Bullying, Harassment & Intimidation
It is the responsibility of the parents and staff members to learn to recognize bullying behavior and warning signs, and learn the appropriate steps to take to help our children/students deal with this ever-present problem. Below and attached is information used by Mrs. Brunner, a nationally-renowned speaker on the topic of bullying, including her Bullying Prevention presentation.
What is bullying?
- Intent to harm
- Occurs repeatedly
- Imbalance of power
Types of Bullying
- Physical
- Emotional
- Relational
- Cyber-bullying
- Gay bashing
- Sexual
- Racial
3 Types of Victims
- Passive
- Provocative
- Reactive
Warning Signs of Victimization
- Unexplained bruises or torn clothing
- Non-specific pain or ailments
- Fear of going to or from school and academic decline
- Poor school attendance or ‘loss’ of money or school supplies
- Outbursts of temper or combative
- Loss of appetite or unhappy for no apparent reason
- Depression or suicidal thoughts
Appropriate Adults Responses
- Be a good listener
- Talk about social responsibility and do not encourage violence
- Control your own emotions
- Be prepared to hear that your child may be part of a problem
- Discuss contents of student handbook
- When appropriate, report offenses to law enforcement officials
- Preserve evidence
Appropriate Student Responses
- Learn to laugh at yourself
- Agree with the insult
- Stay in the vicinity of friends and adults
- Change online identities
- Remember – no one has the right to tease you
- Do not bully someone else
- Talk to parents, counselors, and school officials
- Think, in advance, how you will response
- Don’t spread rumors about others If bullied online, do not respond.
- Don’t expect all responses to work all of the time
- Use ‘I’ messages