BUL LYING IN OUR SCHOOLS TOO DAMAGING TO

BUL LYING IN OUR SCHOOLS TOO DAMAGING TO IGNORE

Why is this information so important? Partially because of the low numbers of students who actually report incidents of bullying, teachers need to have a certain level of awareness that will thwart any potential problems.

Bullying Defined Bullying is usually associated with an imbalance of power.

NATIONAL STATISTICS Over 3. 2 million students are victims of bullying each year. 1 in 4 teachers see nothing wrong with bullying and will only intervene 4 percent of the time. Approximately 160, 000 teens skip school every day because of bullying.

NATIONAL STATISTICS � 1 in 7 students in grades K-12 is either a bully or a victim of bullying. � 56 percent of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school. � Over two-thirds of students believe that schools respond poorly to bullying, with a high percentage of students believing that adult help is infrequent and ineffective.

NATIONAL STATISTICS 71 percent of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school. 90 percent of 4 th through 8 th graders report being victims of bullying. 1 out 10 students drop out of school because of repeated bullying. Regardless of the grade level, socioeconomic environment, gender, religion, or sexual orientation, bullying can happen to anyone. Various studies point out, however, that students from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more bullied than students from higher socio-economic backgrounds.

Louisiana state law requires districts to have a bullying policy. . Bullying certainly isn’t a new problem; it has existed for generations. Historically, many have seen it as a rite of passage, a type of de facto hazing. According to Dr. Peter Raffalli, a pediatric neurologist at the Children’s Hospital in Boston, Mass. , this attitude is, in many cases, more dangerous than the bullies themselves. “No matter how you look at it, bullying is a form of abuse victimization, plain and simple, ” said Dr. Raffailli.

School bullying is associated with school shootings and seemed to play a role in the lives of many of the school shooters. 87% of the attackers were motivated by being bullied. A few of the school shooters that died or committed suicide and left behind evidence that they were bullied, include: Nathan Ferris; Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold; Seung-Hui Cho; Karl Pierson; Jeff Weise. These students are profiled in the following slides.

Who were these shooters? Why did they kill? 1987 Nathan Ferris, an honor student, was a perfect target for a bully.

Columbine 1999 Dylan Klebold

Columbine Eric Harris was sweet-faced and well-spoken. Adults and even some other kids, described him as "nice. "

Seung-Hui Cho The deadliest mass shooting in the United States in 2007 may have links to bullying. .

Karl Pierson - 2013 “The die has been cast” Chilling words Colorado teen gunman scrawled on his forearm in Latin before opening fire at a high school where he intended to attack five areas

Jeff Weise Born August 8, 1988 Minneapolis, Minnesota[1] Died March 21, 2005 (aged 16) Red Lake, Minnesota, United States Cause of death Self-inflicted shotgun blast Motive Losses, depression, and bullying Killings Date March 21, 2005 Location(s) Red Lake, Minnesota, United States Target(s) Red Lake Senior High School Killed 9 Injured 5 Weapon(s) Glock 23. 40 caliber pistol , Ruger MK II. 22 caliber pistol, Remington 870 12 gauge shotgun

The long term effects of school bullying are numerous, and can include abiding feelings of insecurity, lack of trust, extreme sensitivity and/or hypervigilance, chronic disorders of behavior such as sociopathy and/or psychopathy.

Types of school bullying Physical Emotional

Types of bullying continued �Verbal �Cyber Bullying – “I'm still struggling with it now, especially since one of the girl's mom said some hurtful words to me on Facebook. I'm seeking therapy. Hopefully it'll get better. ” �Sexual

Bullying - Boys versus Girls

Girls

Where and When Bullying Happens Bullying occurs in and away from schools; however, the majority of bullying takes place in educational institutions. Bullying locations vary by context.

Signs that a child is being bullied Unexplainable injuries Lost or destroyed clothing Changing in eating habits Declining grades Self-injury

Signs that a child is bullying others Getting into physical or verbal fights Having frequent disciplinary infractions Having friends who bully others Becoming increasingly aggressive in normal day activities

Signs a child has witnessed bullying �Poor school behavior �Emotional disturbance �Depression �Post-traumatic stress �Drug and alcohol abuse �Suicidal tendencies

Bullying May Have Lasting Health Effects on Kids Study of students in grades 5 through 10 found mental, physical fallout even if harassment stopped By Amy Norton Health. Day Reporter MONDAY, Feb. 17, 2014 (Health. Day News) Kids who are picked on by their peers may see lasting effects on their physical and mental well-being -- especially if the bullying is allowed to persist for years, a new study suggests. “I think the message is straightforward, " said study lead author Laura Bogart, a scientific researcher at Boston Children's Hospital. "The effects of bullying compound over time, and it's important to catch it early. "

The findings from Bogart’s study are based on nearly 4, 300 children from three U. S. cities who were surveyed in fifth, seventh and 10 th grades -- or roughly the ages of 10, 12 and 15. Overall, 30 percent said they were being regularly bullied on at least one survey. That meant they were being physically pushed around, or teased, at least once a week. That compared with 31 percent of kids who reported current bullying only, and 12 percent of those who'd been bullied in the past only. Of students who'd never been regularly picked on, just 6 percent scored as low in psychological well-being.

But, she added, her team accounted for some other factors that can affect kids' odds of being bullied and their health, such as obesity and chronic illnesses. They also factored in family income and kids' race, gender and sexual orientation. However, being bullied, itself, was still linked to worse well-being.

• . • And it’s also detrimental to the bully. . . • Bullies frequently turn into antisocial adults, and are far more likely than non aggressive kids to commit crimes, batter their wives, abuse their children—and produce another generation of bullies

• Any pattern of behavior that persists over time tends to intensify. This does not necessarily mean that a bully will become a criminal, but it means the likelihood of that outcome increases. Some of the behaviors to be especially concerned about include: • Lying • Blaming others; avoiding responsibility • Avoiding effort to achieve goals • Showing lack of empathy for others • Exploiting others' weaknesses • Having a pattern of overreacting • Showing a pattern of anger • Being depressed or withdrawn • Developing an intense dislike of school • Complaining about classmates treating him or her badly • Complaining of feeling lonely • Showing intense resentment

Michelle’s Story by Raven Days

BOSSIER CITY, La. — The bedroom bears the telltale signs of a typical teen nearing her college years: a computer, a boom box and two guitars on the floor. The scene hides the tragedy that befell the family living in the rural south Bossier Parish home about 15 miles from Shreveport. The room is a memorial to Katlin Loux, 17, who killed herself in May.

Strategies for Teachers Helping students who are bullied Teach the appropriate social skills Build self-esteem Encourage students to report bullying Advocate for individual children Model healthy relationships Promote inclusive classrooms Manage student interactions Intervene early (and frequently) Enforce anti bullying laws Make it clear that bullying is never acceptable

For students who bully: Help them change the way they use their power Acknowledge positive behaviors Give consequences that teach, not punish Establish a code of conduct Use behavioral contracts Teach cooperative learning activities Help bullies with anger control and develop empathy Encourage positive peer relations Keep in mind the range of possible causes: e. g. , medical, psychiatric, psychological, developmental, family problems, etc. Emphasize caring, respect and safety. Emphasize consequences of hurting others