BATTLING BULLYING

1. BATTLING BULLYING A CHALLENGE FOR OUR DISTRICT Facilitator: Spence Agee

2. CBS NEWS VIDEO BATTLING BULLYING

3. WHAT IS BULLYING? • BULLYING MEANS ANY repeated and pervasive verbal, written, or electronic expression, physical act or gesture, or a pattern thereof, that is intended to cause distress upon one or more students in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop, or at school activities or events. • AN INDEPTH LOOK INTO BULLYING: • 9 out of 10 cases of bullying are not reported. • 80-90% of adolescents reported being bullied during their school years. • 71% of teachers surveyed maintained that they always intervene during such situations. However, 71% of students didn’t report bullying because they don’t think teachers care. • 15-30% of students report being victims of bullying regularly.

4. TYPES OF BULLYING • Physical • Verbal • Cyber • Emotional

5. EXAMPLES OF BULLYING... • Boys tend to use physical aggression such as hitting, kicking, and fighting. • Girls often start rumors, form cliques to keep certain people out, and/or ignore others in an effort to show that she is in control. STOP! BOYS GIRLS

6. EFFECTS OF BULLYING... Bullying and harassment are widespread problems with significant, adverse consequences, and they directly interfere with student learning and achievement. Over 160,000 children stay home from school because… • the effects of bullying are serious and can even be fatal. • victims of bullying can suffer from long-term emotional and behavioral problems. • bullying can cause loneliness, depression, anxiety, and can lead to low self-esteem and increased susceptibility to illness. • bullying can lead to suicide.

7. CBS NEWS VIDEO SCHOOL BULLYING

8. BULLIES: TURNING AROUND NEGATIVE BEHAVIORS What Teachers Can Do? • Assess the extent of the bullying problem. • Ensure that the class understands the definition of ‘bullying’. • Confront students engaged in bullying in a firm but fair manner. • Provide appropriate and consistent consequences for bullying. • Hold bystanders accountable for their actions.

9. SCENARIOS: BULLYING, HARASSMENT, OR OTHER MISCODUCT? 1. Kim is the new kid in school. On the bus you hear others calling Kim names like ‘wuss' – ‘gay' – ‘reject'. What would you do? 2. Susan reports to you every morning when she’s opening her locker a group of girls stands around and makes derogatory remarks about her hair, clothes, size, and laughs. She says that at first it was easy to ignore, but then Susan start being late for school to avoid them. Finally, Susan doesn't want to come to school.

10. 3. During class, students have just finished self grading a paper. You ask Susie, one of the higher achievers in the class, to collect the papers. As Susie walks around collecting papers, Tony has his feet sticking way out beyond the edge of his desk. He sees Susie coming, but does not move his feet. Susie trips over them, and Tony says out loud while laughing, "Don't trip!” Susie looks crushed. • 4. Betty has reported that a male student has been sexually harassing her in class. He made inappropriate comments about her breasts and what she wanted to do to another female. In addition he said, “I bet you won’t let me …….”, “When you going to let me …..?”, and “You have a big butt.” He also made other statements such as fat, ugly, trick, and freak to the female student. • 5. Lunch break has just started. Students are getting their lunch when they notice a new student, Bob. He is sitting alone at a table at the back of the cafeteria looking quite nervous. A few minutes later you notice a small group of students pointing at Bob and laughing. This group begins walking towards him while still laughing. They stop at Bob’s table.

11. QUESTIONS AND/OR COMMENTS? Thanks for your time and participation. ~Spence Agee