Stop Bullying Now
Invest in a program that fits your school.
How can I take action against bullying?
What Should You Do?
Ways to Take Action
Real World Issues
Effects of Bullying
Bullying is a repeated action that causes damage to victims externally or internally, and it takes effect on victims in may ways. Adults and children can go through bullying and will react in different ways. Children will sometimes cry, have nightmares, rip their clothes, be generally depressed and hesitate to go to school. Children need the perfect environment and amount of time to develop. Bullying takes away the safe environment. Adults can be bullied at work by cyber-bullying, teasing, threats, job loss, humiliation, gossip, unmanageable workloads and intimidation. Adults may get mad and unleash their anger on their children. The children will get upset or angry and may become a bully.
Anti-bullying Program
Anti-bullying programs are needed when bullying is a concern. What is not known as much is that programs may not work because of the program not being effective with the school or the children. Finding a program that fits is like trying on jeans. Some are too small and you can't squeeze into them. some are too big and have too much room. Finally you find jeans that fit perfect. That is what bullying programs are like. Some programs are focused on one area while the more effective programs take a school-wide approach. Anyone can be a bully. Therefore, finding a bully and stopping them alone wouldn't solve the problem. Other kids could arise as a bully without notice. Effective programs also have school commitment long-term. A clear, unchanging message that promotes stopping bullying. A positive message should also be implemented. Negativity could result in lower student morale. Different ages and grades should have different approaches. Programs should use more maturity for higher grades. A program with a mascot or a goofy tag line would work for younger children but not so much for high school students. Bullying can be predicted by how bullying happens. Girls prefer to bully indirectly. This includes name-calling, teasing, spreading rumors and gossip. Boys like to bully in a more physical manner. Kicking, hitting and punching are common. The punishments for bullying need to be constant, but not severe. Detentions and suspensions should be replaced with reflective sessions. Bullies can reflect on their actions with support from a teacher or counselor. Before putting a program into place, a "pretest" of sorts would be given to the students. The pretest would gather information from students about bullying they may be a part of or have seen. Students can also make suggestions as the program progresses to make sure the program is always at its peak of effectiveness. School administrators can send home documents that need to be signed by the student and parent or guardian. This will state that the student will not bully others and a course of action will be taken if they do. Parents need to be informed when their child is bullying another kid or is being bullied. Parents can talk with their children about plans for a bullying situation. To get my program started, I plan to find out what action is already being taken. I also plan to talk to a guidance counselor about starting a program.
Support of Victims
Harassment Intimidation and Bullying Action Team (HIBAT)
Works Cited
Ansary, Nadia S., et al. “Bullying in schools: research has yet to precisely prescribe a remedy for school bullying, but some guidelines are emerging to help schools choose programs that best fit their situation.” Phi Delta Kappan 97.2 (2015): 30. Student Resources in Context. Web. 11 Jan. 2016.
Faucher, Chantal, Wanda Cassidy, and Margaret Jackson. “From The Sandbox To The Inbox: Comparing The Acts, Impacts, And Solutions Of Bullying In K-12, Higher Education, And The Workplace.” Journal Of Education And Training Studies 3.6 (2015): 111-125. ERIC. Web. 8 Jan. 2016.
“How Parents, Teachers and Kids can Take Action Against Bullying.” American Psychological Association. N.p., 2016. Web. 20 Jan. 2016. <http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/bullying.aspx>.
Isiklar, Abdullah, Ali Haydar Sar, and Aslihan Celik. “Examining the correlation between perceived social support in adolescence and bullying in terms of prediction.” Education 132.4 (2012): 889+. Student Resources in Context. Web. 26 Jan. 2016.
“Prevention at School.” stopbullying.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d. Web. 10 Jan. 2016. <http://www.stopbullying.gov/>.