Andrew+Raia

Bullying

** What is it and how does it affect students? ** ** Inquiring minds want to know **

 Something all administrators, teachers, parents, and students **NEED TO KNOW**

**The Issue:** The high school that I teach at has a bullying problem. There is hazing that goes on in the classroom, hallways, and cafeteria. Not only does it affect the emotional state of the bullied and the bullies, but it also affects student achievement. There are many different types of bullying: **social, verbal, cyber, racial, homophobic, and sexual.** It is my quest to devise an action plan to address this issue of bullying. This is a nation wide problem. In attempt to lessening bullying, we need everyone’s cooperation and assistance. The links below each definition provide information about the different types of bullying and how to address each.  “Social bullying refers to the use of peer rejection or exclusion to humiliate or isolate a victim.” http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/bullying/what-is-bullying.html
 * Social Bullying: **

“Verbal bullying refers to teasing or insulting someone.” http://youthviolence.edschool.virginia.edu/bullying/what-is-bullying.html
 * Verbal Bullying: **

**Cyber Bullying:** Cyber bullying is the use of modern communication technologies to embarrass, humiliate, threaten, or intimidate an individual in the attempt to gain power and control over them. http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/homophobicbullying.shtml

** Racial Bullying: **

Name calling is one of the common techniques utilized in racial bullying. Not name calling like fatty or four-eyes, but name calling involving racist comments. http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/homophobicbullying.shtml

"Any hostile or offensive action against lesbians, gay males, bisexual or transgender people, or those perceived to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender." http://www.kidscape.org.uk/professionals/homophobicbullying.shtml
 * Homophobic Bullying: **

“Any bullying behavior, whether physical or non-physical, that is based on a person's sexuality or gender. It is when sexuality is used as a weapon by boys or by girls. It can be carried out to a person's face, behind their back or by use of technology.” http://www.womankind.org.uk/teachers.html (link on left side of page under Stop Sexual Bullying)
 * Sexual Bullying: **


 * **Percentage of Students Being Bullied at School, by Grade Level** ||
 * [[image:bullying2a.jpg width="263" height="515"]]   ||  **Bullying is one form of violence that seems to have increased in recent years, although it is not clear if the increase reflects more incidents of bullying at school or perhaps greater awareness of bullying as a problem.**  ||
 * Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey. Cited in Figure 12.2 in Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005; National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics. || ||
 * Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey. Cited in Figure 12.2 in Indicators of School Crime and Safety: 2005; National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Justice Statistics. || ||

"The Bully-Proofing Your School approach is a comprehensive program derived from the work of Olweus and others. School staff participate in conflict resolution training and methods of intervention in bullying situations. Students learn social problem-solving techniques in a nine-session curriculum followed by booster sessions in middle school. Individuals who engage in bullying are taught appropriate leadership skills, while victims are taught more effective social skills. Parent support groups are also used." For information on this program, contact John Dandurand, Executive Director; Creating Caring Communities; 6795 E. Tennessee Avenue, Suite 425; Denver, Colorado 80224. Phone: (720) - 941-0700. Website: [|http://www.creatingcaringcommunities.org] (This website discusses Creating Caring Communities, which is a group that attempts to bully-proff schools.) **A trio of articles that discuss bullying and its negative impact on student achievement** 1. Brewster, C. & Railsback, J. "Schoolwide Prevention of // Bullying //." By Request Series. (2001) ERIC document. (This article explains how bullying is rarely observed by teachers and therefore is not taken seriously. Bullying has an impact on student attendance and as a result affects student achievement in a negative fashion. Also, this article discusses research findings and what all stakeholders can do to address the problem.) 2. Bulach, C. Clearing House. “Implementing a Character Education Curriculum and Assessing Its Impact on **//Student//** Behavior.” (Nov-Dec 2002) 76. no2 79-83. (This article explains how bullying causes violence in schools. If bullying is addressed, there should be improved student achievement and better test scores.) 3. Rogers, B. "Lessons From Japan." (1990) ERIC document. (This article discusses how Japanese educational practices, how they address bullying, can be implemented in the United States. It also mentions nine recommendations of how to improve the U.S. educational system.)

** PURPOSE FOR THIS WIKI PROJECT ** To allow administrators, teachers, parents, and students to be able to distinguish the differences between the various types of bullying. Another goal is to have the first three parties come to the realization that bullying is greatly affecting the educational achievement of the students. With knowledge and a desire for all students to academically succeed, achievement is but a heartbeat away.