Purpose of This Site
This website is created to raise awareness and provide information to help aid in these situations.
What is Bullying?mmmmm
Bullying is an aggressive physical or verbal behavior in Middle School students, High School Students, and even adults. This behavior occurs all around the world, but the first step is making a difference in our community. Individuals tend to bully their peers due to an imbalance in power. Bullying can be things such as spreading rumors, threats, physical or verbal abuse, bullying through technology, name calling, and much more. Bullies are not born this way, they are taught to bully. They may be influenced at home, in school, in the community and media, and may even be their dominant temperament. Below are lists of ways prevent bullying in our community.
Types of Bullying
Physical: This type of bullying includes actions that could hurt or injure another person such
as hitting, kicking, punching, slapping, etc. Stealing one's belongings and
destroying them may also be classified as physical bullying.
Verbal: Verbal bullying is making offensive comments, name-calling, making fun of one's
religion, socioeconomic status, the way they look, their physical abilities, and
other characteristics that may be different than their peers. Making threatening
comments to someone else is also another common way to verbally bully someone.
Intimidation is also a form of verbal bullying by threatening a peer until they
do what the bully wants them to do.
Indirect: Indirect bullying is spreading rumors and gossiping about another person. Telling of
certain stories that was heard to others that may or may not be true, but
telling them anyway. Most people think that this only occurs within girls, but
boys are known for these actions also. Telling stories about others may seem
innocent, but it is a form of bullying because it could be untrue or private
information.
Social Exclusion: Although it may seem like an innocent and less important form of bullying,
excluding a person from a group is considered a form of bullying. Individuals
are often excluded from a group because they don't "fit in", which can be very
demeaning and hurtful.
Cyber: Cyber bullying means to harass someone by means of technology. With all the
technological advances today there are numerous ways a bully can harass a victim
anywhere they go. The different ways a person can bully through technology
are:
1. E-mail: This mean electronic mail, which is basically like writing a letter and sending
it to someone through the internet.
2. Instant Messaging: A way to communicate by means of creating a private chat room with another
individual.
3. Chat Rooms: Communication between two individuals by means of computer. Once a chat has been
initiated both users may chat by typing a message and it appears on the other's
screen.
4. Text Messages: Sending messages via cell phones.
5. Websites: (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc.) A system of internet servers where
individuals can view other's pictures, posts, videos, information, etc.
6. Voting Booths: Offers the opportunity for users to create online polling and voting booths. (An
example would be voting for the "Hottest Kid in School".)
7. Blogs: Accessible to anyone as a personal journal for an individual for others to state
their opinion and communicate on an issue or person.
SNAG: SNAG stands for Student Network Awareness Group
~ SNAG is a program that staff, students and parents can use anonymously. Only the Principal & Dean of Students at Windom Area Schools see submissions and you will not get in more trouble with the bully. By using this we are attempting to put a stop to cyber bullying.
How to use it?
1. Send an email to [email protected] to report any cyber bullying!
How and Why Individuals Bully
1. Name-calling
2. Uncontrolled Anger
3. Revenge
4. Surrounded by Violence
5. To act out problems from home
6. Poor Social Skills
7. Being Accepted
8. High/ low self-esteem
9. Bully victim becoming the bully
10. Aggressive behavior
11. Unaccepted by peer gender roles
12. Financial or athletic competitions
13. Home Environment
14. For no reason, to entertain and make others laugh
15. Hazing
Tips for Prevention
Children:
1. Never share personal information
2. Tell an adult that can be trusted
3. If a message from a cyber-bully is received, don't read it
4. Don't delete harassing messages because they can be used as evidence
5. Block messaging if harassment occurs
6. If a message from someone unknown is received, do not open it
7. If being bullied do not reply
Parents:
1. PAY ATTENTION! At all times, know how and when your children are using the internet
2. Become more familiar with technology
3. Install blocking software
4. Reassure your children to communicate if they are being bullied
5. Create a limit of your child's time on the internet
6. Inform them about where it is safe to go online and where they shouldn't go
7. Always communicate if something makes them uncomfortable
8. Protect their personal information to stay safe in online environments
Schools:
1. Develop and enforce school policies
2. Create zero tolerance for any form of bullying
3. Guarantee to all adults and children that all cases will be taken seriously
Signs
1. Increased argumentativeness and fights
2. Sudden or constant illness
3. Mood swings
4. Inability to concentrate
5. Loss of Interest in school
6. Change in friends or social groups
7. Becoming upset after using technological devices
8. Guarded online activities (they close the screen quickly)
9. Uses computer or other devices all night long
10. Becomes angry when he/she can't use the computer
11. Avoids communicating about what he/she is doing on the computer
12. Academic performance decreases
Effects
1. Victim becomes hurt, embarrassed, and scared
2. Accumulate feelings of hopelessness, powerlessness, and lose confidence
3. Become depressed and build up anxiety
4. Corrode self-esteem
5. Loneliness
6. Physical health declines
-Headaches, sleep problems, or stomach ailments develop
7. He/she feels alone and misunderstood
8. He/she may even develop threatening thoughts such as, suicide or murder
Who to Contact
To receive help if your child is being bullied in school, contact school officials. If necessary, or out of school, contact your local police department.
Helpful Websites
http://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/
-State by state look at how they are dealing with cyberbullying and cyberbullying laws
http://lmk.girlscouts.org/Home.aspx
-Provides information about how to safely navigate online and help parents understand.
http://kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/bullying/cyberbullying.html
-Helpful information about Cyberbullying for parents, kids, and teens.
http://abcfamily.go.com/movies/cyberbully
-Shares information about the movie "Cyberbully" that was shown on ABC Family and provides helpful information about how to handle situations like those in the movie.
http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/index2.html
-Explains what cyberbullying is, how it works, prevention, how to take action, and the law.
http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/commonsense/
-Teen channel on tv and this website contains videos with helpful information about bullying. Teaches how to be safe and responsible with techology.
http://www.netsmartz.org/Parents
-Provides information about the different ways cyberbullying occurs and the different individuals that are involved or to communcate with during these situations. Also able to view videos of real life stories that may be helpful.
http://onguardonline.gov/topics/protect-kids-online
-Tips about how to protect kids online
Resources
Keith, Susan and Michelle E. Martin. "Cyberbullying: Creating A Culture Of Respect In A Cyber World." Reclaiming Children & Youth 13.4 (2005): 224-228. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Nov. 2011
"Types of Bullying." Types of Bullying-Kids-Bullybusters Mercyside Antibullying Campaign. 20 November 2007
<http://www.bullybusters.org.uk/kids/types_of_bullying/>.
"Types of Bullying." Types of Bullying-Kids-Bullybusters Mercyside Antibullying Campaign. 20 November 2007
<http://www.bullybusters.org.uk/kids/types_of_bullying/>.