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Answer:
Bullying is a very serious but common problem and often
takes place on the playground or in other less supervised settings. Every
day 160,000 children stay home (15% of school absenteeism) because they
are afraid of being bullied. First, let's define the word:
"Bullying is a form of aggressive and cruel behaviour that expresses itself
in various forms - it can be racial bullying, teasing, calling someone
names, or continuously harassing someone. Children get bullied because
they might look different or sound different. A child might be a victim
of bullying if he or she is continuously subjected to:
- Physical abuse like being pushed attacked,
subject to degrading behaviour.
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- Mental abuse like being called names or being
threatened.
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- Having personal belongings taken from them
against their will
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- Being deliberately ignored and made fun of."
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(http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/parents/article_secondary_12032002.shtml)
The absolute best, most effective way to counteract bullying is for the
school administration to actively develop and implement a school-wide
policy. Parents should be included and be encouraged to become involved.
However, if the administration is not willing to participate, the individual
teacher can still do many things to make her classroom a bully-free environment:
- Establish and enforce rules that focus on positive
social interactions among the students
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- Use curriculum that promotes communication,
self esteem and social skill development
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- Do community building activities with your
class
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- Inform parents of both the victim and the
bully of any incident
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- Encourage bystanders to take an active role
in speaking up
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There are oodles of resources:
Books
Burnett, K.G (2000) Simon's hook: a story about teases and put-downs
GR Publishing, Roseville CA. (grades k-4) http://www.grandmarose.com
Beane, A. (1999). The bully free classroom: over 100 tips and strategies
for teachers K-8. Free Spirit Publishing at 1-800-735-7323.
Garrity, C., Jens, K., Porter, W., Sager, N., & Short-Camilli,C. (2000)
Bully-proofing your school http://www.sopriswest.com
Kathy Noll and Jay Carter (2000). Taking the bully by the horns
(book and videos). http://hometown.aol.com/kthynoll
Web Sites - These will take you to many others
http://www.bullying.org/public/frameset.cfm?w=s
http://maxweber.hunter.cuny.edu/pub/eres/EDSPC715_MCINTYRE/Bullying.html
Dealing with Bullying (for teachers)
http://www.antibullying.net
http://www.bullying.co.uk
http://www.nobully.org
http://modelprograms.samhsa.gov/pdfs/FactSheets/Olweus%20Bully.pdf
- The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (school-wide)
http://www.schwablearning.org/
(type in keyword bullying) Understanding Bullying and Its Impact on Kids
with Learning Differences
Online Course: Bullies in School: Who are They and How to Make Them Stop
(I haven't taken this course so I can't recommend it) http://universalclass.com/i/education/education/classes/2743.htm
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