BCMS Forms of Bullying

Forms of bullying PHYSICAL VERBAL INTIMIDATION CYBERBULLYING This form of bullying can be visually detected. This type of maltreatment involves physically contacting the student (kicking, hitting etc.). It can also entail stealing or hiding the belongings of the affected students. VERBAL This form of bullying is difficult to detect, unless the adult is in the presence of the participants. It involves name calling, insults, offensive and threatening language. INTIMIDATION This aspect could include gestures or comments, spreading rumors or stories, graffiti and defacing property CYBERBULLYING This is the modern extension of bullying. This occurs via the Internet, mobile phones or other cyber technology. This can include: (1) sending malicious text, e-mail, or instant messages (2) posting defamatory pictures or messages about others in blogs or on websites (3) using someone else’s user name to spread rumors or lies about someone. More commonly, students are using sites such as Facebook and Myspace to carry out bullying tactics.

CYBER BULLYING IS… Being cruel to others by sending or posting harmful material using technological means; an individual or group that uses information and communication involving electronic technologies to facilitate deliberate and repeated harassment or threat to an individual or group. Also known as: ‘Electronic Bullying’ & ‘Online Social Cruelty’

CYBER BULLIES’ TECHNOLOGY E-mail Cell phones Pager text messages Instant messaging Defamatory personal websites Defamatory online personal polling websites Chat rooms

DIFFERENCES BULLYING DIRECT Occurs on school property Poor relationships with teachers Fear retribution Physical: Hitting, Punching & Shoving Verbal: Teasing, Name calling & Gossip Nonverbal: Use of gestures & Exclusion www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov CYBERBULLYING ANONYMOUS Occurs off school property Good relationships with teachers Fear loss of technology privileges Further under the radar than bullying Emotional reactions cannot be determined {McKenna & Bargh, 2004; Ybarra & Mitchell, 2004}

CYBER BULLYING TYPES “Flaming’: Online fights using electronic messages with angry and vulgar language “Harassment”: Repeatedly sending offensive, rude, and insulting messages “Cyber stalking”: Repeatedly sending messages that include threats of harm or are highly intimidating. Engaging in other on-line activities that make a person afraid for his or her own safety “Denigration”: ‘Dissing’ someone online. Sending or posting cruel gossip or rumors about a person to damage his or her reputation or friendships

CYBER BULLYING TYPES “Impersonation”: Pretending to be someone else and sending or posting material online that makes that person look bad, gets that person in trouble or danger, or damages that person’s reputation or friendships “Outing and Trickery”: Sharing someone’s secret or embarrassing information online. Tricking someone into revealing secrets or embarrassing information which is then shared online “Exclusion”: Intentionally excluding someone from an on-line group, like a ‘buddy list’ {Nancy Willard, M.S., J.D., Director of the Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use}

Cyberbullying: Thoughts??? Can students get in trouble for cyberbullying? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jPAGJoaEAI Thoughts???

Are You a Bully?

Bully Test Do you pick on people who are smaller than you, or on animals? Y or N Do you like to tease and taunt other people? Y or N If you tease people, do you like to see them get upset? Y or N Do you think it’s funny when other people make mistakes? Y or N Do you like to take or destroy other people’s belongings? Y or N Do you want other students to think you’re the toughest kid in school? Y or N Do you get angry a lot and stay angry for a long time? Y or N Do you blame other people for things that go wrong in you life? Y or N Do you like to get revenge on people who hurt you? Y or N When you play a game or sport, do you always have to be the winner? Y or N If you lost at something, do you worry about what other people will think of you? Y or N Do you get angry or jealous when someone else succeeds? Y or No From The Bully Free Classroom by Allan L. Beane, Ph.D Free Spirit Publishing Inc. Minneapolis, MD www.freespirit.com

Survey Says: If you answered “Yes” to: * One or more of these questions, you may be on your way to becoming a bully. * Three or more, you probably are a bully, and you need to find ways to change your behavior. Good News: Bullies can get help dealing with their feelings, getting along with other people, and making friends From The Bully Free Classroom by Allan L. Beane, Ph.D Free Spirit Publishing Inc. Minneapolis, MD www.freespirit.com

How can you STOP being a Bully?

If you are a bully, here are some ways to stop. Apologize to people that you have bullied, and follow it up by being friendly. They might not trust you right away, but eventually they will see that you have changed.

More ways to stop If you are having a hard time feeling good about yourself, explore ways to boost your self-esteem. If you feel like you’re having trouble controlling your feelings, especially anger, talk to a teacher or administrator about it.

Case Study Case Study #1 Source: www.pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov Henry is 11 years old and attends a Middle School which is located a few blocks from his home. He is in the sixth grade and is an average student. Henry has always been a bit shy and somewhat anxious around his peers. He just moved to this city 3 months ago and has not yet made any friends at the new school, though he does have a "best friend" at his old school. Henry is quite tall and thin for his age and is very self-conscious about his appearance. Over the past month, Henry has become increasingly withdrawn. Several weeks ago he came home with a tear in his favorite jacket. When his mother asked him what happened, he hurriedly said it was an accident. He goes straight to his room after school and shuts the door. His mother has noticed that he has become more irritable and is often tearful, but when she tries to talk to him about this, he tells her to go away. She is worried about him but, thinks this is a phase he's going through because they've just moved to a new city, etc. She also worries about making Henry too dependent on her if she gets too involved in his problems. You hear through others that Henry is being teased by his classmates several times a week. In particular, two children, a girl and a boy, make fun of the way he looks and have convinced most of his classmates to avoid him at lunch.

Discussion Questions Does a problem exist? If so, what is it? How could you encourage Henry to talk about what is happening? Who are the people you may want to talk to about this problem? Who are the bullies? The victim? The witnesses? What are some of the warning signs Henry displays?

Questions?