Working in the Community

Bullying can be prevented, especially when the power of a community is brought together. Community-wide strategies can help 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. 

The Benefits of Working Together

            Bullying doesn’t happen only at school. Community members can use their unique strengths and skills to prevent bullying wherever it occurs. For example, youth sports groups may train coaches to prevent bullying. Local businesses may make t-shirts with bullying prevention slogans for an event. After-care staff may read books about bullying to kids and discuss them. Hearing anti-bullying messages from the different adults in their lives can reinforce the message for kids that bullying is unacceptable.

Potential Partners

            Involve anyone who wants to learn about bullying and reduce its impact in the community. Consider involving businesses, local associations, adults who work directly with kids, parents, and youth.

·         Identify partners such as mental health specialists, law enforcement officers, neighborhood associations, service groups, faith-based organizations, and businesses.

·         Learn what types of bullying community members see and discuss developing targeted solutions.

·         Involve youth. Teens can take leadership roles in bullying prevention among younger kids.

Community Strategies

            Study community strengths and needs:

·         Ask: Who is most affected? Where? What kinds of bullying happen most? How do kids and adults react? What is already being done in our local area to help?

·         Think about using opinion surveys, interviews, and focus groups to answer these questions. Learn how schools assess bullying.

·         Consider open forums like group discussions with community leaders, businesses, parent groups, and churches.

Develop a comprehensive community strategy:

·         Review what you learned from your community study to develop a common understanding of the problem.

·         Establish a shared vision about bullying in the community, its impact, and how to stop it.

·         Identify audiences to target and tailor messages as appropriate.

·         Describe what each partner will do to help prevent and respond to bullying.

·         Advocate for bullying prevention policies in schools and throughout the community.

·         Raise awareness about your message. Develop and distribute print materials. Encourage local radio, TV, newspapers, and websites to give public service announcements prime space. Introduce bullying prevention to groups that work with kids.

·         Track your progress over time. Evaluate to ensure you are refining your approach based on solid data, not anecdotes.

Source by : stopbullying.gov

Prevention at School

Bullying can threaten students’ physical and emotional safety at school and can negatively impact their ability to learn. The best way to address bullying is to stop it before it starts. There are a number of things school staff can do to make schools safer and prevent bullying.

Getting Started

                Assess school prevention and intervention efforts around student behavior, including substance use and violence. You may be able to build upon them or integrate bullying prevention strategies. Many programs help address the same protective and risk factors that bullying programs do.

Assess Bullying in Your School  

                Conduct assessments in your school to determine how often bullying occurs, where it happens, how students and adults intervene, and whether your prevention efforts are working.

Engage Parents and Youth  

                It is important for everyone in the community to work together to send a unified message against bullying. Launch an awareness campaign to make the objectives known to the school, parents, and community members. Establish a school safety committee or task force to plan, implement, and evaluate your school's bullying prevention program.

Create Policies and Rules  

            Create a mission statement, code of conduct, school-wide rules, and a bullying reporting system. These establish a climate in which bullying is not acceptable. Disseminate and communicate widely.

Build a Safe Environment  

                Establish a school culture of acceptance, tolerance and respect. Use staff meetings, assemblies, class and parent meetings, newsletters to families, the school website, and the student handbook to establish a positive climate at school. Reinforce positive social interactions and inclusiveness.

Educate Students and School Staff 

                Build bullying prevention material into the curriculum and school activities. Train teachers and staff on the school’s rules and policies. Give them the skills to intervene consistently and appropriately.

Source by : stopbullying.gov

Many people ask me how I survived the bullying...

Real Story

People have asked me questions such as: “Who are the bullies, are they friends?”, “Where did the bullying occur?”, “What would you do when you were bullied?”, “How did you deal with the bullying?”, or “Did you think of committing suicide?”. I knew who the bullies were. They were my best friends. I was bullied from 8th grade to my freshman year, and every day they picked on me for my race. And for a bit one person made comments implying that I’m gay. They would make jokes and call me names like “Gandhi” and others who are the same race as me. During PE, one person in particular would make comments while we were changing in the locker room, implying that I was gay.  That person would say that I was staring at people of the same sex while they were dressing. I am not gay, and I am accepting of those who are.  But, when this person labeled me as gay, I felt, in a way, violated and disrespected. I did not like how people would label me with names, such as gay and Gandhi, even if I were to do absolutely nothing or appear as “different” to them. I feel that people most commonly use the words “gay” or “faggot” to describe people who are different from them and who they feel don’t belong. They felt that it was all a joke, but it was torture and abuse to me.

I repeatedly asked them to stop, but they ignored me every time. It took them over a year, but they finally stopped when an SOS student offering support jumped in. My school therapist/counselor, who’s in charge of SOS, arranged mediation with herself, a few student conflict mediators, the students, one at a time, and me to discuss the racial comments. I remember one of them saying, “I wanted him to explode in anger. I wanted him to start screaming and have a meltdown.” I can’t tell you how angry I was to hear that from someone who I thought was my friend. When I heard that, I felt like my life ended because I felt like all of my friends were trying to do the same. I felt abused. I felt tortured. I felt that I was used for their entertainment. Some of them felt and still feel that I “snitched,” “ratted,” or “tattled” on them, but I know that I do not deserve to be bullied. And most of all, I felt that I was used by my friends for them to gain popularity. They don’t and didn’t know how the bullying affected me. I tried so hard to get them to stop and understand that enough was enough, but none of them listened. There were so many silent witnesses who I wished would’ve spoken up or at least said something positive to me.

From my experience, I felt that I needed to take action to prevent this from happening to others. But never once did I think of committing suicide. I knew deep down that there was a way out, and suicide was not an option for dealing with bullying. I knew that the only way out without transferring schools and having the bullying continue was to tell an adult on campus. I can honestly tell you that I still have anxiety and depression, and I always will. But, the feeling of talking to peers, sharing my story, and having the opportunity to help someone in need is exceedingly good. I am not thankful that I was bullied, which made me get involved in SOS, but I am thankful for the outcome of the bullying. I have actually helped so many people, and it’s the best feeling. I helped one of my old friends, for a year straight via text message, overcome four years of bullying from school, problems with friends and family and family members’ life-threatening illnesses. Now he is better than ever, and he is now openly gay. I’ve helped friends with relationship issues, coping from sexual harassment, sports-related issues, etc. I am thankful that my school has zero tolerance for any form of bullying and for the support from my teachers, school administrators, and SOS members, who are now my good friends.

At my high school we have a program called SOS, students offering support, which is a group run by our school’s therapist/counselor and core members. Our SOS group has a program within the larger program called “Freshman Transition,” through which SOS members teach freshman students about their group - my group is “Sticks and Stones: Bullying Prevention.” Since the rise of homophobia in high school, I am trying to incorporate it with my presentation. In the program, we have other groups such as “Suicide/Depression,” “Better Safe than Pregnant,” “Academic Stress,” and more. During the presentations, the presenter(s) shows their PowerPoint, video clips, and games and shares their personal story. By sharing my personal story, I feel that it takes the pain away knowing that my story will inspire, at least one student to stand up to bullying. As long as I can help one person, I feel that I am making a difference.

Bullying happens in the classroom and through phone calls, letters/notes, text messaging, Facebook, and even behind people’s back. It’s hard to stop bullying because most bullies are able to cover up their tracks. Bullies bully where people can’t see or hear them.  Bullies bully when teachers aren’t looking, and bullies bully when the victim isn’t looking. My experience with bullying was tremendous, and my story goes on and on. But all I want to do now is help others who are being bullied and prevent bullying from happening.

Source by : my-bullying-experience

Cyberbullying Cases

1. Megan Meier

Megan Meier (13) committed suicide in 2006. Megan died from suicide by hanging himself in his bedroom. Police investigation found there cyberbullying actions committed by a friend and his friend's mother.

Rarely mingle, Megan spent more time talking online via MySpace and AOL messenger. Sarah Drew, a friend and neighbor made a fake account and start chatting with Megan. The account is named Josh Evan and Megan are very friendly. By faith, of chatter is known that Megan was being treated at the psychiatrist at the age of 10 years due to depression about her weight, which often ridiculed his friends.

Sarah who has received help from her mother finally began to vilify Megan and mocked him as a crazy kid. The last message sent by AOL to Megan says, "Everyone hates you. Live in misery. This world would be better without you." Megan Meier was found dead 20 minutes after he read the message.

2. Amanda Todd

Amanda Todd, a Canadian teenager who committed suicide on October 10, 2010. He made a desperate act at the age of 15 years because it does not hold up to ridicule on the Internet.

Everything starts from the experience with a webcam chat with her friends while still in grade 7. Re everyone praised her beauty, and eventually asked her to pose for the cameras vulgar. Flattered, it was fun to do.

Nothing happens then. Until a year later, his life changed. Photos when she posed vulgar circulating on the Internet, and someone tried to blackmail him. The man knew details about Amanda, even using photos of her breasts as a profile picture on social networking.

Amanda became derision on the internet, harassed in school and everyday life, until finally he could not kill himself. Before the end of his life, he tells his story through flash-card which he recorded and circulated on YouTube.

3. Tyler Clementi

A new student, Tyler Clementi, died at age 18 after jumping from the George Washington Bridge, New York. He decided to end his life on September 22, 2010 after a roommate in college dormitories camera spying on him with a webcam.

The incident began on September 19, 2010, when Dharun Ravi, roommate Tyler, turn on the webcam in his room. At the beginning of activities of the fraudulent nature, it is known that Tyler was making with his partner who is also a man. He also posted it on his Twitter account that read, "My roommate turned out to be gay. I know it by turning on the webcam in my room. Yay."

On September 21, Dharun who deliberately put webcam announcing on Twitter that there will be a live sex show would do Tyler and couples gaynya. Tyler who saw the announcement was finally canceled a plan to go out in the room and reported it to the dorm supervisor.

Can not stand the ridicule received on Twitter, Tyler decided to jump from the George Washington Bridge on the next day. The last message he left behind is a Facebook status which read "Jumping off the gw bridge sorry."

4. Ryan Halligan

Ryan Halligan died at the age of 13 years after being accused gay by his classmates. Ryan's body hanging in his bedroom was found by her sister on October 7, 2003.

Ryan was often bullied since school entry. Because he has dyslexia disorder so hard to digest the words of the book and the board. It makes children often derided as stupid and idiot. But he remained steadfast because in addition to open and close with his father. He also practiced martial arts kick-boxing.

Ryan has one close friend. But so close, many people say they are a gay couple. His friend who did not want to be labeled as gay was eventually malign Ryan. He spread the word on AOL Messenger and bulletins school forum that Ryan had expressed his feelings to her, so that the news was spread out to all students.

No friends at school, Ryan chose to find a friend in cyberspace. Until finally he got online friends are invited to commit suicide together. Unfortunately, the father who has always been a place she leans job was to travel out of town for 6 months. Finally Ryan also keep their online friends invitation and suicide.

5. Jamey Rodemeyer

Jamey Rodemeyer is an anti- homophobia activist and a gay . He is a well-known figure because often fight for anti- homophobia awareness through YouTube and Formspringnya .

Although openly admitted he was gay and often make a video to raise anti homophobia , these efforts often got no response either from the bully . They often post " word gay is not accepted in the earth , die alone , or the world does not need your kind . "

Not able to resist bullying , Jamey hang himself in his room on the 18th September 2011. Jamey who was then died at age 14 left a last message to Lady Gaga , musicians idol , on Twitter that read, " bye bye mother monster , thank you for all you have done , paws up forever . "

Source by :health.detik.com

Tips how to “BE MORE THAN A BYSTANDER”

#1 Be a friend to the person being bullied.

            Children can help someone who’s been bullied by simply being nice to them at another time. Being friendly can go a long way toward letting them know that they’re not alone.

• Spending time with the person being bullied at school. Simple gestures like talking to them, sitting with them at lunch, or inviting them to play sports or other games during physical education or recess can help a lot.

• Support each other by listening to the person being bullied, and letting them talk about the event.

• They can call the person being bullied at home to provide support, encourage them and give advice.

•Try sending a text message or talking to the person who was bullied at a later time. They can let that person know that what happened wasn’t cool, and that they’re there for them.

• Telling the person being bullied that they don’t like the bullying and asking them if he can do anything to help.

• Help the person being bullied talk to a trusted adult.

#2 Tell a trusted adult, like a family member, teacher or coach.

            An adult can help stop bullying by intervening while it’s in progress, preventing it in the first place or simply giving the personbeing bullied a shoulder to lean on.

• Tell a trusted adult in person or leave them a note.

• Go find, or ask a friend to find, a trusted adult as soon as possible. The adult could help stop it from continuing.

• Remind children who witness bullying not to get discouraged if they’ve already talked to an adult and it appears nothing has changed. They can ask a family member if they will help, and make sure the adult knows if and when the behavior is repeated over time.

• Try talking to as many adults as possible if there’s a problem— teachers, counselors, custodians, nurses, parents. The more adults involved, the better.

#3 Help the person being bullied get away from the situation.

            There are a few simple, safe ways children can help the person being bullied get away from the situation. However they do it, make sure children know not to put themselves in harm’s way.

• Create a distraction. Help to focus the attention on something else.

• Offer a way for the person being bullied to leave the scene by saying something like, “Teacher needs to see you right now,” or “Come on, we need you for our game.”

• Remind children to only intervene if it feels safe to do so, and to never use violence to help the person get away. Also children should never hesitate to seek immediate help from an adult if the bullying becomes violent.

#4 Set a good example. Do not bully others.

            If a child knows not to bully others, other students will follow their example. To help even more, children can actively participate in anti-bullying activities and projects.

• Take steps to ensure children don’t bully others and don’t encourage bullying behavior.

• Encourage them to look for opportunities to contribute to the anti-bullying culture at their school through school clubs and organizations.

• They can create anti-bullying posters, share stories or show presentations promoting respect for all.

#5 Don’t give bullying an audience.

            If your child witnesses someone bullying another, they shouldn’t encourage the behavior by giving it an audience. Instead of laughing or supporting, they can let those who bully know that their behavior isn’t entertaining.

• Oftentimes, those who bully are encouraged by the attention that they receive from bystanders. Children can help stop bullying by actively not supporting it.

• Remind them that when they see bullying, they can act disinterested or blatantly state that they don’t think bullying is entertaining or funny.

• Children can help by keeping their distance from the situation. If they don’t give it an audience , it may stop.

• If the bullying doesn’t stop, the bystander should follow other tips like telling a trusted adult.

Source by : stopbullying.gov