Melissa Potratz

INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROJECTA comprehensive guide for parents and teachers for identifying, preventing,

and stopping bullying.

BullyingA teacher and parent guide to identification and prevention.

Table of Contents

Purpose to the Pamphlet..................................................1What is bullying?..........................................................................2-3Victims of Bullying……………………………………………………………..4-5Characteristics of a Bully………………………………………..……………6-7What Can Teachers Do?..................................................................8What Can Parents Do?................................................................9-10Statistics…………………………………………..………………….11Works Cited/References……………….……………………………………..12

My Purpose

I decided to create this bully pamphlet to educate parents, students, and teachers about the signs and affects of bullying. All students have the right to feel safe and welcome at school. There have been many tragedies and children taking their own life due to the adverse affects of bullying. Through education we can

teach tolerance and acceptance of all no matter race, gender, appearance, or personality.

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As a teacher and parent, I feel strongly about protecting children from their peers and from themselves. I never want a child to leave my classroom feeling unsafe or unwanted. As a parent, I never want my child to be ridiculed for who she is or to ridicule another for being an individual.

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What is bullying?

Physical, verbal, or physiological abuse that occurs around school especially where adult supervision is minimal. Also known as peer victimization and/or harassment.

What is a bully?

Webster definition: “A blustering, browbeating person; especially one who is habitually cruel to others.

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“Young people have a right to feel safe, secure, and protected at school

and in their communities.”-Romain

Bullies like to: feel in control, feel superior to others, attack peers that seem smaller or weaker.

Bullying Examples:

Talking behind someone’s back. Taking or ruining someone’s things. Hitting or pushing someone around. Touching someone in a way that makes them

afraid or unhappy.

Bullying Groups:

Also known as gangs. Outnumber victims. Try to persuade others to join. May possess weapons. Statically end up in jail,

hospital, or dead.

How Bullies Harm:

Physically, mentally, and emotionally by hitting, punching, kicking, teasing, pushing, harassing, taunting, frightening, insulting, annoying, gossiping, hurting, bothering, threatening, tormenting, acting violently, pinching, intimidating, making jokes, name calling, gesturing, and spreading rumors.

Self-bullying:

Put him or herself down through negative thinking.

Feel sad, angry, alone, and frustrated.

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Say things like, “I’m stupid” and/or “I can’t do anything right.”

Cyber bullying:

Harassment through the use of text messaging, instant messaging, cell phone, or computer medium.

Can be expressed through social websites.

Victims of

Bullying

Warning signs include appearing:

Less confident.

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Irritable, anxious, and/or depressed. Losing concentration and dropping grades. To be faking illnesses to avoid school. Having sleep issues whether too much or not

enough. Less interested in school events and social

outings. To be changing route to school or does not want

to ride the bus. To be missing class. To have unexplained injuries. Having damaged items, clothes, money, or items

“lost”. Is severely upset or tense on Sunday nights.

Profile of Victims:Appear to be anxious, quiet, sensitive, shy and physically smaller than peers.

Targets:Students with: physical/metal handicap, highly

gifted or seen as “too smart”, ethnic or linguistic minority, obese, non-socially accepted sexual orientation.

Coping Strategies:

DO: Avoidance- stay in open spaces near

adults, block emails, Instant Messages, phone calls, text messages

Stay calm. Tell an adult. Be in a group. Surround self with positive

and supportive friends. Give bully what they ask for if threatened. Do not believe what the bully says. When in doubt- SHOUT!

DO NOT:

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Reward the bully with tears or grief. Retaliate or fight back. Respond.

What can victims do to end bullying?

Appearance: hold head high, confident smile, good posture, look people in the eye, appear confident

Say: “Leave me alone!”, “I’ll report you!”, “I don’t like that!”

Report.

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“Encouraging kids to speak up when seeing other kids being bullied is one of the most effective ways to stop

bullying in its tracks.”-Allan Beane

Characteristics of a Bully

A bully can be:

A boy, girl, or adult. Anyone who upsets someone or makes him or her

feel small or unhappy. At school or at home. Can look like anyone.

Bullies usually:

Come from homes where parents yell or use physical force to make children behave.

Have built up anger inside them.

Bullies want:

To feel big and important.

To feel like they are better than others. To hurt other people and make them feel small.

Girls as bullies:

Psychological bullying also known as relational bullying: Involves the damaging of a reputation with rumors.

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5 Myths of Bullies

1. Low self esteem--- Actually high but desire more control and power.

2. Only boys are bullies--- Girls are bullies too.3. Being bullied is a normal part of growing up--- NO IT

IS NOT!4. Best way to handle a bully is to get even or fight back---

You can get hurt!5. Ignore bullies and they will go away---They will come

back for me. Talk to an adult and take actions to make them stop.

What can bullies do to end bullying?

Receive counseling for anger management.

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Visit with guidance counselors and victims to resolve underlying issues.

What can teachers do?

Teachers need to:

Respond to all bullying. Have teachable moments (allow the situation to

open the door to discuss difficult topics and promote social justice).

Teach tolerance. Celebrate diversity, expand beyond the social-norms, and promote individual identities.

School programs:

Bully Workshop Teach what bullying is, the causes, and how to

stop it. Role-playing. Coping strategies.

Peer Mediation Controlled discussion between bully and the

victim. Adult and uninvolved peer are present to maintain control of the discussion. Discussion, goals, and future punishment if bullying consists are recorded and documented for future use.

Interventions Bullies: need to learn anger coping strategies. Victims: need positive self view strategies. Peers: need to learn how to respond and

oppose versus support.

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What can parents do?

Parents lay the ground work by showing/telling their children how to recognize and report. Parents need to take control.

Parents need to:

Log incidents and photos of injuries. Save screen shots of cyberbullying. Talk to bullies parents. “I don’t know if you are

aware but…” Conact all adults responsible for your child's

safety (teachers, sitters). Get a copy of the

school’s bully policy,

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If bullying escalates, contact police for restraint or harassment order.

Take legal action if laws are not followed.

Conversation starters for parents:

“How do kids treat each other at school?” “What do students do when they see a kid being mean? What do you do? “Is someone bother you online? “Have you read a mean comment on Facebook or a text that upset you? Have you written one?”

Do not interrogate. Bring up during errands, car rides, or during chores.

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Internet sources for parents: State Bully Laws:

www.bullypolice.org Get report on child’s internet

activity through email address. Monitors social websites and email: www.safetyweb.com

Statistics

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African-American youth are greater targets for suspension and expulsion resulting in racial discipline gap.

60% of boys classified as bullies between grades 6-9 were convicted of a crime by the age of 24.

Mom poll: Kids picked on--- 56% face to face 6% internet/text 16% both 22% neither that I know of

1 in 5 middle school students have been victims of willful and repeated harm through phone and computers.

44 states have bullying statues which include policies, reporting requirements, and enforcement.

30-80% of school-age youth report they have experienced victimization from peers. 10-15% s ay they are chronic victims.

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Works Cited

Graham, S. (2010, September ). What Educators Need to Know About Bullying Behaviors. Kappan

Magazine, pp. 66-69.Maunder, R. E., & Tattersall, A. J. (2010). Staff experiences

of managing bullying in secondary schools: The importance of internal and external relationships in facilitating intervention. Educational and Child Psychology , 116-128.

Pfeffer, S. E. (2010, October 17). Order of Protection. Family Circle Magazine , pp. 78-84.

Powell, J. (1999). Talking About Bullying. Austin: Steck-Vaughn Companies.

Romain, T. (1997). Bullies are a Pain in the Brain. Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing.

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