Anti-Bullying Flashmob

In honour of International Anti-Bullying Day, two schools came together to create a message about Acceptance and challenge others to use social media as a positive tool. Choreographed by Jheric Hizon, Directed by Anita

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Ant-Bullying Quote of the Day

Throughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.” - Will Smith

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Special Facebook Live Session: Bullying Prevention Conference

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How to Handle Bullying of Children with Special Needs

Bullying is a spectrum of aggressive and intentional behaviors that result in an intimidating imbalance of power. Rarely an isolated event, many victims experience bullying repeatedly. Physical acts of harm, like kicking, punching, and shoving, are just one form of bullying. Name-calling is a form of verbal bullying. Social exclusion of the victim is emotional bullying.


Research shows that children with disabilities are more likely to be bullied than their peers. Once overlooked as a typical challenge of childhood, professionals have begun to recognize the debilitating effects of bullying. Educators, parents, and advocates have united to develop anti-bullying philosophies and policies aimed to prevent school bullying and promote the positive social inclusion of all children.

Children with Disabilities: Bullies or Victims?
Children with visible and invisible disabilities are significantly more likely than their peers to be the victims of bullying behavior. The type of bullying experienced often differs according to the child’s disability.
Children with visible conditions, like cerebral palsy and spina bifida, are more likely to be called names or aggressively excluded from social activities. Children with learning disabilities report higher rates of teasing and physically abusive victimization. Obesity has also been linked to higher rates of bullying. Overweight girls are especially vulnerable to physical forms of bullying.

Children with special needs are not exclusively victims of bullying. Research suggests that children with ADHD are more likely to demonstrate bullying behavior than their typical peers. Impulsivity and a lower tolerance for frustration are characteristics of this disorder that are also associated with bullying. Peer relationships are often extremely difficult and complex for children with ADHD. They need support and supervision to practice healthy social interactions with others. Whether victim or perpetrator, school bullying impedes learning and stunts the development of a healthy self-esteem. 

Bullying at Home
Children with disabilities are not only at a greater risk to endure bullying at school, but many also face victimization at home. Cyberbullying and excessive aggression from siblings have become newly addressed areas of concern for researchers interested in bullying. Cyberbullying is defined as the use of technology, including cell phones and the Internet, to harass, stalk, and humiliate another person. Children with developmental disabilities who spend large amounts of time on the computer are especially at risk to be victimized by online bullies.

Sibling rivalry can also escalate into a more severe form of teasing and intimidation. Approximately 30 percent of children and adolescents report experiencing abuse from siblings that has crossed the line. Because typical sibling rivalry has been associated with positive social gains in negotiating and conflict resolution skills, parents are often rightfully hesitant to intervene.

How can parents differentiate bullying from potentially beneficial sibling rivalry? Bullying differs from rivalry because one child remains in control. Bullying is persistent and the perpetrator intends to do harm. If parents observe signs of bullying behavior from their children, they should intervene immediately.

What Can Parents Do?
• Learn to recognize the signs of bullying. Children who are bullied and those that bully are equally in need of support and guidance from caring adults. Watch children for bruises, changes in moods, eating habits, and sleeping patterns.
• Implement “The Stop Rule” in your home. If one child has had enough of rough verbal or physical play, he or she can say, “Stop!” to immediately end the activity. Children on both sides benefit from this simple act of social skills development and assertiveness training.
• Instill confidence and pride in your child’s abilities and disabilities. Children with special needs who have developed a sense of pride in their differences are less likely to be victimized by bullies and will respond more effectively when faced with social pressures.
• Communicate with all parties involved. If you believe your child may be the victim or the instigator of bullying, contact teachers, principals, and other parents of children who are involved. Put your concerns in writing.
• Review the anti-bullying policy of your child’s school. If there is not one in place, advocate for the adoption of guidelines to address this serious impediment to learning. Ensure the policy considers all forms of bullying.
• Request an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team meeting if you believe bullying of your child is based on his or her disability and is interfering with learning. This form of severe intentional harm is considered “disability harassment” under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Disability harassment is illegal.
• Seek support. Bullying is a serious and harmful aspect of childhood. Adding shame to the equation, however, only further stigmatizes the children involved. Talk with your children and other parents about bullying. Avoid labeling and model calm, rational, and assertive behavior for your children to observe.

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Worksheets, Activities and Resources to Help with School Bullying

Children who are experiencing School Bullying or being victimized because of their race, appearance or disability need help from teachers, parents or carers to tackle the problem. We've found a collection of free printable anti-bullying worksheets, leaflets and games which parents and teachers can use to help kids deal with the distress that arises from being targeted by a bully or a gang of bullies.

Some resources use colorful cartoon style pictures and images to get the message across whilst others may introduce the idea of role play or group classroom discussions and activities. Either way, we hope that the following printable worksheets will help any child that is being regularly teased, targeted or injured.

From Educational Media Ltd, Let's Stop Bullying is a bright and informative site with the dedicated aim of raising public awareness about bullying and providing advice, guidance and resources for kids, parents and schools. There are printable games and puzzles include mazes, word searches, drawing pages and dot-to-dot, plus bullying advice leaflets to print out too. Questions like "Why do people bully?" are answered along with how bullying can affect you and what to do if you are being bullied.

www.bullying.org offer a simple but fun on-line game where kids must take charge to free their friends from the school bully. Choose the "I Want to Play" tab for the chance to design yourself and the opponent and then set off on a mission through the school. It's a great way for kids to feel in control and confident about their actions.

The registered charity Bullying UK (formerly Bullying On-Line) were established in 1999 and since then have replied to over 50,000 emails from worried or troubled children, teenagers and parents ... some of whom are feeling suicidal. In addition to advice they also provide an on-line resource to design a themed poster which is valuable for children to express themselves and their feelings whether or not they are the victim of bullying.

The StopBullying.gov website is a colorful and fun resource with a great collection of aids including free games, on-line coloring (printable) and cartoon video clips all based around a gang of friends that are determined to help put a stop to bullying. So what are you waiting for ... it's time to "Take a Stand. Lend a Hand!"

Kidscape offer a free anti-bullying pack incorporating leaflets and advice for young people and teenagers who are being picked on or targeted. Along with videos there are also helpful printable anti-bullying activity sheets for kids to read with boxes to draw in and colour in.

The SAIL (Sudanese Australian Integrated Learning) Program have a collection of free Adobe PDF and Word document handouts which provide a personal action plan, a printable bullying quiz to help kids make the right decisions, plus information and statements to help boost self esteem and confidence.

The Advisory Centre for Education have a 12 page printable booklet which is an invaluable guide for parents whose children may be being bullied. The Guide includes parents' legal rights, a model example letter to complain to a school, definitions of bullying and its effects, and it also guides parents and carers through the correct complaint procedure including keeping a log.

CBBC (the BBC's children's channel) have a dedicated section including an on-line multiple choice quiz, kids' guide and a video clip of an interactive show where viewers asked questions and shared their experiences. The BBC also provide an excellent dedicated parents' resource titled Understanding Bullying which is a valuable 'at a glance' for parents (and teachers) to identify incidents of bullying and help protect children against bullying at school or around the neighbourhood.

Education World have put together ten activities (in the form of school lesson plans) to help teach kids about tolerance and handling conflict at home and school.

A free 12 page Kids Against Bullying Coloring Book and many other resources are available over at PACER which is a fun way to help get across a serious message. Perfect for younger children the printable colouring pages (Adobe PDF) let children explore their feelings with crayons and colours all reinforced with important anti-bullying messages.

Ken Rigby is a leading authority on victimization and bullying who has produced numerous academic papers and publications on the subject. Ken's website shares his knowledge and research with parents, teachers and carers with subject areas including 'What is known about bullying in schools', 'How harmful is bullying?', 'How successful anti-bullying programs can be?' and what schools and parents can do. There is video content too.

Teachers TV offer a handful of PDF downloads for schools and parents with advice, tips, facts and action plans to help tackle bullies. Thanks also to Ace Researcher Kenzie for letting us know about two great resources. Firstly there's some advice on how to handle a bully; she has also discovered an excellent webpage written by the 'Anxiety Free Child Program' who help children to avoid the anxiety of being a victim.

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Happy to Be Me: An Anti-bullying Discussion

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10 Ways to Stop A Bully

something that anyone should have to put up with. Bullies are not going to disappear on their own, you have to take the steps to get rid of the bully. There are ten ways to stop a bully.
1. Put on a brave face. When you let a bully know that you are afraid of them, it is like giving them power. If you give them some power, you will find that the bullying gets worse. So, put on a brave face, and never show your fear.
2. Have a friend around. Bullies are reluctant to go after someone who has backup. Bullies usually pick out the weakest person they can find, and there is strength in numbers. So, stop a bully by having a friend on hand all the time.
3. Avoid the bully. There are some situations where bullying is worse because it is an ideal situation for a bully to go after their victim without any consequences. If there is no adult around, no authority figure like a teacher or parent, then they can bully without fear of getting caught. So, avoid these situations. On the playground stay where other kids can hear, where the playground monitor is around, etc.
4. Ignore bullies. A lot of what bullies do is for a reaction. They say or do things to see what you will do. If you want to stop a bully, just ignore their efforts, soon they will find someone else. Whether it is bullying online or in person, ignore, ignore, ignore.
5. Confront the bully. One of the things that you should do is confront the bully. Ask them why they are bullying you. Ask them what the problem is. Ask them to stop. Bullies are rarely asked to face the reality that they are being a bully, so make them face it.
6. Report the bullying. Bullies can’t bully for long if they are getting caught. The beginning of getting a bully to stop has to start with an authority figure. So, each time someone bullies you, tell an adult. If it happens at school, tell a counselor, a teacher, or the principal.
7. Improve your self-esteem. Bullies usually pick on kids who have low esteem. They look for people who are weak, isolated, that feel alone, and have few friends. There is less chance of them being caught that way. Work on your esteem, and you won’t be picked on long.
8. Control your feelings. As mentioned previously, bullies look for reactions, don’t give them one, and soon they will grow bored and move on.
9. Stand up for yourself when it gets bad. If a bully is physically harming you, ruining your reputation, or something else then don’t put up with it. Instead, say the words like, “Stop” or “Don’t” and make sure they know you are done taking their bullying.
10. Don’t bully back. It is good to say no, but don’t bully in return. You don’t want to be on the same level. Instead, tell someone that they are bullying you, and then do your best to ignore.

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Bullying In The Classroom: The Ultimate Guide To Stopping It

Take a stand, make a commitment.
Decide right now that you will do whatever it takes to legally, safely, and ethically prevent bullying in your classroom. You must commit yourself to protecting each student’s right to learn and enjoy school, above all.

Know what bullying is.
Bullying is the strong preying upon the weak. It can be a physical advantage or a social advantage. It can be one student or many. It often takes the form of threats, intimidation, repeated cruelty, and/or forcing someone against his or her will to do what the bully wants.

You take care of it.
Don’t wait for someone else to step in. Don’t assume that because you referred the bullying behavior to the principal or a counselor that it’s going to be taken care of. You take on the responsibility and see it through to the end.

Know your school’s bullying policy.
It’s important that you’re familiar with your school’s bullying policy—if there is one. When should a student be referred? What circumstances constitute suspension? What about expulsion? You need to be clear on these matters so you can accurately communicate the policy to your students and their parents.

Work within the school policy.
At most schools a student who physically bullies another student is suspended—as they should be. Also, cyber-bullying can have certain legal complications that can only be handled by an administrator. Make sure you understand what your responsibilities are vis-á-vis your school’s policy, and be sure to follow them.

Have your own bullying policy.
In addition to your school’s bullying policy, you must have your own policy—or steps you take when bullying occurs. You are in a better, more influential position to stop bullying than any principal or administrator. To effectively stop bullying, students who bully must answer to you and his or her classmates.

Send a copy of your policy home the first week of school.
Your bullying policy should be part of the classroom management packet you send home to parents during the first week of school. It’s a smart way to protect yourself from complaints, and it gives parents a chance to discuss bullying with their child.

Make a promise.
At the start of every school year—and repeated regularly throughout the year—make a promise to your students that if they are the victim of bullying, you will take care of it. It’s your job to take care of it. And you will protect them and make it go away.

Make a promise II.
Promise your students that if ever they’re bullied, they can talk to you privately and you will never reveal you’ve spoken. They can slide you a note or ask if they can speak to you at recess about an academic issue. But you will protect their privacy and never let on you learned about their being bullied from them.

Communicate your policy.
Teach your bullying policy to your students during the first week of school. Define bullying for them, model what it looks like, role-play common scenarios, and make clear what happens if they bully a fellow student.

Supervise.
Watch your class like a hawk. Always. Notice body language. Keep an eye on students who are socially awkward, smaller in stature, or less confident. Be aware of those students who have fewer friends, who are alone frequently, or who play by themselves at recess. They are often, though not always, most likely to be bullied.

Keep your ear to the ground.
Victims of bullying are often fearful or embarrassed to come forward. Be proactive. Identify your leaders early in the school year (a key strategy). Check in with them often. Build a trusting relationship with these few key influencers. It’s critical that you’re able to count on them to be your eyes and ears on the playground or whenever you’re away from your class.

Talk to your students.
When you’re working with individual students, ask them, “How are things going? Anyone bothering you? Do you know of any student picking on others?” It takes only a few seconds and if you have good rapport, they’ll give it to you straight.

Don’t discourage tattling.
You can’t protect your students from bullying if you discourage them from telling you about it. The truth is, frequent tattling is a message that the teacher is not protecting the rights of students to learn and enjoy school without interference.

Get the facts.
When you get a report of bullying, take your time gathering the facts. Take notes, interview witnesses, and open a file for documentation. Don’t be in a rush to react—and don’t overreact. You need to find out precisely what happened.

Separate immediately.
Once you’re clear on the facts of the incident, and know who is responsible, act immediately. Separate the bully or bullies from their classmates in an in-class time-out. Tell them why, but don’t lecture, scold, raise your voice, or even ask for a response.

Report the bullying.
If the bullying behavior in any way triggers a consequence in the school’s policy, you must report it—and always if it’s physical in nature. Keep in mind, regardless of how it’s handled in the office, you will still follow through with your classroom bullying policy.

Speak to the bully’s parents.
Call the parents of the bullying student and set up a conference. Be kind and respectful. Just give the facts during the meeting, reading straight from your notes. Tell them simply that bullying is unacceptable, and inform them of how you’re taking care of the problem and how the student will be held accountable.

Speak to victim’s parents.
Let the parents of the student being bullied know exactly what happened and how you’re handling it. Assure them that you’ll do everything in your power to make sure it doesn’t happen again. This is now a critical responsibility and highest priority.

Extended time-out.
Keep the bullying student(s) in extended time-out for one week. Also, keep him (or her) with you, or under adult supervision, during recess. If his behavior is perfect and he is kind to his classmates during the week, then give him a tryout; allow him to rejoin the class on a probationary basis.

Prepare an apology.
Sometime during the one-week extended time-out, ask the bullying student to write an apology to the victim and then memorize it. Ask the victim privately for permission to have the bully address the class. Most of the time they will enthusiastically say yes. If not, writing the letter is instructive and therefore still worth doing.

Send a message.
After checking the work, have the bullying student address the class. Reciting an apology publicly puts her (or him) on record in front of her classmates that she acknowledges her behavior and promises not to do it again. It can be a powerful, humbling, and behavior-changing experience.

Supervise II.
Keep a close eye on both the bully and the victim for weeks after the incident. Know who they’re with on the playground and where they’re playing. Have your leaders keep an eye on them—preferably playing with them. Trust your students, but always verify.

Check in often.
Talk to both students often. Ask how things are going and if they’re having any problems. Never hold a grudge against the bullying student. Give him or her an opportunity to put the past where it belongs.

Check in with parents.
After a couple of weeks check in with both parents and let them know how their child is doing. They need to know that you haven’t forgotten and that you’re going to see it through to the end of the year.

If it happens again…
If you see or hear of more bullying behavior from the same student, which is unlikely if you follow the steps above, then place him or her immediately back in extended time-out for an indefinite period of time.
If the student can’t be trusted, then you can’t leave him or her alone with others. It’s as simple as that. This is the promise you made to each of your students and is the right thing to do. Keep the student in extended time-out until you can trust him/her again—which could take weeks.

When to consider counseling.
If you notice the victim of the bullying incident becoming withdrawn, less social, or unable to enjoy your classroom, then consider referring the student to professional counseling. The bullying student, too, should be referred if the bully-like behavior is repeated.

Be an expert in classroom management.
The truth is, bullying rarely if ever happens in well-run classrooms. When standards of behavior are clearly communicated, when students are held accountable using an effective classroom management plan, and when the teacher is well-versed in fair, effective strategies, then students don’t bully.

Build rapport.
One of the keys to effective classroom management is to build trusting rapport with students. When students like you, trust you, and believe in you and your message, they are tremendously influenced and much less likely to be involved in bullying behavior.

Make your classroom remarkable.
When you create a classroom your students love being part of, they experience a sense of belonging and kinship that spurs them to be both inclusive and protective of one another—regardless of background or personality.

And when all students are considered valuable members of the class, when they’re engaged and motivated, and when they’re busy learning and contributing to a class they really care about, then bullying doesn’t even enter their mind.

Protect Like A Parent

When parents send their children to school, it’s with the assumption that they’ll be safe. It is our responsibility as teachers to make sure that they are—not just from bullies, but from anything that interferes with learning, building friendships, and enjoying the school experience.

Parents instinctively will do anything to protect their children. They’ll go to the ends of the earth to care for them. They’ll stand in front of anyone or anything wishing to harm them. They’ll lift a car above the ground to save them.

We must have a similar mindset toward each of our students. After all, in the classroom we are the last line of defense.

Bullying doesn’t have to be a problem. It doesn’t have to take place in your classroom. It doesn’t have to be part of the daily lives of our students.

You have the power to put a stop to it. You’re the only one with the power to put a stop to it.
The question is, will you?


Join our Youth Movement! Please visit http://www.getoutthebox.org 

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Ant-Bullying Quote of the Day

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself."

www.getoutthebox.org

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Cyber Bullying Prevention Tips by Novus Security

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Report a Bully

The Get Out The Box Youth Organization  is committed to the safe and supportive development of all students. This anonymous report will be sent to school administrators to investigate allegations of bullying in  schools. Due to the anonymous nature of the report - cannot guarantee that any/all of the information contained herein can be verified during investigation. For this reason, we ask you be as specific and as comprehensive as possible in your responses. 




Click Here To Report an Incident --->







To add your school to the website click here ---> http://www.reportabully.com/

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25 Facts for Bullying Prevention Month

Bullying exists as more than just a buzzword these days: it's a serious issue that's been troubling individuals and societies worldwide for centuries and is only just now receiving the essential attention. An article such as this cannot entirely summarize the social disease's true complexities, so it focuses mainly on the education sector. Even then, not everything comes to light. It does, however, offer up a quick overview of the various ways in which children and teens emotionally and physically suffer as a result of others' cruelty. Looking at some numbers behind the plague's ravages marks the first step in combating it for good. Spend this Bullying Prevention Month researching beyond the statistics listed here, and start fighting the good fight and standing up for victims in November.

1. Thirty-three percent of kids say they're bullied "every once in a while, but not every week:"

   By contrast, eight percent report it happening on a daily basis, seven percent say every week, and 52% say they've never experienced bullying at all.
   

2. Fifty-eight percent of kids say they've never bullied a peer

   Scarily enough, 15% reported that they do it every day, and 22% consider bullying a "once in a while" activity. Only five percent engage in bullying behaviors on a weekly basis.
   

3. Victim-blamers are more likely to bully

   An upcoming (at the time of this writing) study showed that elementary and middle school students are far more likely to brutalize one another if they feel a specific trait is the victim's fault. Perspectives painting the obese as nothing but a choice, for example, even though numerous other genetic and medical factors beyond their control might be at play.
   

4. Around five percent of students avoid school outright

   Some school avoidance might not stem directly from bullying, but it's still a very common motivator all the same. Depression and anxiety amplify in victims, causing physiological side effects and making many feel too ill to attend class. These behaviors not only negatively impact their health, but academic performance as well.
   

5. Apathy and fear motivate office bullying

   And these negative emotions snake their way down the hierarchy if those in power positions feel isolated from decision-making processes. Unfortunately, many "hands-off" companies ultimately facilitate office bullying with their lax policies and enforcement, which particularly screws over lower-level employees.
   

6. Four out of five LGBTQIA teens feel like they have no support from teachers and administrators

   Both in and out of school, members of the LGBTQIA community remain some of the most vulnerable to bullying. When it comes to high schoolers, many feel as if no authority figures will guide them through regular brutality, leaving them more entrenched in depression and anxiety and at risk of self-destructive and suicidal behaviors.
   

7. Twenty-two percent of LGBTQIA teens have skipped school for safety reasons

   Within the past month, by the way. And thinking the adults in their high schools don't care only exacerbates their desperate situations.
   

8. There are three "styles" of bullying

   Verbal, which involves any sort of aggressive, spoken taunts, insults, threats, hate speech and other piercing, damaging words. Physical, which should be self-explanatory. And social, which manifests itself via rumors, purposeful exclusions and other words and actions meant to isolate and ostracize from further away.
   

9. Bullying increases the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors

   In both victims and perpetrators, interestingly enough. However, the former are more at risk of suicidal actions, while guilty parties usually think more than behave. Females admitted to these unfortunate psychological constructs more often than males, although they plague both demographics
   

10. No state has passed laws regarding hazing or cyberbullying

    However, every state except for South Dakota does have legislation guarding against harassment and/or bullying, so victims and, when applicable, their parents might want to be aware of what charges can and cannot be pressed. Unfortunately, though, the lack of cyberbullying and hazing laws makes it more difficult to defend the bullied brutalized from such situations.
    

11. More than half of minority students receive race- and ethnicity-related slurs in school

    This statistics includes Latin American, Black/African-American, Asian, Pacific Islander and mixed-race students. Native Americans, however, experienced such bullying at a lessened, but still disconcerting, rate, at 43% reporting verbal harassment regarding their race and/or ethnicity. Roughly a quarter of Asian, Pacific Islander and Black/African-American kids and teens compromise their attendance in order to stay away from their bullies.
    

12. Native American students receive more bullying for their religious views than anything else

    Although bullying targeting their race and ethnicity happens at a lower rate than their minority peers, 54% of Native American students suffer from verbal harassment regarding religion. A further 26% find themselves physically victimized for the same reasons. Over one-third end up skipping school to avoid persecution, making them and Latin Americans (whose statistics remain similar) the most likely to fall behind academically as a direct result of bullying.
    

13. Less than half of bullied minority students report incidents

    Many feel as if teachers, administrators and even parents won't properly address the issue, maybe even ignore it entirely. Of the individuals who do report bullying, less than half claimed the intervening adults did little to actually assuage a continuing problem.
    

14. The staggering majority of school bullying situations receive no intervention

    Eighty-three percent, in fact. Only four percent of incidents involve intervening adults, and 11% see peers coming to victims' defenses or acting as mediators. Seeing as how school bullying happens every seven minutes, that means a stomach-churning, heart-wrenching amount of students suffering alone.
    

15. Most kids are cyberbullies…and most kids are cyberbullied

    Abusing one another online is apparently the hot new trend. Although 58% of children say they've received threatening or insulting comments online, with 40% saying it's happened on multiple occasions. However, many of these victims turn right back around and lay the pain on others, as catharsis one would imagine. Fifty-three percent admitted they themselves perpetuated cyberbullying, and one in every three bullies said they did it more than once.
    

16. Eighty percent of arguments end in physical altercations

    Arguments with bullies, of course. In fact, around 282,000 secondary school students end up attacked on campus every month, and one out of three report overhearing death threats.
    

17. Most education professionals consider bullying a "minor problem:"

    Only eight percent think it serious or critical, as opposed to 35% for moderate, 47% for minor and, scarily enough, 10% for "not a problem." However, the numbers do go up a bit when it comes to urban (15% consider bullying a major issue) and middle (15%) school professionals.
    

18. Most education professionals witness bullying approximately once a month

    Approximately 25%, with 13% claiming they never saw any at all, 25% reporting two to three times a month, 16% saying once a week, 15% witnessing bullying several times a week and nine percent, sadly, watching it happen daily. All of this going down within the span of a month. Once again, rates increased in urban and middle school settings.
    

19. Eighty-nine percent of education professionals think it their job to intervene

    On a less somber note, the majority of teachers and education support professionals do consider bullying intervention part of the job description. Now it's just a matter of reaching out to and changing the hearts of the two percent who don't.
    

20. The majority of schools have "formal bullying prevention efforts," but not as many as one would think

    Only 58% of American schools hold explicit anti-bullying policies and programs, although 62% of both the elementary and high school levels provide such services. Unfortunately, only 39% of educational professionals admit they take part in any available bullying prevention efforts. And schools without more formalized policies still have some sort of rules against it: 93% of all institutions, in fact.
    

21. But what's the point, if only 54% of educational professionals receive anti-bullying training?

    Which means 46% of teachers and education support professionals have no idea how to handle a bullying situation when it crops up. That certainly bodes well for their victimized students!
    

22. Twenty-one percent of middle and high schoolers report gang presence on campus

    Within the previous six months, however. Students in urban areas with high gang activity are also twice as likely to fear commutes to and from school, as gang activity does increase one's risk of becoming a bullying victim.
    

23. No gender delineation exists in bullying

    Both males and females (if one must go with a bipolar gender model, anyways) are just as likely to be victims and perpetrators in a bullying situation. However, the ladies utilize social methods more than physical, while the menfolk prefer fists for fighting. In addition, public and private school dwellers hover at roughly the same bullying rates.
    

24. Six percent of students carry weapons to school

    Although the rate dropped by half between 1993 and 2003, that number should still warrant concern. These findings, however, did not indicate motivations behind the presence of weapons, but many can presume self-defense ranks pretty high up there. In fact, four percent of students explicitly avoid certain corners of campus to protect themselves.
    

25. Teachers get bullied, too

    Nineteen percent of principals reported that their teachers received taunts, threats and other disrespectful comments and actions on a daily or weekly basis. Student bullying most frequently receives media attention and scientific studies, but it happens to adults as well, both inside and outside the classroom.
    
    
    (http://www.onlinecollege.org/2011/11/01/25-facts-for-bullying-prevention-month/) 
    

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Ant-Bullying Quote of the Day

“Some people won't be happy until they've pushed you to the ground. What you have to do is have the courage to stand your ground and not give them the time of day. Hold on to your power and never give it away.”
― Donna Schoenrock

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Advice for Kids

The key to helping kids is providing strategies that deal with bullying on an everyday basis and also help restore their self-esteem and regain a sense of dignity.
It may be tempting to tell a kid to fight back. After all, you're angry that your child is suffering and maybe you were told to "stand up for yourself" when you were young. And you may worry that your child will continue to suffer at the hands of the bully.
But it's important to advise kids not to respond to bullying by fighting or bullying back. It can quickly escalate into violence, trouble, and someone getting injured. Instead, it's best to walk away from the situation, hang out with others, and tell an adult.
Here are some other strategies to discuss with kids that can help improve the situation and make them feel better:

• Avoid the bully and use the buddy system. Use a different bathroom if a bully is nearby and don't go to your locker when there is nobody around. Make sure you have someone with you so that you're not alone with the bully. Buddy up with a friend on the bus, in the hallways, or at recess — wherever the bully is. Offer to do the same for a friend.
• Hold the anger. It's natural to get upset by the bully, but that's what bullies thrive on. It makes them feel more powerful. Practice not reacting by crying or looking red or upset. It takes a lot of practice, but it's a useful skill for keeping off of a bully's radar. Sometimes kids find it useful to practice "cool down" strategies such as counting to 10, writing down their angry words, taking deep breaths or walking away. Sometimes the best thing to do is to teach kids to wear a "poker face" until they are clear of any danger (smiling or laughing may provoke the bully).
• Act brave, walk away, and ignore the bully. Firmly and clearly tell the bully to stop, then walk away. Practice ways to ignore the hurtful remarks, like acting uninterested or texting someone on your cell phone. By ignoring the bully, you're showing that you don't care. Eventually, the bully will probably get bored with trying to bother you.
• Tell an adult. Teachers, principals, parents, and lunchroom personnel at school can all help stop bullying.
• Talk about it. Talk to someone you trust, such as a guidance counselor, teacher, sibling, or friend. They may offer some helpful suggestions, and even if they can't fix the situation, it may help you feel a little less alone.
• Remove the incentives. If the bully is demanding your lunch money, start bringing your lunch. If he's trying to get your music player, don't bring it to school.

Reaching Out

At home you can lessen the impact of the bullying. Encourage your kids to get together with friends that help build their confidence. Help them meet other kids by joining clubs or sports programs. And find activities that can help a child feel confident and strong. Maybe it's a self-defense class like karate or a movement or other gym class.
And just remember: as upsetting as bullying can be for you and your family, lots of people and resources are available to help.

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Tips If Your Child is Being Bullied

Kids can find all kinds of things bully-worthy about their peers; clothing, nationality, sexuality or even hobbies. While you can teach your own child principals and morals that do not involve bullying others, it’s hard to prevent others from bullying your child. 

Fortunately, there are ways to deal with a bully in your child's life. If your child is dealing with a bully, below are tips from Bullying Expert Dr. Dorothy Espelage

What you can do:

• Insist on a bully prevention plan or safety plan for your child
• Call parents of bullies or bully group and arrange a meeting, if you can
• Get your child involved in other activities to build confidence
• If you have the means, get your child in therapy 

What your child can do:

• Get off of Formspring and other social networks
• Tell, tell, tell! Talk to parents, and your support network
• Keep record of all bully incidents
• Manage your anger
• Reach out to other kids in your school that are being bullied
• Do not let the bullies know that they got to you
• Role-play

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Cyberbullying Prevention Tips

Don’t respond. If someone bullies you, remember that your reaction is usually exactly what the bully wants. It gives him or her power over you. Who wants to empower a bully?

Don’t retaliate. Getting back at the bully turns you into one and reinforces the bully’s behavior. Help avoid a whole cycle of aggression.
Save the evidence. The only good news about digital bullying is that the harassing messages can usually be captured, saved, and shown to someone who can help. You need to do this even if it’s minor stuff, in case things escalate.
Talk to a trusted adult. You deserve backup. It’s always good to involve a parent but – if you can’t – a school counselor usually knows how to help. Sometimes both are needed. If you’re really nervous about saying something, see if there’s a way to report the incident anonymously at school.
Block the bully. If the harassment’s coming in the form of instant messages, texts, or profile comments, do yourself a favor: Use preferences or privacy tools to block the person. If it’s in chat, leave the “room.”
Be civil. Even if you don’t like someone, it’s a good idea to be decent and not sink to the other person’s level. Also, research shows that gossiping about and trash talking others increases your risk of being bullied. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
Don’t be a bully. How would you feel if someone harassed you? You know the old saying about walking a mile in someone’s shoes; even a few seconds of thinking about how another person might feel can put a big damper on aggression. That’s needed in this world.
Be a friend, not a bystander. Watching or forwarding mean messages empowers bullies and hurts victims even more. If you can, tell bullies to stop or let them know harassment makes people look stupid and mean. It’s time to let bullies know their behavior is unacceptable – cruel abuse of fellow human beings. If you can’t stop the bully, at least try to help the victim and report the behavior.

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For more info:* Cyberbullying & Cyberthreats: Responding to the Challenge of Online Social Aggression, Threats, and Distress, by Nancy Willard * Bullying Beyond the Schoolyard: Preventing and Responding to Cyberbullying, by Sameer Hinduja and Justin Patchin
* Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 3-5 and Cyber Bullying: A Prevention Curriculum for Grades 6-12, by Susan Limber, Robin Kowalski, and Patricia Agatston

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Five Tips to Help Parents Prevent Bullying

Parents and guardians are among a school's best allies in bullying prevention:

• Talk with and Listen to Your Children Everyday Ask questions about their school day, including experiences on the way to and from school, lunch, and recess. Ask about their peers. Children who feel comfortable talking to their parents about these matters before they are involved in bullying are more likely to get them involved after.
• Spend time at School and Recess Schools can lack the resources to provide all students individualized attention during "free" time like recess. Volunteer to coordinate games and activities that encourage children to interact with peers aside from their best friends.
• Be a Good Example When you get angry at waiters, other drivers or others, model effective communication techniques. As Education.com puts it, "Any time you speak to another person in a mean or abusive way, you're teaching your child that bullying is ok."
• Create Healthy Anti-Bullying Habits Starting as young as possible, coach your children on both what not to do (push, tease, and be mean to others) as well as what to do (be kind, empathize, and take turns). Also coach your child on what to do if someone is mean to him or to another (get an adult, tell the bully to stop, walk away and ignore the bully).
• Make Sure Your Child Understands Bullying Explicitly explain what it is and that it's not normal or tolerable for them to bully, be bullied, or stand by and watch other kids be bullied.

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Five Tips to Help Teachers Prevent Bullying

Even when a school leader doesn't have a formal bullying prevention agenda, teachers can create safe, bully-free zones in their classrooms:

• Know Your School and District Policies on Bullying Do your part to implement them effectively.
• Treat Students and Others with Warmth and Respect Let students know that you are available to listen and help them.
• Conduct Classroom Activities around Bullying Help your class identify bullying in books, TV shows and movies, and discuss the impact of that bullying and how it was/could be resolved. Hold class meetings in which students can talk about bullying and peer relations.
• Discuss Bullying with Colleagues As a group, you will be better able to monitor the school environment. Discuss both bullying in general and concerns regarding specific students.
• Take Immediate Action Failure to act provides tacit approval of the behavior and can cause it to spread.
(These tips were adapted from NEA's Bully Free: It Starts With Me and AFT's See A Bully, Stop A Bully campaign resources.)

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Six Bullying Prevention Tips for Principals

Marge Meyers is the General Studies Principal of Milwaukee Jewish Day School in Wisconsin. When she and her colleagues began implementing the STEPS TO RESPECT program, she learned a lot about schoolwide bullying prevention. Here is what she had to say about her responsibilities as a principal.
1. Acknowledge the problem.
“First and foremost, the principal’s role in bullying prevention is to acknowledge that bullying exists,” says Meyers.

2. Address the problem.
“Then you have to commit to addressing it, and in our case, this meant meeting with our teachers, counseling staff, and school nurse to have an open and honest discussion about bullying behaviors in our school,” Meyers explains. “We started really trying to watch the interactions of students, especially during less structured times.”

3. Set the policy.
“A principal is in a unique position to set policy in a school,” says Meyers. “Research will tell you that any bullying prevention program has to be schoolwide in order to have an effect. But in order to do this right, time and dollars need to be allocated, and the principal is definitely in the position to be able to do that.”

4. Get teacher buy-in.
“Because bullying is a schoolwide issue, it means there has to be schoolwide leadership to address it, and every member of the staff needs to be part of the solution,” Meyers maintains. “I think it’s ultimately the leadership’s responsibility to see that all staff adhere to the policy and buy into a bullying prevention program.”

5. Get parent buy-in.
Meyers elaborates: “It’s important that I know what’s going on in the school and that I can, in absolute good faith and good conscience, tell parents, 'STEPS TO RESPECT' is an incredible program, and here’s why.’”

6. Get your hands dirty.
“I feel bullying is a very important issue to our children, and as a teacher, I felt very strongly about setting an example,” Meyers concludes. “As an administrator, I have that same sort of mindset. I don’t ask anyone to do anything that I myself don’t do. I took part in training, and I’ve made time in my schedule to teach it in the classroom. It’s that important.”

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Bullying prevention: A proactive curriculum

Bullying prevention: A proactive curriculum: MyFoxBOSTON.com

schoolpsychiatry.org

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