Bullies, Bystanders & Targets…..

Define bullying • Learn coping skills/strategies to create resilience • Learn the difference between “Snitching” & Helping • Learn AMS protocol regarding bullying behavior Bullies, Bystanders & Targets….. AMS Counseling Department

Humble ISD: • The Texas Education Code defines bullying as engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct • Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property; or • Is sufficiently severe, persistent and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student. • [Act of June 17, 2011, 82th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1942, § 7 (to be codified at Texas Education Code § 37.0832)] • Conduct is considered bullying if it: • exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; andinterferes with a student's education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school. • [Act of June 17, 2011, 82th Leg., R.S., H.B. 1942, § 7 (to be codified at Texas Education Code § 37.0832)] The Humble Independent School District prohibits bullying as defined by state law. The Districtalso prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a bullying complaint.

What does that mean? • Bullying is---- • One or more individuals inflicting physical, verbaloremotionalabuse on another. It is more than just teasing…it alwayshurts or intendsto harm.

Types of bullying • Physical---intimidation or physical contact • Verbal—through use of words, gossiping, rumors • Emotional—exclusion, eye-rolling, alienation, non-verbal expression • Cyber—through electronic devices including trolling on internet sites and video games

Who is a bystander: • Bystander --- anyone who is present but not really taking part in a situation or event; a spectator or witness • Bystanders can become rescuers when they take steps to help someone who is being bullied

Can you identify the roles? • Who is the victim/target? • Who is the bully? • Who is the bystander? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VK-b1CtIATw

What do bullies want? • Reaction of fear or anger • Make you feel mad, sad or bad • Why? • Make themselves feel better • Cover up their own problems/insecurities • Attempt to create sense of power, control Or status

What can you do? 1. Personal Power • Don’t let someone make you feel mad, sad or bad…use your personal power • Calm • Confident • In Control • “That’s enough” • “I don’t know what you are talking about” • “So” • “That’s your opinion” • “Whatever”

What can you do? Humble ISD / AMS Protocol: Weekly check-in, parent contact, discipline Bi-weekly counselor meetings Referred to A.P. Office for discipline Conference with Parent, A.P., Counselor Conference with counselor

Bullies Prefer Isolated Targets… 2. Create a Support Network • Friends, Family, Teachers, Coaches, etc. • Get involved in school/outside of school • Volunteer • How can this help? • What about bystanders?

What can you do as a bystander? • Remove victim/bully (not force or fighting) • Encourage victim/target • Say something • Tell someone/Get help

Snitching? or Helping? • What is the difference?

What Would You Do??? Scenario 1: A student shows you a gun in his backpack. What would you do?

What Would You Do? • Scenario 2: You overhear Felicia joking that the teacher is a big frog face. What would you do?

What Would You Do? • Scenario 3: You see a student listening to her iPod and then texting during a reading assignment in class. What would you do?

What Would You Do? • Scenario 4: You hear that Big Dave is going to beat up Justin after school. Big Dave is 5’10”/180 lbs. and Justin is 4’ 10”/ 85 lbs. What would you do?

What Would You Do? • Scenario 5: Two girls trip and push Susan everyday in the hall. You hear Susan say that she hates coming to school and hates her life. What would you do?

Snitching vs. Helping • Telling is not always snitching…..Ask yourself these questions to decide…. • Will it help someone if I report? • Will it prevent harm from happening? • Will it prevent damage? • Will it resolve a problem? • Could I save a life?

Explore your options….. 3. Tell someone—get help There is no one simple fix for every situation…so you will need to try different things…which might include getting help. Go to a Teacher / Coach Go to a Counselor Go to a Principal Go to Parent/Youth Leader

Coping Skills/Strategies • 1. Personal Power • 2. Create a Support Network • 3. Tell Someone/Get Help • 4. AMS wants to help you

Build Resiliency(ability to recover or adjust to bad situations) • Personal Power • Support Network • Get Help • Avoid problem areas • Positive Self-Talk

We are all in this together... • Find common ground and build each other up

AMS Expectation…. • Be Kind To Each Other

Questions/Comments

Bullies, Bystanders & Targets…..