BULLYING NO MORE: HOW TO STAND UP AND STAND OUT

MANY KIDS ARE EXPOSED TO BULLYING NATIONWIDE, 28% OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 6–12 EXPERIENCED BULLYING. 20% OF STUDENTS IN GRADES 9–12 EXPERIENCED BULLYING. HOWEVER, THESE NUMBERS MAY BE HIGHER BECAUSE MANY BULLYING CASES GO UNREPORTED. 2010–2011 School Crime Supplement (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics) 2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

WHAT IS BULLYING? “BULLYING IS SAYING OR DOING HURTFUL THINGS TO OTHER PEOPLE ON PURPOSE.”

HOWEVER, THIS DEFINITION IS LEAVING OUT MANY IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT BULLYING.

1. BULLYING IS DOING HURTFUL BEHAVIORS REPETITIVELY OVER TIME

2. IT IS DOING OR SAYING SOMETHING TO INTENTIONALLY HURT SOMEONE ELSE.

3. BULLYING INVOLVES THE IMBALANCE OF POWER BETWEEN THE PERSON DOING THE BULLYING AND THE PERSON BEING TARGETED.

HOW DO WE DEFINE BULLYING? R.I.P.S

DIFFERENT TYPES OF BULLYING

PHYSICAL BULLYING HITTING, PUSHING, DAMAGING AND TAKING THINGS FROM SOMEONE

VERBAL BULLYING: TEASING, NAME-CALLING, THREATS, MIMICKING, RUDE JOKES

INDIRECT BULLYING: RUMORS, EXCLUDING FROM A GROUP, TELLING LIES

CYBERBULLYING SHARING HURTFUL IMAGES, TEXTING HURTFUL MESSAGES, POSTING RUMORS OR LIES ONLINE THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

EVERYONE DESERVES RESPECT AND PEOPLE SHOULD NOT HARM OTHERS.

EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE MAY THINK IT’S IMPORTANT TO HELP SOMEONE WHO’S BEING BULLIED, THERE MAY BE LOTS OF REASONS WHY THEY DON’T TAKE ACTION TO INTERRUPT THE SITUATION OR SUPPORT THE VICTIM.

Circle of Support Activity WE ARE ALL GOING TO MAKE A CIRCLE. THIS CIRCLE REPRESENTS A BULLYING SITUATION.

HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN ALLY?

“AN ALLY IS A PERSON WHO WILL STAND UP FOR OTHERS WHO ARE VICTIMS; A PERSON WHO IS COURAGEOUS ENOUGH TO SPEAK UP AGAINST INJUSTICE.”

HOW CAN WE BE AN ALLY?

DURING THE SITUATION: Say something to defend the person being targeted – for example, “Hey, no one deserves to be treated like that –including Tim.” Step in and tell the person being targeted that you or someone else needs them right away – this can help by quickly getting the person away from the situation. Go get an adult to help with the situation – especially when it feels unsafe to speak up. Get your friends to report it with you so you can use your voices together to try to stop the situation. Try to change the subject to distract the person doing the bullying – this can be especially helpful if you have a relationship with that person. Calmly ask the person to stop the mean behavior. Use humor to draw attention away from the victim.

AFTER THE SITUATION: Share with the person who was targeted that you care about him or her and that you don’t support what happened. Go with the person who was targeted to report the situation to an adult. Help the person think of some ways to stay safe if this situation happens again. Find ways to spend time with the person who was targeted – like inviting him or her to sit with you and your friends during your youth group or in the cafeteria.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO FIND A WAY TO STAND UP FOR OTHERS… FIND SOME WAY TO HELP HEAL RIPS

BULLYING CAN CAUSE: ANXIETY (CONSTANT FEAR/WORRY) DEPRESSION (EXTREME SADNESS) LOWER GRADES LOW SCHOOL ATTENDENCE SUICIDE (SOMEONE TAKING THEIR OWN LIFE)

THANK YOU! The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) is an equal opportunity educator and employer.