TEN STEPS TO HELPTEN STEPS TO HELPSTOP THE BULLYING STOP THE BULLYING

EPIDEMIC NOW!EPIDEMIC NOW!

STEP ONESTEP ONE

Get trained on how to deal with Get trained on how to deal with this epidemic. Most states this epidemic. Most states require anti bullying programs require anti bullying programs now as part of teacher and now as part of teacher and administrative certification with administrative certification with ongoing professional ongoing professional development training.development training.

STEP TWOSTEP TWO

Don’t deny that bullying exists. Don’t deny that bullying exists. It is real. Don’t turn your back on It is real. Don’t turn your back on even the slightest unkind even the slightest unkind comments that are made from comments that are made from one student to another. one student to another.

STEP THREESTEP THREE

Identify students in your class or Identify students in your class or school who may be at risk for school who may be at risk for being a bully or a victim. Make it a being a bully or a victim. Make it a point to keep a sharp eye on the point to keep a sharp eye on the bully in any unsupervised areas of bully in any unsupervised areas of the school. The bully is very covert the school. The bully is very covert and will do things when no one in and will do things when no one in authority is watching.authority is watching.

STEP FOURSTEP FOUR

The bully is anti social. Once he The bully is anti social. Once he has been identified remove him has been identified remove him from any social activities in your from any social activities in your classroom or school to make classroom or school to make him/her develop consequential him/her develop consequential thinking thinking

STEP FIVESTEP FIVE

Never deal with the bully or the Never deal with the bully or the parents of the bully alone. Once parents of the bully alone. Once the bully has been identified the bully has been identified documentation is critical by documentation is critical by more than one teacher.more than one teacher.

STEP SIXSTEP SIX

Make respect and responsibility Make respect and responsibility the two character qualities that the two character qualities that you work on in your classroom or you work on in your classroom or school. school.

STEP SEVENSTEP SEVEN

Don’t be intimidated by the Don’t be intimidated by the parents of the bully. They will parents of the bully. They will defend the bully to the hilt. defend the bully to the hilt. Why? Because they are bullied at Why? Because they are bullied at home by this kid or maybe even home by this kid or maybe even their spouse. their spouse.

STEP EIGHTSTEP EIGHT

Do bullies have high self Do bullies have high self esteem? Yes, when they have a esteem? Yes, when they have a victim in their sites that they can victim in their sites that they can bully. Without a victim, the bully bully. Without a victim, the bully has low self esteemhas low self esteem

STEP NINESTEP NINE

Assign mentors to at risk Assign mentors to at risk students, bullies and victims. Each students, bullies and victims. Each mentor should have a manageable mentor should have a manageable group of students both bullies and group of students both bullies and victims that they work with victims that they work with individually and ultimately in a individually and ultimately in a group to encourage respectful and group to encourage respectful and responsible behavior.responsible behavior.

STEP TENSTEP TEN

Involve everyone, and I mean Involve everyone, and I mean everyone. Top down. The school everyone. Top down. The school board, superintendent, board, superintendent, administration, teachers, para-administration, teachers, para-professionals, custodians, and I professionals, custodians, and I want the police involved as well. want the police involved as well. Biased intimidation is now going to Biased intimidation is now going to be recognized as a crime. This be recognized as a crime. This behavior could be cause for behavior could be cause for expulsion expulsion