October is Bullying
Prevention Awareness Month, and Unity Day, a day set aside for wearing orange
in support of anti-bullying activities, is set for October 22nd,
2014. The campaign was started in 2009 by PACER’s
National Center for Bullying Prevention in a response to the high numbers of
children being bullied in schools.
Bullying, which was once considered just a way of childhood life, a “rite of passage” to “toughen kids up” has many negative effects mentally, physically and emotionally. Kids who are bullied and kids that bully are statistically more likely drop out of school, use drugs and alcohol excessively, and continue to commit violent acts later in life. They are also run a higher risk of committing suicide. For young people 10-24 years old, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
Though bullying typically takes place within the school system, the Internet is also becoming a breeding ground for this harmful and hurtful behavior.
So, what IS bullying? It is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. There are many types of bullying, including but not limited to verbal bullying (name-calling, teasing, unwanted sexual comments, threats to cause physical harm), social bullying (spreading rumors, excluding individuals or causing groups of people to exclude that person, public embarrassment), and physical bullying (violent acts towards someone, breaking someone’s personal belongings, etc).
As stated before, the
Internet is becoming a very popular way for bullies to target their
victims. This is called cyber-bullying
and can come in the form of text and chat messages, rude emails, social media
postings, unsolicited photos, and websites.
Because the Internet is so vast, cyber-bullies can easily blend into the
background and anonymously attack individuals.
Unfortunately, it can take place any day at any time, and because of its
ease-of-access is harder to track and prevent.
Bullying, which was once considered just a way of childhood life, a “rite of passage” to “toughen kids up” has many negative effects mentally, physically and emotionally. Kids who are bullied and kids that bully are statistically more likely drop out of school, use drugs and alcohol excessively, and continue to commit violent acts later in life. They are also run a higher risk of committing suicide. For young people 10-24 years old, suicide is the second leading cause of death.
Though bullying typically takes place within the school system, the Internet is also becoming a breeding ground for this harmful and hurtful behavior.
So, what IS bullying? It is defined as unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. There are many types of bullying, including but not limited to verbal bullying (name-calling, teasing, unwanted sexual comments, threats to cause physical harm), social bullying (spreading rumors, excluding individuals or causing groups of people to exclude that person, public embarrassment), and physical bullying (violent acts towards someone, breaking someone’s personal belongings, etc).
In 2011 it was reported that 28% of students in grades 6 – 12 experience bullying, and in 2013 20% of students in grades 9 – 12. In 2008-2009, 6% of students in grades 6 – 12 reported instances of being cyber-bullied. 16% of high school attendees (grades 9 – 12) experienced cyber-bullying in 2011; and in 2013, 32% of school-agers reported being bullied.
It’s important to talk to your children about bullying, about the effects being a bully has on another kid and about ways to deal with bullying if they find themselves on the receiving end. There are many signs to look for if you’re concerned someone you know may be the victim of bullying. You can find those signs by clicking here (http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/warning-signs/index.html).
There are links provided with information on how to spot a bully, steps to be taken to address and correct this behavior, as well as ways to talk to children and adolescents about bullying and the ways that they can fearlessly report incidences.
HOW TO SPOT A BULLY:
TALKING ABOUT AND REPORTING BULLYING:
information acquired from:
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