BULLYING ….
What is it?
Bullying is
repeated oppression, physical or psychological of a less
powerful person by a more powerful person or group. It is
not the same thing as conflict, violence or disagreement,
although it may involve all of these. There is a power
imbalance which makes the ill treatment of the victim
possible.
Physical
Direct
In-Direct
Hitting
Getting another person
Kicking
Assaulting someone
Spitting
Gangs
Throwing
objects
Standover
tactics
Weapons
Non - Physical
Verbal
Non-Verbal
Verbal
insults
Persuading another person to
Name
calling
Insult someone
Sarcasm
Spreading malicious rumours
Put
downs
Note writing
Threatening &
obscene gesture Deliberate
exclusion from a group activity
The following
signs and symptoms may be exhibited by victims, bullies and
others who have come into contact with bullying behaviour:
VICTIM
·
Withdrawal
·
Sadness/loneliness
·
Behaviour changes
·
Aggression
·
Less
enjoyment and participation
·
Sleep
disorders/bedwetting
·
Eating
pattern changed
·
School
performance affected
·
School
avoidance – sickness
·
Class
clown
·
Left
out/problems in group work
BULLY
· Low
self esteem
· Acceptance
by peers and others
· Gets
attention
· Manipulative
behaviours
·
Need to
be powerful
·
Doesn’t
always play by set rules
OTHERS
·
Avoiding
certain areas or people
·
Passive
acceptance as protection (eg. laughing)
·
Fear
·
Secretive-support the bully
STUDENTS
|
PARENTS |
SCHOOL STAFF |
|
What student’s can/should
do to prevent or deal with bullying. |
What parents can/should
do if they suspect bullying. |
What staff can/should do
to prevent bullying and dealing with incidents and
reports. |
|
|
Parents can/should
|
Preventative Measures
|
|
Take a deep breath |
Have a responsibility to
understand “what is bullying?” |
Create a warm and safe
environment at school |
|
Look directly into the
eyes of person attempting to bully |
Take a proactive approach
and talk with children if they suspect they are victims
of bullying |
Communicate clear
standards of behaviour |
|
Speak in a firm, clear
voice say loudly “Stop it, I don’t like it, go away”. |
Be aware of the signs of
bullying |
Use consistent guidelines |
|
Go directly to your
teacher, if the bully attempts to bully you, don’t stop,
just report what happened |
Be aware of the child’s
friendship groups |
Be a good role model with
parents and students |
|
Go to the teacher on duty
if you are in the playground. |
Approach the
school/child’s teacher |
Provide specific lessons
on acceptable behaviour-role play |
|
Do not retaliate with
physical force |
Encourage friendships by
inviting children home |
Provide network for
students |
|
Do not give in to
bullying or give money, favours or goods |
Reinforce that one should
not accept being bullied or being a bully is never OK |
Child Protection |
|
Think of ways to keep
away from the bully |
Be a good role model with
everyone in the community |
Social skills programs |
|
Try to remember it is not
your fault |
Be responsible for
encouraging anti-bullying attitudes |
Conflict resolution
program |
|
|
Be understanding and
supportive of your child |
Life education program |
Believe
|
Separate the bullies
within a group to disempower the bullies |
|
|
You can control what
happens |
|
Peer support |
|
It’s not OK to make
someone sad |
ACT
|
K-6 Buddy system |
|
You can make it stop |
Stop, think, walk away,
talk to a friend, tell a teacher or the Principal |
Active student
representative council |
|
|
|
Learning support team |
THINK
|
SAY
|
|
|
Bullying - |
I’m sorry I hurt you |
|
|
No-one likes it |
STOP IT! I DON’T LIKE
IT, GO AWAY! |
Reporting and Consequences
|
|
No-one deserves it |
|
Staff will… |
|
No-one needs it |
|
Use Time Out procedures
for students |
|
Do something about it |
|
Refer concerns to the
school executive team who may take action including
parent/student interview |
|
|
|
Referral to school
counsellor, involvement of District Office support staff |
|
|
|
Separate the bully from
the peer group to disempower the bully. |