BULLYING Presented by: Krystal Culpepper University of North Florida Adapted from Tracy Ambuehl & Shelley Williams University of North Florida

WHAT IS BULLYING?

CHARACTERISTICS Aggressive behavior Aggressive behavior Repeated over a period of time Repeated over a period of time Imbalance of power Imbalance of power

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS TO BULLY?

PHYSICALLY Hitting Hitting Kicking Kicking Pushing & Shoving Pushing & Shoving Choking Choking Biting Biting Pinching Pinching

VERBALLY Taunting Taunting Threatening Threatening Name calling Name calling Teasing Teasing Rumors Rumors

OTHER METHODS Exclusion Exclusion Obscene gestures Obscene gestures Racial slurs Racial slurs Mocking the victims cultural traditions Mocking the victims cultural traditions

Teacher Survey Do students bully each other at this school? 91% 9%

Teacher Survey Where have you seen bullying take place? (percentage of population)

Student Survey (Percentage answering ‘yes’ to the following questions)

Student Survey Where have you seen bullying take place? (percentage of population)

Some Comments from students about where bullying occurs: Everywhere!!! Everywhere!!! All over this school All over this school Bus 332!! Bus 332!! Behind the elevator Behind the elevator Behind the bushes Behind the bushes Breezeway by the door (no adults around) Breezeway by the door (no adults around) Behind the orange plant Behind the orange plant

MYTHS ABOUT BULLYING

Bullies really have low self-esteem. Bullies really have low self-esteem. Bullies just need attention. Ignore them. Bullies just need attention. Ignore them. Most bullying is done outside of school Most bullying is done outside of school Teachers know if bullying is a problem or not. Teachers know if bullying is a problem or not. “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names can never hurt you” “Sticks and stones will break your bones, but names can never hurt you”

DAMAGES FROM BULLYING INCLUDE: Physical injuries Physical injuries Emotional/Mental damage (lowered self- esteem) Emotional/Mental damage (lowered self- esteem) Death/Suicide Death/Suicide Lawsuits Lawsuits

You mean people get sued for bullying? YES!!!

COURT CASES

Haugstad vs. Standwood-Camano School District (1999) Taya Haugstad constantly harassed by a male student Taya Haugstad constantly harassed by a male student Haugstad has cerebral palsy Haugstad has cerebral palsy Called retarded, stupid, and had her wheelchair rammed into a wall Called retarded, stupid, and had her wheelchair rammed into a wall District ordered to pay $310,000 District ordered to pay $310,000

Anchorage School District vs. Tom (2000) Tom was described as being awkward which invited the bullying Tom was described as being awkward which invited the bullying Following an incident Tom received ISSP and the next day attempted suicide Following an incident Tom received ISSP and the next day attempted suicide Parents sued for $33 million for lifetime care (vegetative state) Parents sued for $33 million for lifetime care (vegetative state) District paid $1 million District paid $1 million District insurance company paid $3.5 million District insurance company paid $3.5 million

Jacksonville Bus Beating (2004) 7 students charged with misdemeanor battery 7 students charged with misdemeanor battery Duval County and the first student currently being sued by the victim’s mother Duval County and the first student currently being sued by the victim’s mother

WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT BULLYING?

Make parents aware (newsletters, conferences, PTA, etc.) Make parents aware (newsletters, conferences, PTA, etc.) Role-playing exercises Role-playing exercises Express disapproval of bullying immediately whenever and wherever it occurs. Express disapproval of bullying immediately whenever and wherever it occurs. Listen to student concerns Listen to student concerns

Make students aware of consequences for bullying behavior Make students aware of consequences for bullying behavior Reward students for inclusive and non- aggressive behavior Reward students for inclusive and non- aggressive behavior

For more information visit the Duval County Public Schools Guidance Website vices/guidance/midcoping.htm vices/guidance/midcoping.htm

Thank You for your time

References Dowshen, S. & Pendley, J. S. (2001). Bullying and your child. Kids Health for Parents. Retrieved on November 10, 2004, from, Newquist.C. (2004). Bully-proof your school. Education World. Retrieved on November 10, 2004, from, world.com/a_admin/admin018.shtml world.com/a_admin/admin018.shtmlhttp:// world.com/a_admin/admin018.shtml Pinkham, P. & Garza, C. L. (2004). Student’s mom to sue in bus attack, The Florida Times-Union Skolnik, S. (2000). Disabled girl abused by bully wins $31,000 court judgement, Seattle PI News Source Starr, L. (2000). Bullying interventionstrategies that work. Education World. Retrieved on November 10, 2004, from, Starr, L. (2000). Sticks and stones and names can hurt you: de-myth-tifying the classroom bully!. Education World. Retrieved on November 10, 2004, from,