BULLYING WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

BULLYING: THE HARD FACTS - Bullying is the deliberate and often repeated attempt to intimidate, embarrass, or harm another person. - Bullying is a misuse of power - Typically, bullies have greater size, status, popularity, and control - Across the Country, rough 160,000 kids miss school everyday to avoid being bullied by their peers - Bullying can cause grades and test scores to decline - Bullying can cause stress-related illnesses including headaches, stomach troubles, panic attacks, and depression - Bullying is a significant cause for many of the 4,000 teen suicides every year

TARGETS OF BULLYING - ANYONE can be a target of bullying - Bullies single out people who stand out in some way But because we are ALL different and unique, we ALL have qualities, positive and negative, that make us stand out from others - Your body is too big or too small - Grades are too high or too low - Your style is too different - Hair is too long or too short

WITNESSES (BYSTANDER) OF BULLYING - If you have seen bullying take place, you are a Witness of Bullying - There are usually more witnesses of bullying than there are bullies or victims - Witness of bullying have the greatest power to determine what happens in a school - Unfortunately, Witnesses of bullying rarely use this power to stop bullying, why? FEAR Fear that they may become the next victim of the bully Fear that they may lose popularity Fear of being labeled a “Snitch” - Often this fear is so strong that witnesses of bullying become friends with the bully and may laugh at their jokes or join in their insults, becoming a bully themselves - Schools are filled with Witnesses of Bullying and they have the power for change

CAUSES OF BULLYING - Bullies thrive in environments where they are not held accountable for actions This is why we take negative behavior, harassment, and bullying very seriously at WWMS - Protection from bullying Victims often become bullies in order to show their toughness and get other bullies to leave them alone - Bullying is a way of showing superiority over others BUT ALL PEOPLE – regardless of their background, race, religion, appearance, etc. – deserve civility. EVERYONE has the right to be free from threats, intimidation, and cruelty.

TYPES OF BULLYING Physical – Pushing, Kicking, Punching, Slapping, Tripping, Pinching, Spitting Social or Relational – Excluding, tormenting, threatening gestures, ridiculing, staring Written – Notes, Letters, or drawings Verbal - Name calling, mocking, teasing, sarcasm, spreading rumors, threats, making noises at someone, intimidating phone calls Racial/Religious – Derogatory comments or nicknames about physical, behavioral, cultural, or religious differences Cyber – Using social media to make/spread harassing statements Prank/harassing phones calls, texts, s Intimidation – Challenging others, taking other property, demanding things, playing tricks

BULLYING VIDEO