Bullying

Research shows that more than 1/2 of all students are being bullied during their school day, 10% regularly. Bullying in schools is a world wide issue.

Girl Bullying

Girls bully in groups more than boys. Though girls typically use more indirect, emotional forms, physical bullying is on the rise. Girls tend to bully based on social status, such as popular vs. non-popular. Girls target other girls and are verbal.

Boy Bullying

Boys tend to bully according to group, such as athlete vs. non-athlete. They use more threats and physical intimidation on both boys and girls. Boys are less likely to report being bullied.

At Risk-almost anybody

Children with disabilities, with food allergies, who are overweight or obese, who are passive or anxious, who have over-controlling parents, who have medical conditions, gifted students...the list can go on.

Bully-Victims

Students can be both the bully and the victim. Often these kids have been bullied and then they do the behavior to others.

Now is the time

Researchers note that bullying escalates in upper elementary, peaking in about 6th or 7th grade.

Best Practice to Stop a Bully

Stop, Walk and Talk. Research shows that fighting back does not help. The bully wins and the bullying continues. You should always ask them to stop, if they don’t, walk (or run) away and tell an adult to get help. Keep telling adults until it stops. And, be an UPSTANDER...don’t just stand by and let it happen to others. We have to work together to end this world wide issue!

First Used The word bully was first used in 1530 by both genders and it meant “sweetheart, friend or family member”.

Length of time An average bullying episode only lasts 37 seconds. Adults only notice one in 25 incidents. And 4 out of 5 times, other kids see the episode and 3/4 of the time join in.

Missed School Every day 160,00 kids skip school to avoid being bullied.

Myth It is a myth that bullying will go away if we ignore it. Ignoring it only reinforces to the bully that they can do it without consequence.

Places Bullying can happen anywhere there is a sense of imbalanced power, real or perceived, from home to an international level.

It stays with you Many adults report having been bullied as children or teens and are able to relay the stories, as if they happened yesterday. The old addage “Sticks and stones will break my bones and names will never hurt me” has been rethought:

Sticks and stones will break my bones and names will ALWAYS hurt me.