Help Students take a stand against bullying.
Together, we can end bullying!
Strength in Numbers:
The Importance of Teaching Students to Speak Up Against Bullying.
Every October, schools across the country participate in National Bullying Prevention Month — an advocacy and awareness campaign to keep all children safe from bullying. While many schools today already have comprehensive programs in place to reduce bullying, now is the perfect time to reflect on the important role that you and your students play in both prevention and intervention. Keep reading for some important reminders you can share with students to help them build a culture of safety at your school. You’ll also find a list of free online resources to strengthen your knowledge around this important topic.The Facts About Bullying Let’s begin with some current facts about bullying from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. students say they have been bullied at school
15% of students between the ages of 12 and 17 report they have been bullied online
Bystanders are present in approximately 85% of reported bullying situations
When bystanders intervene, bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the timeWhile these facts indicate that bullying continues to be a serious issue today, they also point to an important solution, one which schools must continue to promote and build upon: empowering bystanders. Bystanders who intervene on behalf of the victim make an immediate impact. This is why a schoolwide approach to bullying prevention focused on empowering bystanders and fostering empathy and respect in the learning community is so important. As teachers, we can help our students move from passive bystanders to positive change-makers in the stand against bullying. Even if you don’t typically teach lessons on bullying or do classroom activities related to National Bullying Prevention Month, simple conversations about intervention practices can have a powerful impact on student safety.
Helping Students Help Each Other:
At some point, almost every student has been or will be a bystander — a silent witness — to bullying. Research shows that even though bystanders are the least active participant, they play a critical role in the event. With peers looking on and providing at least tacit support, the bully is no longer acting alone; the intensity of the attack is magnified both by the bystanders’ presence and their unwillingness to help. Change the role of the complicit bystander, and you change the dynamics of the situation. In learning communities where every student knows how to effectively intervene, bullying rates decline.As teachers, we can empower students to take a stand when they witness bullying, beginning with discussions about the reasons students commonly choose to remain silent: fear of getting hurt, fear of becoming a new target for the bully, fear of making the situation worse, or simply not knowing what to do. When teachers encourage students to openly discuss the reasons for remaining on the sidelines, and remind students of the power bystanders have to end bullying (remember, a bystander can end bullying in 10 seconds more than half the time), it can be a starting point in the process to move students from being passive to empowered — witnesses who are willing to intervene in order to stop the behavior.There are many things that witnesses to bullying can do to become upstanders while maintaining their own safety. Consider reviewing these ideas from Stopbullying.gov with students:
If students notice bullying behaviors in group settings, teach them to use conversation or humor to redirect the situation. Simple things like changing the subject or questioning the behavior can often shift the tone.
If students hear a rumor about a student, rather than passing it along or letting others talk about it, they should question it — and if they feel empowered, tell students to end it.
Encourage students to walk beside or sit near a student who is being targeted by a bully — or is often a target — to help diffuse or prevent bullying. Proximity can give students a chance to intervene, too. There is strength in numbers. Empower students to speak up as a group to show there are several people who don’t agree with the bullying.
Talk with students about peer support: Victims of bullying often feel isolated. It can be helpful for students to reach out privately to check in with the person who was bullied to let them know they do not agree with it and that they care. From: https://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2018/10/24/becoming-an-upstander-to-bullying-just-got-easier.htmlIn addition to discussing students’ concerns and helping students practice intervention strategies, it is important that every student understands the correct reporting steps to take at your school if they witness — or experience — bullying, including cyberbullying. Often, online bullying happens away from school, so students are unsure of what to do, but many schools have reporting procedures and provide guidance on these situations, too. Now is also an excellent time to review your school’s anti-bullying policies, and review the policies and consequences with students, too. It is sometimes difficult to convince students they have the power to be a force of real change in this world – but having the courage to intervene when they see a classmate being mistreated is an action they can take right now to make an immediate and lasting impact on their entire community. What a perfect message to share this month and every month of the year.
Bullying and Cyberbullying Intervention Resources
The National Bullying Prevention Center website provides free Classroom Toolkits with lessons and resources for elementary, middle, and high school teachers. You can also register for ALL IN! -a free, year-long curriculum that includes 32 weekly lessons, including monthly PowerPoint presentations, to address and prevent bullying. https://www.pacer.org/bullying/classroom/
The downloadable Cyberbullying Guide is a nine-page resource with information to help teachers and parents recognize cyberbullying, respond to it appropriately, and to prevent its future occurrence. https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-fact-sheet-identification-prevention-and-response
Stopbullying.gov , a website from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, provides a variety of free classroom resources
