Children, Adolescents and Bullying

A Presentation from Metro TeenAIDS

Bullying in Every Day Life

Welcome Do now Bullying facts DCPS Cyber-bullying LGBTQ bullying

– Suicide Youth violence Potential Solutions NBC Dateline Follow-up

Do now…

Please take your quiz Please write down on your note card:

– Your definition of bullying– An example of bullying you have witnessed

What is bullying?

Attack or intimidation Imbalance of power Repeated attacks

Bullying Facts

Variety of bullying One in seven children grades 5-12 have

been involved in 2010 56% of children report witnessing bullying at

school in 2010 20% of children report that they are actually

bullied at school

Why does it matter to DCPS?

From the youth risk behavior surveillance survey– Are nearly three times more likely to avoid school because

they feel unsafe– More likely to be threatened or injured with a weapon on

school property– Nearly two times more likely to be in a fight on a school

campus– Slightly more likely to consider suicide– Two times more likely to have a suicide attempt that

requires medical treatment

Effects of Bullying

Physical injury, social and emotional distress Children who are bullied Children who are bullies Children who are bully-victims

Risk Factors of Bullying

Children at risk for bullying– Lower self esteem– Physically smaller– Poor social skills

Children at risk for being bullies– Impulsivity – Harsh parenting by caregivers– Attitudes where violence is accepted

Signs & Symptoms of Bullying

That a child is being bullied Becoming withdrawn Showing fear when it is time to go to school Increasing signs of depression Decline in school performance

That a child is being a bully Views violence as a solution to most problems Shows aggression towards adults as well as other children Needs to dominate others and control the situation Easily frustrated

What is cyber-bullying?

This includes electronic messages in the forms of webchats, email, instant messaging, social networking sites, a chat room, or videos or pictures posted on a website or sent through cell phones. This is called electronic aggression.

Cyber-bullying Facts

Up to 35% of children affected Most common in grade 8 Instant messaging is most common

Effects of cyber-bullying

High risk behaviors Encouraging others Victim-bullies Cyber-bullying & sexual harassment Combining tactics

What can be done about cyber-bullying?

Offer training to fellow educators Talk to children and teens Notify IT Positive atmosphere Make a plan

LBGTQ Bullying Facts

Lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender and questioning children are at a higher risk for bullying because of negative attitudes towards their orientation

2009 survey showed startling facts LGBT and Q(uestioning) students were more

likely to report bullying and substance abuse and be at a higher risk for suicide

Bullycide

Bullycide is a term used to describe suicide as a result of bullying

Suicide is the 6th leading cause of death for 5 to 14 year olds, the 3rd leading cause of death in adolescents and the 2nd leading cause of death among college aged youth

4 out of 5 teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs

What can you do to support LGBTQ youth?

Recognize challenges this population faces in your school

Be self-aware Confront inappropriate remarks Seek chances to discuss contributions of

LGBTQ in class No assumptions

What can be done about LBGTQ Bullying school wide?

Positive school environment Respect for all “Safe” spaces Gay-straight-lesbian alliance clubs Recognize community resources for LBGTQ

students

Youth Violence

Youth violence includes bullying, slapping, hitting, punching, robbery and assault and can often cause more emotional damage then physical damage

– Although only 1% of homicides occurred on school grounds perpetrators were 9 times more likely to demonstrate suicidal ideation before committing these crimes and twice as likely to have been bullied by their peers

– In 2007 DC the number is 49.8 homicides out of 100,000 people aged 15-24

What can be done about youth violence?

Difficult for schools to manage- truly a community problem

Family prevention programsTeaching children social development skillsMentoring programs with positive adult role

modelsPhysical and social changes within the

environment

Teachers who are Bullied

In 2005 a survey showed that 36% of teachers reported they had been bullied by their students– 61% were part-time– 34% were full-time– 30% support staff

Understand it is common- and needs to be reported

What can teachers do about bullying?

School wide efforts by creating a positive school environment

– No changes in bullying rates shown in “Zero Tolerance” Policies

Preventing bullying in the classroom Preventing children from being bullying targets Teaching bystanders to be active bullying preventers

School Wide Efforts

Assess bullying at each individual school Set boundaries that indicate when educators should

intervene Create a menu of consequences for those who bully Establish a policy for contacting the parents of the

bully Monitor bullying prevention measures to make sure

they are effective for reducing bullying at the school

Preventing Bullying the Classroom

Make sure students understand the definition of bullying

Hold a class meeting where students come up with rules for behavior

Have students create a list of bullying that are kept on the board

Teachers confront bullies in a firm and fair manner Other strategies

Helping Children Develop Positive Self-Esteem

Find out where children are reporting they are most often bullied

Create a safe room in school Help children who struggle socially with basic

skills Pair students off for fun activities in class to

encourage friendship and collaboration Teach assertiveness skills

Teaching Bystanders to be Active Bullying Preventers

Train students to play an active role in supporting the victim of bullying

Clearly distinguish between tattling and telling Invite trusted adults to introduce themselves and

identify themselves as a safe person Hold bystanders accountable for their actions if they

join in on bullying a victim Instruct students who witness bullying to never

partake in it

Dateline NBC- My Kid Would Never Bully

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/– March 6th, 2011

Elementary school– Are purses just for girls? – Everyday speech leaves lasting effects

Middle school & High school– My kid would never bully part 4– My kid would never bully part 5

Documentary & Resources

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRMxURmvyxI

References

Wright, Jim (2004). Preventing classroom bullying: what teachers can do. www.interventioncentral.org. Retrieved on March 2, 2012 at http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/bully/bullyBooklet.pdf

National Center for Injury Control and Prevention (2011). Understanding

bullying: fact sheet. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved on February 18, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/pdf/Bullying_Factsheet-a.pdf

Wired Kids Inc. (2012). What is it? Stop cyberbullying. Retrieved on March 1,

2012 from http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/what_is_cyberbullying_exactly.html McCollum, S. (2010). Country Outpost. Teaching tolerance. Retrieved Febuary

28, 2012 from http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/Country_Outposts_38.pdf

References

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and transgender health (2011). Youth. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved on March 3, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth.htm

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health (2011). LBGT youth resources. Centers for

Disease Control. Retrieved on March 3, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/youth-resources.htm#school

Hartjes, E. (2007). Some students bully teachers too. Teachers at risk. Retrieved on

March 14, 2012 from http://www.teachersatrisk.com/2007/05/07/some-students-bully-teachers-too/

National Center for Injury Control and Prevention (2011). Youth violence national and state statistics at a glance. Centers for Disease Control. Retrieved on February 27, 2012 from http://www.cdc.gov/ViolencePrevention/youthviolence/stats_at-a_glance/index.html

Poland, S. & Poland, D. (2004). Dealing with death at school. Principal leadership. Retrieved on March 19, 2012 from http://www.nasponline.org/resources/principals/Dealing%20with%20Death%20at%20School%20April%2004.pdf