Bullying
What is bullying?
- Unwelcome behaviour (criticism, nit-picking, fault-finding, exclusion, isolation,
being shouted at, humiliated, excessive monitoring, verbal and written warnings
imposed on you etc.)
- Persistent, Offensive, Abusive, Intimidating or Insulting behaviour which makes
the recipient/ victim feel upset, Threatened, Humiliated or Vulnerable which undermines
their self confidence and may cause them to suffer to stress.
What is a bully?
A person who takes repeated hostile actions against another person and has more
power than the person targeted.
3 Ways to bully
Verbal Bullying: name calling, sexist remarks, racist remarks, verbal threats, and cruel jokes
about appearance, disability, or religion.
Relational Bullying: being left out, gossiping, exclusion.
Physical Bullying: is assault.
- Spitting
- Hitting
- Slapping
- Pushing
- Damaging property or possessions
- Kicking
- Throwing objects
- Wedgies
Why do bullies bully?
- To avoid facing responsibility for their behaviour and the effect it has on others
- To diverts attention away from their inadequacy.
- To gets others to look up them, so they try to achieve this by acting tough
- Many boys, who have been bullies early in life, often continue their style of
behaviour as adults. Then the police deal with bullies as criminals.
What to look for in a child who may be bullied
- Coming home with cuts and bruises
- Torn clothes
- Asking for stolen possessions to be replaced
- “Losing” dinner money
- Falling out with previously good friends
- Being moody and bad tempered
- Being quiet and withdrawn
- Wanting to avoid leaving the house
- Aggression with brothers and sisters
- Doing less well at schoolwork
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
If bullying continues
- Keep a diary of what your child says is happening
- Or get your child to keep his/her own diary
- Write a note to the class teacher or principal, explaining that the problem is
till unresolved
Ask what action has been taken on earlier bullying complaints. Schools have a
variety of sanctions that can use.
These include:
- A warning
- Calling the bully's parents in to school
- Detention
- Internal exclusion within school
- Fixed term exclusion
- Permanent exclusion
Advice
- You must talk to a teacher
- Work with the teachers to make schools safer and happier
- If you are not satisfied with the school's response, don't give up –other sources
of help are available.
Dealing with Bullies
- Stand straight and tall if faced with a bully, look him/her in the eyes
- Be polite but firm and tell the bully “Stop if, I don't like it, Leave me alone”
- If at all possible don't cry or show you are upset, walk away
- Report what happened to an adult you trust, and expect action to be taken
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