Facts and Statistics
--1 in every 7 students in grades K through 12 are either a bully or a victim.
--71% of students report incidents of bullying as a main problem in their school.
--282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.
--87% of students said shootings are motivated by desire to get back at those who have hurt them.
--61% of students said students shoot others because they have been victims of physical abuse at home.
--1 out of every 10 students drop out of school due so because of repeated bullying.
--56% have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school.
--64% of children who are bullied do not report it, where only 36% do.
--The reasons for being bullied reported most often by students were looks (55%), body shape (37%), and race (16%).
Misconceptions
You'll always know when your child is being bullied
>>Just because your child does not have physical signs of bullying, such as scratches, bruises, etc., does not mean your child is not a victim. There are three other types of bullying besides physical and your child may be involved in any, so it is a good idea to keep your eyes open for any signs you see that may fall under any category.
The bully is always bigger
>> Bullies are not necessarily large boys who can pack a mean punch. Those who bully do so for power, and usually the reason for doing so is because they are trying to counteract something that is going wrong in their life so they can forget it. There is actually a case being made that bullies are the "smaller" students you can and their aggression comes from their lack of confidence. Girls reported to be bullied more than boys are.
There is one clear way to solve the problem
>> Because there are some many different scenarios of bullying, there is no one single solution to stop it. The key to help reinforce stopping it and preventing it, is to talk with your child and discuss with them actions and plan on what to do. One definite thing not to do is to fight and give the bully a reaction. When an individual fights back it is ineffective and often hurts the situation more than helps it. Another obvious thing to do is reinforce your child to tell an adult when he/she is being bullied. Let the child know the there is nothing to be scared of if they do tell an adult, and that, instead, it will benefit to do so and the adult will be able to help.
Parental attitudes have no affect on bullying
>> Parents have a big influence on their children. Though parents may verbally say that everyone is equal, actions do speak louder than words, and when they see these actions done that show opposite of "people are equal" then they follow that. Following such actions and hearing such demeaning things like a parent teasing someone, talking behind their back negatively, making racist or sexist jokes, than it entitles the child that it is O.K. for them to do that as well, which therefore paves a way for bullying behavior. As a parent, you should always be aware of the things you say and actions you take because your child can easily pick up on these things and take that aggression into school.
If your child is a victim, call the bullies parents
>> The situation is heated already enough and by having a parent-to-parent meeting, all that will do is steam up the situation more. If a parent highly insists on meeting with the other parents to discuss things, then it is greatly recommended to have a mediator as well, just in case things get really heated. Instead of starting with talking to the other parents, start with the school first. Talk to your child's teachers and principle and ask what steps you can take to help.
Boys are more likely to be bullied
>> Wrong. In a recent survey, it was seen that most girls are bullied. Instead of physically like boys, girls are bullied indirectly. This type of bullying is easy to do, like spreading rumors or excluding someone from a group, and because it is so easy, it is done so often.
Cyber bullying is the gateway to other bullying
>> False. Contrary to belief, face-to-face encounters actually start first, then later progress to cyber world.
All bullies have no friends and are loners
>> It is a mistake to generalize and assume that all bullies are the same, because there is quite a large variety. Some bully because they have been bullied themselves, they are trying to climb the social ladder, or just simply because they can. Bullying is the power to increase their social structure at school and is seen as effective because it can control and manipulate the social order.
Bullies struggle with self-esteem
>> Not all bullies bully because they have a low confidence level, some bully just because it gets them more attention and a wider social circle at school when they do so.
Bullying is easy to spot
>> Bullies are smart. The harass others when no adults are around to witness them. It can happen in such places as the playground, the bathroom, hallways, etc. They also blend in very well. Some are able to come off as charming and smart when it comes to appearance to adults and that is why it would be difficult to point them out.