found signs of

an apparent connection between bullying, being

bullied, and suicide. (Yale School of Medicine)

Suicide rates among children between the ages of 10 & 14

are very low, but are "creeping up."

(Ann Haas, Director of the Suicide Prevention Project at the American Foundation for

Suicide Prevention)

The suicide rate among young male adults in

Massachusetts rose 28 percent in 2007.

(Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health, in a report released April 8, 2009)

http://www.makebeatsnotbeatdowns.org/facts_new.html

Bullying students with disabilities: You could be breaking the law!

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the Department of Justice (DOJ): Bullying may also be considered harassment when it is based on a student’s race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion.

Unwelcome conduct such as verbal abuse, name-calling, epithets, or slurs

Graphic or written statements

Threats

Physical assault

Other conduct that may be physically threatening, harmful, or humiliating

• http://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/students-with-disabilities/

QUIZ TIME!!!!

True or False?1) Bullies do poorly in school compared to others who

do not bully

2) Most bullies stop violent or aggressive behavior in adulthood

3) Students who are bullied in school are usually attentive students with good attendance

4) Students who witness bullying often refuse to remain friends with the victim and feel guilty for not reporting the incident

5) If you are being bullied it’s best to handle it alone

www.teachingtolerance.org

So…how did you do?1) Bullies do poorly in school compared to others who do

not bullyTRUE… the problem behaviors associated with bullying include impulsiveness, disliking school and getting in trouble often.

2) Most bullies stop violent or aggressive behavior in adulthood

FALSE… 60% of bullies have at least one criminal conviction because the behavior carries over into adulthood.

3) Students who are bullied in school are usually attentive students with good attendance

FALSE… Students targeted by bullies sometimes avoid school or have trouble concentrating. They can also develop personality disorders like depression and anxiety.

4) Students who witness bullying often refuse to remain friends with the victim and feel guilty for not reporting the incident

TRUE… Witnessing an act of bullying has negative consequences even if you are not directly involved.

5) If you are being bullied it’s best to handle it aloneFALSE… Putting an end to bullying requires a commitment from everyone in a school, including teachers, custodians, students, administrators, cafeteria workers and bus drivers. You should seek adult intervention and try to stay among friends if you are being bullied.

Discussion Questions

Do you think bullying is a serious problem in your school or community? Why or why not?

Do you think it’s possible to make a bully understand other people’s feelings? Why or why not?

Did any of the facts in the quiz concern you personally? Which ones?

After taking the quiz, are there behaviors or experiences you have had that you want to change?

Describe your feelings, what you might want to change, and how you could go about making that change.

www.tolerance.org

BE PROACTIVE! Don’t wait until it’s too late…

If you witness it happening…

Interrupt It

Stand next to, or speak up for, the person being bullied.

Ask the bully to stop.

Comfort the person being bullied and offer friendship.

Walk away and get help.

Find an adult who can intervene.

Let the victim know they can get help by seeking out a school counselor or school psychologist

If you are being bullied…

Tell an adult. Sometimes you may have to tell more than one trusted adult.

Ask your friends to help you. There is safety in numbers.

Stay calm and confident. Don't show the bully that you're sad or mad.

Ignore the bully and walk away.

Remember: Fighting back can make bullying worse.

Change the School Community

Work with others to stop bully behavior; your whole school will benefit.

Thank you!Are there any questions or comments?