Statistics and Studies on Bullying:
- 74% of eight to 11-year-old students said teasing and bullying occur at their schools. (Kaiser Family
Foundation and Nickelodeon, 2001)
- Regarding verbal bullying, bullies were less
likely to make derogatory statements about other students' religion or race. "There seem to be stronger social norms
against making these kind of statements than against belittling someone about their appearance or behavior." (Nansel,2001)
- "...when the teasing turns to taunting and the child is afraid that any attempt to stop the aggressor
will cause harm, the situation is more serious and possibly crosses the line into bullying." (Puhl and Latner, 2007)
- Taunts, shoves and social isolation can wreak emotional and physical harm in childhood and possibly
beyond that is distinct from the health consequences of being overweight. (Puhl & Latner,2007)
- Bullying and teasing are cited as the top school troubles of students ages 8-15. (The Kaiser Family Foundation
Cyberbullying:
Most cyberbulling involving kids and teens
is done by their peers and occurs as early as 2nd grade. Cyberbullying takes many forms, with the most common being:
- sending insulting or threatening emails, texts, or instant messages directly to someone using a computer, cell phone
or other e-communication device.
- spreading hateful comments about someone through emails, blogs,
online profiles or chat rooms.
- stealing passwords and sending out threatening messages using
a false identity
- building a Web site targeting specific people
85% of middle school children report being cyberbullied at least once
32% of American teens who use the Internet report some form of online harassment
In a recent study, 72% of participants, ages 12-17, claimed they knew who was doing the cyberbullying.
New Jersey State Law:
Electronic
communication is added to the definition of bullying, and schools may discipline when acts disrupt school. (Sec. 18A:
37-14 (2007))
In 2008, New Jersey became one of the first states to address a cyberbullying
policy for college and university students.
Tattling vs. Telling, a.k.a. Ratting vs. Reporting:
How to STOP BULLYING and SOCIAL AGGRESSION
by Breakstone, Dreiblatt and Dreiblatt (2009)
Tattling is when a person tells about the actions of another for the
purpose of getting that person in trouble. It is tattling if no one is and nothing is in danger or will be in danger.
Telling is when a person tells a person in authority that someone
or something is getting hurt, or might get hurt, either physically or emotionally. A person who is telling is trying to help
a person or a thing.
Ask students about which adults in their school are considered safe to whom they may report bullying.
Invite these adults to the classroom so that all of the students can become familiar with them. Have the adults discuss how
they can be informed and how they would react to being told about the actions of another student. This reassurance that
some adults CAN HELP - not embarrass, humiliate or make the situation worse- goes a long way in creating confidence that talking
to a trusted adult will make the school a better place for EVERYONE.
"Tattling", "Telling," Ratting"
or "Reporting" may not be words common to your school or student culture. Use whatever words will help differentiate
the two concepts.
The Power of the Bystander
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate
it." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
A bystander is a person who is present during an event or situation. Bystanders
have a tremendous amount of power and influence, especially in regard to bullying. Along with the response of the target,
it is the action or inaction of bystanders that will determine if bullying continues or ends.
Research shows that most students do nothing about bullying unless
there is serious danger. Some of the reasons:
- are afraid involvement may
make the situation worse for the target
- don't know what to do, what to say
or who to tell
- are not sure if they should involve adults
- are afraid they will become the next target
- may consider
the bully a friend
- are not friends with the target
- consider the target to be a loser, nerd, geek,etc.
- do not believe the
target deserves empathy
- think the bullying will toughen up the target
- believe that kids don't tell on kids
- feel it is easier
to ignore the bullying
Research shows that when
a bystander tells a bully to stop the bullying, it reduces bullying about 75%.
Books on Bullying:
My Secret Bully
Letters
to a Bullied Girl by Olivia Gardner (2008) a collection of lettters written by children, teens and
adults who have been bullied, were bullies or were bystanders to bullying. Startling and honest accounts from people even
years later to show the powerful and lasting effects that bullying has on so many children and adults.
Schools Where Everyone Belongs:practical strategies for reducing bullying by
Stan Davis
How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression: elementary
grade lessons and activities that teach empathy, friendship, and respect by Steve Breakstone, Michael Drieblatt and Karen
Dreiblatt
Why Good Kids Act Cruel: The Hidden Truth about the Pre-Teen
Years by Carly Pickhardt, PhD (2010)
"Early adolescence is a phase
of anxiety, uncertainty and insecurity. To make matters worse, although all kids are going through the same transformation,
none of them share what it is like, each feeling alone, isolated and unique. The result is that even fantastic kids will do
and say harmful things." Carl Pickhardt. This book discusses social cruelty, early adolescence,
teasing, exclusion, bullying, rumoring, ganing up, what the school can do and the gifts of adversity.
Teen Cyberbullying Investigated: Where Do Your Rights End and Consequences Begin? by Judge Tom Jacobs ( Thomas
Jacobs, JD has served as Arizona Assistant Attorney General, a Superior Court Juvenile Division judge, a family court judge,
and an adjunct professor at the Arizona State Univ School of Social Work. ) This book discusses the rights of free speech
and privacy in the Internet age. Learn what cyberbulling is and what you can do about it. Cyberbullying includes:
- spreading harassing emails, voicemails, texts or IM's to someone
- spreading hateful
comments online about someone
- stealing passwords and sending threatening messages using a false
identity
- building a Web site to target specific people
www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov Stop Bullying Now!
You
may be getting bullied or maybe you are the bully. Either way the bullying needs to stop. With animated podcasts and games,
this site has a lot of information about why kids bully and what to do about it if you see it, feel it or do it.
Where to get Immediate Help:
If you are currently
dealing with cyberbullying and need help right away, talk to a parent, teacher, counselor, or other trusted adult. Or contact
one of these resources:
Wired Safety Online
www.wiredsafety.org
Click on the "cyberstalking, Cyberbullying and Cyberabuse
Helpline" and follow the instruction to obtain help.
CyberMentors
www.cybermentors.org.uk
Click on the "Get Help Now" and follow the instruction
to obtain help.
National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
www.loveisrespect.org
Call 1-866-331-9474 anytime or chat online 4pm-12am CST. All
calls and chats are anonymous and confidential.
National Sexual Assault
Online Helpline
www.rainn.org
a free confidential
secure service that provides live online help. Or call directly 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 911