The Right to be Safe

Peer ViolencePeer Violence

BULLYINGBULLYING

Children’s Rights In and Through Education: Learning to Live Together

The Right to be Safe The Right to be Safe

The Right to Survive

The Right to be Safe

The Right to Belong

The Right to Develop

Definitions of bullying

Effects of bullying

Characteristics of those who bully and those who are bullied

Influence of bystander behavior

Types of Bullying:

– Traditional

– Cyber Bullying

Interventions

– The role of parents

– The role of educators3

Learning Outcomes Learning Outcomes

What is bullying? What is bullying?

Bullying is a form of abuse based on power imbalance

Children have the right to be safe from this form of

violence and abuse which threathens their

development

Bullying has a group element – in that it often involves

bystanders or witnesses to such abusive events

What is bullying?What is bullying?

No universal definition

Direct physical aggression

Direct verbal aggression

Indirect aggression

Behavior that is intentional, hurtful

and repeated by one or more persons.

Bullied students are teased, harassed, and assaulted

verbally or physically.

Two Types of BullyingTwo Types of Bullying

Direct

Indirect

IndirectIndirect

Relationship Bullying

– Gossiping

– Spreading Rumors and Lies about someone

Making someone feel left out or rejected.

Why Children are Bullied?Why Children are Bullied?Potential Risk FactorsPotential Risk Factors

Difficulties with social skills/social competence and

self-esteem

Lack of social support systems

Children with special educational needs

Characteristics of Those who Characteristics of Those who BullyBully

Previously victimized or bullied

Aggressive

Lack of Empathy

Often from families with low affection

Often from families that use violence

Characteristics of Bullies Characteristics of Bullies

Excited by their bullying behavior

Enjoy feelings of power and control

Enjoy causing pain

Can be a below average, average or

above average student

Lack compassion and empathy for their targets

Effects of Bullying on Effects of Bullying on BulliesBullies

Increased risk of depression

Higher risk of criminal activity

The importance of the The importance of the Bystander Bystander

in Bullying Scenarios in Bullying Scenarios

Bullying occurs in groups

Bystanders key in either sustaining

or preventing bullying

Bystanders often afraid of

becoming involved

Bystander BehaviorBystander Behavior

Need social pressure to combat bullying

More effective than condemnation from Authority

Role of BystandersRole of Bystanders

Assistants

Reinforcers

Outsiders

Defenders

Bystander BehaviourBystander Behaviour

9% - bystanders supported victim

6% - bystanders attempted a resolution

55% - bystanders did not respond to help

7% - bystanders smiled/laughed

24% - bystanders supported bully

(Tapper &

Boulton, 2005)

Who is Target?Who is Target?

Doesn’t fit in

Physically weak

Minority

Facial appearance

Clothing

Emotional

Overweight

Good grades

Is Bullying a Part Is Bullying a Part of Childhood and of Childhood and Youth?Youth?

Children have the RIGHT TO BE SAFE

Types of Bullying:Types of Bullying:Traditional Traditional

CyberCyber

Traditional Bullying:

– Occurs to children in places with little supervision

– Teachers/ Some Cultures TURN A BLIND EYE TO VERBAL

BULLYING

– Attention is often given to physical bullying

– Many Educators / Cultures believe children should cope with

bullying on their own

“Toughen up” - “Speak Back” - “ Part of Growing Up”

Verbal Bullying - Types Verbal Bullying - Types

Verbal Bullying seen as mainly harmless by educators

Verbal Bullying can be harder for victims to substantiate

Cyber Bullying

– What’s different ?– What’s the Same ?

Differences and Similarities Differences and Similarities Traditional Bullying and Traditional Bullying and

Cyber Cyber

Discrimination in different forms always existed

Abuse – did as well

The internet makes them MORE VISABLE

All Bullying All Bullying

Power Imbalance Favors Perpetrators

Targeted Students Draw Negative Attention from

their peers

Exclusion and Isolation of Victims fortifies the

power of the perpetrators

Perpetrator’s actions are not invited and not desired

PERPETRATOR’S ACTIONS ARE RELENTLESS

Cyber Space and Bullying Cyber Space and Bullying

Cyber Space boundaries are not defined

Bullying is verbal and written

Permanent

Replicated

Perpetrators can be anonymous

Social networking offers ‘play – ground’ for Bully talk

Practical Tools for Children Practical Tools for Children and Youth: Cyber Advice and Youth: Cyber Advice

Do not respond or engage

Try to identify the person responsible

Save abusive communications

Block Contact with the perpetrators

Communicate the incidents with responsible adults

Bullying and Gender Bullying and Gender

Boys and Girls

Bully in Characteristically Different Ways.

Anti-Bullying Anti-Bullying InterventionsInterventions

Peer support approaches:

– Co-operative group work

– Circle Time

– Befriending/Buddy Schemes

– Circles of Friends

– Conflict resolution/mediation

– Peer Tutoring

– Peer Counselling

– Peer mentoring

Anti-Bullying Anti-Bullying InterventionsInterventions

The No-Blame Approach - “Restorative Justice” :

– Interview bullied pupil

– Arrange a meeting for all pupils who are involved

– Explain the problem

– Share responsibility

– Identify solutions

– Let pupils take action themselves

– Meet them again

Anti-bullying Anti-bullying InterventionsInterventions

Assertiveness Training for bullied pupils

– Body Language and eye contact

– Assertive Statements

– Resisting manipulation and threats

– Responding to name calling

– Enlisting support

Developing a whole-school anti-bullying policy

As a Teacher and As a Teacher and Educator:Educator:

Raise awareness of bullying and cyber-bullying:

– Talk with students

– Investigate reported cases

– Be involved with the online behavior of students

– State the unacceptability of this behavior

– Outline expectations

– Explain consequences

– Explain violence and cyber violence

as criminal acts with consequences

Activities Activities

Activities for Teachers Activities for Teachers to use in classroom to use in classroom

Literature Literature

Required Readings:

Kirman, J. M. (2004). Using the theme of bullying to teach

about human rights in the social studies curriculum. McGill

Journal of Education, 39 (3),

327-341.