Bullying: Give Students a Voice

Conduct anonymous survey.

Share responses with class. Develop “bully free zone”

action plan with students. Create colorful prominent

display. Set-up anonymous

comment box. Organize assembly and

invite guest speaker to talk on bullying.

Invite parents, teachers and other students to attend and take part in making the school a “bully free zone.”

According to a 2008 guide from the American Academy of Childhood & Adolescent Psychiatry, “as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their school years, and at least 10% are bullied on a regular basis.”

Bullying may affect social and emotional

development, and lead to increased

suicidal thoughts among both victims and

perpetrators.

In a 2007 study, among 3,767 American middle school students, it was found that at least 11% were victims of electronic bullying (Journal of Adolescent Health).

Although some peoplebelieve bullying is just partof adolescence, studiesshow that there may be a link between bullying andsuicide, and experts say weneed to take it moreseriously and reach out tothose who may be beingbullied (“Bullying-Suicide

LinkExplored in New Study byResearchers at Yale”).

References

“Bullying.” American Academy of Childhood & Adolescent Psychiatry. Retrieved from http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/bullying

“Bullying-Suicide Link Explored in New Study by Researchers at Yale.” Retrieved from http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=5913

“Electronic Bullying Among Middle School Students.” Journal of Adolescent Health. Retrieved from http://www.wct-law.com/CM/Custom/Electronic%20Bullying%20Among%20Middle%20School%20Students.pdf