Bullying & Cyber-bullying

Cyber bullying

Cyber-bullying is an act that occurs on electronic devices such as computers, tablets, or cell phones, such as sending demeaning or hateful text messages, direct messages or public posts on social media apps, gaming forums, or emails, spreading rumors by email or by posting on social networking sites, shaming or humiliating by allowing others to view, participate in, or share disparaging or harmful content, or posting or sharing embarrassing photos, videos, website, or fake profiles.

Cyberbullying includes the electronic creation or transmission of harassing communications, direct threats, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images, which may be shared, sent, or posted publicly. Cyberbullying may include, but is not limited to, personal or private information that causes humiliation, false or negative information to discredit or disparage, or threats of physical harm. Cyberbullying may also include breaking into another person’s electronic account or assuming that persons online identity in order to damage that person’s reputation.

Cyberbullying can also occur on social media forums such as, but not limited to:

(A) Internet websites with free registration and ease of registration

(B) Internet websites offering peer-to-peer instant messaging

(C) Internet websites offering comment forums or sections

(D) Internet websites offering image or video posting platforms

When a student is reported or observed to be engaging in bullying off campus, which often includes cyberbullying involving the use of social media, students and parents/ guardians are encouraged to report these concerns to a school site administrator or front office staff. Parents/ Guardians are also encouraged to help monitor their students' internet usage during non school hours. Parents/ Guardians, as well as school site administrators, may file a complaint with the internet site or service to have the harmful material removed. 

resources

Online Bullying Training Module (PPTX)
Bullying Module (DOCX)

Bullying Training Modules for Staff, Parents/ Guardians, Students and Staff Members

StopBullying.gov Bullying Prevention Training Course 
This free training provides guidance on how to take a public health approach to bullying prevention through the use of long-term, community-wide prevention strategies. 

commonsensemedia.org

• Reviews and ratings on movies, games, websites, TV, books and music
• Information on the impact of media on children's physical, mental and social development
• Tips for parents on how to manage their children's media
• Resources for educators

 

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network) 
This network provides resources and support for schools to implement effective and age-appropriate anti-bullying programs to improve school climate for all students.

 

gsanetwork.org

Gay-Straight Alliance Network connects school-based Gay-Straight Alliances (GSAs) to each other and community resources through peer support, leadership development, and training.

thetrevorproject.org

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth.

Stop Bullying 
Stopbullying.gov is a national organization that provides information for students and adults defining bullying/cyberbullying, and offering advice on how to address the issues, resources, and materials.

Teaching Tolerance 
Teaching Tolerance is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. It includes classroom resources and materials on bullying, cyberbullying, and school climate among many other topics related to tolerance.

 

 

what should I do if i'm being bullied?

Being bullied can be embarrassing, scary and very hurtful, but you should know that you don't have to put up with being bullied. It is NOT a normal part of growing up. Bullying is wrong. Bullying is something some people learn, that means it is something we can change and there are things we can do to deal with bullying. Here are some things we all can do to stop bullying:

• Talk to the bully if it feels safe to do so.
• Avoid engaging in verbal and/or written insults with the bully. This could lead to more aggression from the bully.
• Seek out an adult or peer immediately if you feel unsafe. The peer should help you to get out of the situation and find an adult to help you. The adult should show support, help you develop a response strategy and follow-up to make sure the bullying does not continue.
• Write down what happened. Who was bullying? Where did it happen? Who did what? Who saw it?
• If you continue to be bullied, keep telling adults until the situation is resolved.
• Learn about what bullying is and then share this with others, like your parents, friends, teachers, sport coaches and others. A lot of adults believe that bullying is just a normal part of life, IT'S NOT -BE the change! And teach them that people should not just accept bullying.
• You need to know that you are NOT alone in being bullied. Being bullied is embarrassing, scary and hurtful, it is normal to feel scared if you are being bullied, but being bullied is NOT normal and you shouldn't have to live with being bullied!
• You need to know that being bullied is NOT your fault. Bullies might tell you mean things about yourself, but don't believe them. Bullies will say whatever they can to try and have power over you. Don't let them!
• You need to know that there are lots of things you can do to help bullying stop, for yourself and for others.
• Telling is not tattling. Telling we do to help make things safer and better. Tattling is what people do when they want to get someone else in trouble on purpose.
• Be brave When you're scared of another person, it's hard to be brave. But sometimes just acting brave is enough to stop a bully. If you act as though you're not afraid, it may be enough for a people who bully to leave you alone.
• Stay calm and don't act upset or angry: bullies love to get a reaction. Practice what you'll do and say the next time it happens. If you don't act upset or react the way they want you to, they may get bored and stop.
• Ignore the people who bully. Try to ignore a bully's threats. If you can walk away, it takes a bullies power away because they want you to feel bad about yourself. Don't react. Don't let the people who bully win!
• If ignoring them won't work, tell the people who are bullying to stop, say "Cut it out!", "That's not funny!", "How'd you like it if someone did that to you?" Let the people who bully know that what he or she is doing is stupid and mean.
• Stand up, don't stand back. Kids can stand up for each other by telling people who bully to stop teasing or hurting someone else. You shouldn't try and fight the people who bully. This almost always makes things worse. Walk up to the person being bullied, talk with them and then walk away together.
• Refuse to join in and don't just sit back and watch. The bully wants an audience. You give bullies power when you watch. If you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem.
• Be a friend. Kids who are being bullied can sure use a friend. Walk with a friend or two on the way to school or recess or lunch or wherever you think you might meet the bully. Offer to do the same for someone else who's having trouble with a bully. Look out for kids who are new to school, or those kids who always seem to be alone.
• Join a club, a team, or a group. This is a great way to make new friends. This really helps when you are new to school.
• Don't fight back. First of all it's a dangerous thing to. Secondly, it usually makes things worse for everyone. Besides, you can't bully a bully into changing the way they are acting. Stay with others, stay safe, and get help from an adult.
• Sit or walk near an adult or friend. Sit near the bus driver. Walk with a teacher or friend during recess or lunchtime.
• Take a different path to and from school.
• Leave at different time to avoid situations or bullies.
• Involve as many people as possible, including other friends or classmates, parents, teachers, school counselors, and the principal.

Some information provided by www.bullying.org

 

what you need to know

If you are a BULLY . . .

1. Stop the bullying immediately.
2. Bullying behaviors will not be tolerated.
3. Bullying hurts your victim and you.
4. Bullying sets a bad example for other children.
5. Bullying may cause you to lose friends.
6. Every child deserves to be treated with respect.
7. There are other ways to solve conflicts.
8. Ask adults for help if you feel angry or upset, or don't know how to stop bullying.

If you are a VICTIM . . .

1. You are not responsible for a bully's behavior. It's not your fault.
2. Don't respond to bullies by giving in, getting upset, or fighting back-this will encourage them. Instead, stay calm and be assertive.
3. Sometimes the best response is no response-just walk away.
4. Get help from a trusted adult. Adults can help you figure out new ways to respond the next time a bully bothers you.

If you are a BYSTANDER . . .

1. Your involvement makes a difference. Don't just stand by and watch quietly.
2. Stand up for the person being bullied. If you feel safe, tell the bully to stop. Use phrases such as "Stop teasing!" "Don't fight!" "Leave him alone!" and "It's not funny!"
3. Don't join in. Don't laugh at the victim or participate in the teasing, harassing, or fighting. This encourages the bully to continue and can make the situation worse.
4. Help the victim walk away. A victim may be too afraid to leave on his or her own, but will do so with the help of a friend.
5. Encourage other bystanders to help the victim. Tell them not to join in the bullying.
6. Get help from a trusted adult. Report the bullying.
7. Afterward, tell the victim you feel bad about what happened. Encourage victims to talk to an adult, and offer to go with them.
8. Include the victim in activities. Be a good friend.

Information provided by www.eyesonbullying.org

warning signs

A culture of silence often surrounds bullying. Many children who are bullied never tell anyone.

Most bullying is not reported because children . . .

• Don't recognize it as bullying
• Are embarrassed
• Don't want to appear weak
• Believe they deserve it
• Want to belong
• Fear retaliation
• Don't know how to talk about it
• Don't have a trusted adult to confide in
• Think adults won't understand
• Think nothing can be done about it

Just because you don't see it, and others don't talk about it, doesn't mean bullying isn't happening. Even when children fail to report bullying, they often show warning signs.

What are some warning signs of bullying?

• Unexplained damage or loss of clothing and other personal items
• Evidence of physical abuse, such as bruises and scratches
• Loss of friends; changes in friends
• Reluctance to participate in activities with peers
• Loss of interest in favorite activities
• Unusually sad, moody, anxious, lonely, or depressed
• Problems with eating, sleeping, bed-wetting
• Headaches, stomachaches, or other physical complaints
• Decline in school achievement
• Thoughts of suicide

Some students may withdraw, while others may get angry and seek revenge. Don't assume the problem will go away on its own: talk about what is bothering you or another student. If you or another student are being bullied:

1. Show support - Be a helpful bystander!
2. Report the behavior to your parent and/or a staff member at school to make sure the bullying does not continue.
3. Help develop a response strategy

Bullying Prevention

IUSD has implemented measures to prevent bullying in schools, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Ensuring that each school establishes clear rules for student and staff conduct and implements strategies to promote a positive, supportive, and collaborative school climate.

2. Providing pertinent information to students about district and school rules related to bullying, mechanisms available for reporting incidents or threats, and the consequences for engaging in bullying.

3. Encouraging students through education, handbooks, assemblies, or other means, to notify school staff when they are being bullied or when they suspect that another student is being bullied, and providing means by which students may report threats or incidents confidentially and anonymously.

4. If necessary, increasing supervision and security in areas where bullying most often occurs, such as playgrounds, hallways, restrooms, and cafeterias.

5. Annually notifying district employees that, pursuant to Education Code 234.1, any school staff who witnesses an act of bullying against a student has a responsibility to immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so.

For site specific information and prevention measures please reach out to your school site principal and refer to your school's code of conduct.