Bullying Ruthelyn B Turner

Motivational Theory and Class Management, EDU 615University of New England

18 February 2011

Reflect on the following questions and answer honestly.

• What is bullying?• Is it present in our school?• Is it present in my class?• Why does bullying occur?• Once bullying occurs, what options do the students and parents

have?• What options do we as teachers/administrators/staff have?

Bullying Defined

A blustering, quarrelsome, overbearing person who habitually badgers and intimidates smaller or weaker people.

Intimidation can be physical or emotional.

Results in victim becoming socially rejected and isolated.

Involves a power imbalance

True bullying knows no bounds

Portrait of a Bully

Anger issuesDefiantAntisocialOppositional Defiant towards authorityNeed to feel powerful and in controlLittle empathy for victimsBully may be bullied Person has learned that bullying is an acceptable

action/reactionApt to break home and school rules

What Does Bullying Look Like?

Direct Bullying (click on the hyper link for a short video)

Threatening physical harmFighting, pushing, hitting/shovingTormentingIncreases throughout the elementary years peaking

during the middle school years then slowly declines during the high school years.

What Does Bullying Look Like?

Indirect Bullying (click on the hyper link for a short video)

Excluding someone or spreading rumors

Harassment expressed verbally or in writing

Rejecting someone in order to gain control

Verbal bullying is ever present.

Where Does Bullying Occur?

Home

School

Classroom

On the play ground

Friends house

Via the internet

Bullying occurs virtually anywhere and everywhere.

What Can Be Done?

Student OptionsDon’t give the bully a chance (try to avoid them)

Stand up for yourself, but don’t bully back

Try to always have a friend around

Try not to let them see you get angry or upset (this will only “fuel the fire”)

Immediately find a teacher and tell them what happened

What Can Be Done?

Parent OptionsTalk to your childRespond in a positive/caring mannerReassure child they did not cause this, it is not

their faultKnow the school/class policy Seek help from the teacher/guidance counselorHold the school responsible for a safe

environment for your childCall the policeTake legal action

What Can Be Done?

Teacher/Administration OptionsSchool surveysAwareness campaignsCreate a comprehensive intervention planInclude parents, students, faculty, staff and members of

the community to create/develop and implement the plan

Create a climate where students know that bullying will NOT be tolerated then follow through

Peer counseling Cooperative learning activitiesIncreased supervision during lunch/recess, before/after

school, dismissal times

Final Thoughts

Now that we have a better understanding of bullying, please revisit the questions posed at the beginning of the presentation. Have your answers changed? If so, how?

• What is bullying?• Is it present in our school?• Is it present in our class?• How do we combat bullying?• Once bullying occurs, what options do the students and

parents have?• What options do we as teachers/administrators/staff

have?

Credits

http://www.focusas.com/Bullying.htmlhttp://www.dictionary.reference.comhttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070412072345.htmhttp://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?

video_id=213761&title=Bullying____Did_You_See_It_&ref=Ruthelyn

http://www.parentsconnect.com/articles/understanding_bullying.jhtmlhttp://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=172637&title=Bullying_101&ref=Ruthelynhttp://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/bullies.html#