Bullying

BULLYING And what can be done about it

BULLYING DEFINITION

Reoccurring aggression

towards a fellow student

who is not able

to defend themselves

Students with

exceptionalities are more

likely to be bullied by their

peers or to be the ones

bullying their fellow students

BULLYING CAN BE DISTINGUISHED FROM OTHER FORMS OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN CHILDREN BY:

Imbalance of power between the bully and

the victim

Intent to harm by the bully

Threat of further aggression that is known to

both the bully and the victim

Deliberate creation of terror in the victim that

is used to maintain dominance

COMMON PERSONALITY TRAITS IN BULLIES:

Sense of entitlement to dominate

others

Intolerance to differences in others

Believe it is acceptable to exclude a

person whom they do not like

VICTIMS ARE USUALLY ATTACKED IN ONE OF THE

FOLLOWING AREAS:

RaceReligionGender

Physical AttributesMental Abilities

IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAMS:

Teaching friendship and emotion regulation skills

Identifying types of bullying behaviour

Teaching bullying prevention skills Discussing peer group behaviour

Taking student bullying reports using specific protocol

Following up with students involved with bullying

Strategies to decrease bullying are most effective

if they are applied at

the level of the whole school

Policies that include

educational themes, curriculum materials

and structural supportsare effective

It is important that firm limits are set

as to what is unacceptable behaviour

and that violations are treated with

discipline rather than punishment.

Anti-bullying programs

can be effective in increasing student’s

confidence in managing

bullying

EDMUND BURKE

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to

do nothing"