Definition:
Bullying is a kind of repeated or habitual behavior which uses force to impose domination over someone who is weaker or more vulnerable. This can include one of the following:
Direct attack
a. Physical assault or coercion
b. Threat or intimidation
c. Malicious acts or harassment
Indirect attack
a. Spreading rumors
b. Encouraging others to reject someone
Facts and Statistics:
- Bullying affects nearly one in three American schoolchildren in grades six through 10.
- 83% of girls and 79 percent of boys report experiencing harassment.
- Six out of 10 teenagers say they witness bullying in school once a day.
- It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students.
- 35% of kids have been threatened online.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 LGBT youth reported being verbally harassed at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.
- Bullies often go on to perpetrate violence later in life: 40% of boys identified as bullies in grades 6 through 9 had three or more arrests by age 30.
- One of every 10 students who drop out of school do so because of repeated bullying.
- 75% of school shooting incidents have been linked to bullying and harassment.
- 64% of children who were bullied did not report it.
- Nearly 70% of students think schools respond poorly to bullying.
source: businessinsider.com
How to Avoid:
1. Talk to your parents or an adult you can trust, such as a teacher, school counselor, or principal. Many teens who are targets of bullies do not talk to adults because they feel embarrassed, ashamed, or fearful, and they believe they should be able to handle the problem on their own. Others believe that involving adults will only make the situation worse.
2. Act with confidence. Hold your head up, stand up straight, make eye contact, and walk confidently. A bully will be less likely to single you out if your project self-confidence.
3. Try to make friends with other students. A bully is more likely to leave you alone if you are with your friends. This is especially true if you and your friends stick up for each other.
4. Work your way around the bullies. Try and avoid them in school and social situations. If they take the same route that you do, try a different way; if they can’t find you, they can’t bully you. Try your best to avoid them but don’t show that you are avoiding them. They will usually read this as fear/success, and they will bully you more as a result. Always walk with a friend; there’s safety in numbers.
5. As for parents, team up with your child’s school. Work with your PTA or local mental health association to make sure that schools treat bullying as violence. Help them develop programs to prevent bullying and promote safe school environments.
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