What’s the Big Deal About Bullying?

PARENT PRESENTATION 2012-2013

What’s the Big Deal?

• Bullying happens on an average of every 7 minutes on school playgrounds

• 60% male bullies will have 1 conviction by age 24

• 85% of the school population are bystanders

• Bullying is one of the leading causes of suicide

• >90% of victims’ grades will drop

What is Bullying?

A person is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons. Olweus, 1992

Bullying is…

P =Purposeful (intentionally trying to hurt another person)

I = Imbalance of power (bigger, older, part of a group)

C = Continues (not a one time event; happens over time)

Normal Peer Conflict vs. BullyingNormal Peer Conflict

• Equal power or friends

• Happens occasionally

• Accidental

• Not serious

• Equal emotional reaction

• Not seeking power or attention

• Not trying to get something

• Remorse -- will take responsibility

• Effort to solve the problem

Bullying

• Imbalance of power; not friends

• Repeated negative actions

• Purposeful

• Serious with threat of physical or emotional harm

• Strong emotional reaction from victim and little or no emotional reaction from bully

• Seeking power, control, or material things

• No remorse -- blames victim

• No effort to solve problems

Types of Bullying

• Physical Aggression

• Social Alienation

• Verbal Aggression

• Intimidation

• “Cyber” Bullying

• Sexual Harassment

What is “Cyberbullying?”

Cyberbullying: the intentional and repeated harm of others through the use of computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices.

Examples: mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.

Characteristics:

• Can be anonymous

• Impact can be wider reaching (speed and breadth of internet is damaging)

• Can be children who might not have otherwise engaged in bullying behavior (it is easier to be cruel when the bully is sheltered from target’s responses)

Preventing Cyberbullying

Be aware of what your kids are doing online Know the sites your kids visit and their online activities Have a sense of what they do online and in texts. Learn about

the sites they like. Try out the devices they use Ask to “friend” or “follow” your kids on social media sites or ask

another trusted adult to do so

Establish Rules about technology use Be clear about what sites they can visit and what they are

permitted to do when they’re online Help them be smart about what they post or say. Tell them not

to share anything that could hurt or embarrass themselves or others

Warning Signs• Sudden change in school attendance/academic

performance

• Difficulty concentrating in class

• Lonely, withdrawn, isolated

• Poor or no social/interpersonal skills

• Frequent complaints of headaches, pains, etc…

What Can Parents Do?

• Ask your child for specifics

• Listen

• Contact the school as soon as possible

• Avoid confronting the other student’s parents

• Arrange for your child to join social groups, team sports, clubs or organizations that meet his/her interests

Future of the Trend

• Old Attitude

• Not my problem

• New Attitude

• Everyone’s responsibility

Everyone is responsible for dealing with bullying - students, staff, parents and community members.