Like you, I am a human being filled with joys, fears,
frustrations, and hopes. And, like you, I want to be
understood, accepted, and appreciated. -- Eric Harvey and Steve Ventura
"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." --Voltaire
WHAT IS BULLYING?
Bullying is intentional, repeated behavior by one or more people, which harms others physically and/or emotionally.
We all know that punching someone or stealing from them are acts of bullying, but what about name calling or leaving someone out, or calling them 'gay' or 'fag'?
Bullying comes in all shapes and sizes. Bullying can be many things. Like other types of abuse, bullying knows no boundaries. It is not confined to a particular gender, race or area of the world. It crosses all social classes, ages, religions and continents. Bullying does not discriminate.
One thing is for certain. Bullying can do serious damage, and the results can last a lifetime. Yet it is largely preventable.
FORMSBULLYING CAN TAKE
ISN'T BULLYING JUST PART OF GROWING UP?
WHAT'S WRONG WITH BULLYING?
Wanting and needing to belong is important to most kids. Students who are targets of bullying spend their time and energy at school being afraid and worrying about when and how they will be bullied again.
A study published by the Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Healthreveals that both bullies and their targets face higher potential for various health problems.
HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IS BULLYING?
FACTS & STATISTICS ABOUT BULLYING
Unfortunately, bullying is very common during the elementary and middle school years, and even in to high school. In one study of fourth through sixth graders, 25 percent of students admitted to bullying another student several times or more often during the school term (Melton et al., 1998). Another study found that 80 percent of middle school students reported engaging in some form of bullying during the past 30 days, with 15 percent doing so frequently (Bosworth et al., 1999). In a national study of more than 15,000 students in grades 6 through 10, 17 percent reported having been bullied "sometimes" or more often during the school term, and 19 percent reported bullying others "sometimes" or more often (Nansel et al., 2001).
A 1998 study revealed that 10 percent of students in the United States who drop out of school do so because of repeated bullying. Even more shocking, it's been discovered that most teenage suicides and school shootings are committed by those who have been bullied or feel victimized or persecuted.
MURDER & SUICIDE DUE TO BULLYING
THINK BULLYING ISN'T SERIOUS?
THINK AGAIN! Bullying can leave permanent scars on those being targeted. Those who witness it happening may fear for their own safety, and those doing the bullying are more likely to become involved in criminal activity. And what of those children who take their own lives due to the cruelty and harassment of bullying?
WHAT CAUSES CHILDREN TO BULLY OTHERS?
There is no one single cause of bullying among children. Rather, individual, family, peer, school and community factors can place a child or youth at risk. But that doesn't mean that there's nothing we can do about it! Learn how you can become involved.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT BULLYING?
Thankfully, much can, and is, being done to help stop bullying.
Most states have anti-bullying laws in place now. Our special thanks to Senator Gwen Howard who was instrumental in passing Nebraska bill (LB205) that will force school districts to put anti-bullying laws in place. Thank you as well to Governor Chet Culver who in 2007 signed a bill banning harassment of students in Iowa.
But there's more to be done. We can't just sit back and expect school policies and state legislation alone to put an end to the nightmare of bullying that many of our children are experiencing. School-based bullying prevention programs can benefit from input and support from the community. The commitment of parents and community members is vital to developing good programs and sustaining them over time. Bullying prevention messages are likely to be more effective if they come from many areas of the community - not just from educators.
Community wide strategies can help to identify and support children who are bullied; redirect the behavior of children who bully; and change the attitudes of adults and youth who tolerate bullying behaviors in peer groups, schools, and communities.
A successful anti-bullying campaign has to involve kids, parents, schools, out-of-school programs, law enforcement, the faith-based community, businesses, government, the media, and the entire community coming together. Each stakeholder group has a special role in the solution and a special perspective.
Our children and the community need your participation! The groundwork for this local awareness campaign has already been done. However, it takes all of us to implement these strategies and work within the community to put them in place. Learn more about how you can help make a difference.
STATE BULLYING LAWS
The BAPA is a project of Anchors of Hope, a 501(c)3 registered with the State of Iowa. Private donations are a large part of the funding that allows us to continue to help keep children safe, online and offline. Your contributions are greatly appreciated, and are tax deductible. To donate easily and safely online, please click here.
The Bullying Awareness & Prevention Alliance
is proud to partner with the following trusted organizations...
'Take A Stand. Lend A Hand. Stop Bullying Now!' National Campaign. For more information, visit www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov.
The National Crime Prevention Council helps people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. For more information, visit http://www.ncpc.org/topics/bullying
Take advantage of the Cox Communications
“Take Charge!” program.
Manage what your kids see,
AND DON’T SEE,
on TV and the
Internet. For more information, visit www.cox.com/ takecharge/
PACER Center was created by parents of children and youth with disabilities to help other parents and families facing similar challenges. For more information, visit http://www.pacer.org/bullying/index.asp
