Health Updates
Making Schools Bullyproof
Michael Chambers of Aurora, Minnesota, had been a bully ever
since the fifth grade, when he moved to Aurora with his family.
An unhappy and angry child, Michael threatened students and
showed no respect for teachers and counselors.
Because of his behavior, Michael was banned from many school
activities. Students began walking the other way whenever
they saw him. That made him feel left out, as though he didn't
belong.
So Michael was ready for a change–and he did, thanks
to a bullyproofing program launched at his school. Many other
schools across the United States are also adopting such a
program. These programs are aimed at students from kindergarten
through high school. In them, students learn how to talk about
their feelings of anger and frustration instead of acting
them out.
Bullying Myths and Truths
Bullying occurs when the same person or persons repeatedly
attack another person. Direct bullying involves physical
or verbal assaults. Indirect bullying is more subtle.
It involves exclusion, spreading rumors, and sabotaging friendships.
Contrary to what you may think, bullying is not only a "boy"
thing. Girls are also both bullies and targets of bullies.
Another myth is that bullying is usually physical in nature.
The most common form of bullying is teasing. After this comes
threats among boys. Among girls, it's being called names or
made to feel left out. Perhaps the biggest myth of all is
that bullying is just part of growing up. It doesn't have
to be.
Fortunately, as the number of incidents of bullying in schools
has risen, society has finally begun to wake up to the reality.
Authorities are now unanimous in their view that bullying
is not normal. Neither is it harmless or natural.
The Bully's Victims and the "Silent
Majority"
Whether bullying takes the form of hitting and punching or
just words, it hurts. Teens and kids who are bullied experience
the following:
- They suffer from depression, anxiety, and other psychological
problems.
- They lose their self-esteem and may get headaches and
stomach aches.
- They may start to dislike or refuse to go to school. They
are more likely to drop out of school.
What makes the problem worse is that so many young people
who are aware of bullying in their school stand by and let
it happen. In a poll of students, 90 percent acknowledged
that bullying takes place at their school. Two-thirds of the
students polled said they don't tell an adult or feel that
telling doesn't help.
Bullyproofing programs are trying to educate this silent
majority. Students learn to discourage teasing or bullying
whenever they see it and to seek the help of adults when needed.
Deal with It
Being afraid of a bully is nothing to be ashamed of. You
don't have to deal with it alone. If you are or become the
target of a bully, here are some things you can do:
- Assert yourself. Tell the bully directly how the bullying
makes you feel. Tell the bully to stop it.
- Show humor. Make a joke about what the bully is teasing
you about. This shows the bully that he or she is not getting
to you.
- Avoid the bully. Walk away. Don't give bullies an audience.
- Use positive self-messages. Tell yourself things like
"I know I'm not ugly."
- Get help. Tell your parent or another trusted adult. Keep
telling people until someone listens to you. If you think
the bully is going to physically hurt you or someone else,
tell an adult immediately.
Just the Facts
- Describe the difference between direct and indirect bullying.
- According to the article, who are the students who make
up the "silent majority"?
- What are three ways to deal with a bully?
Beyond the Facts
- Do you think bullyproofing programs, like the one that
helped change Michael Chambers, are the best way to deal
with the problem of bullying in schools? What other methods
do you think can help?
- Have you witnessed someone else being bullied? What was
your response? What would you do differently next time?
Applying the Facts
Find an adult who was once the target of a bully. He or she
may be a parent, adult relative, or another adult you know
well and trust. Talk with him or her, and find out how the
bullying made the person feel. What did he or she do about
it? What was the attitude toward bullying at the time? How
did this affect the person's feelings and situation? Share
your findings with classmates.
