School bullying is a serious problem worldwide. It's not a new problem either; parents and grandparents can recall bullying incidents from their school years. Yet, bullying continues to be a problem. Find out more about bullying behavior at this PBS site: Bullies: What is Bullying?
Read some definitions of bullying published by The Free Dictionary.
Send your ideas.
What are some kinds of bullying behavior? How do you think bullying makes victims feel? What long-term effects might it have on them? Have you ever been bullied?
Your site offers a lot of unique insights and information. I haven't really thought about it like that.
Posted by: GArsarn | August 15, 2012 at 11:03 PM
Something has to give. This breaks my heart. I goggled about this earlier in the year when we had a teen girl from our local HS (where my BF teaches) commit scuicide over text bullying. I linked Ellen's snip on my FB last week. It's all very sad.
Posted by: Joshua | August 06, 2012 at 08:23 PM
I think our schools have the same no cancott policy. Our state is working on making schools adopt no bullying policies. If they are bullied they are supposed to tell an adult but that may not be the best answer. I have told my sons that if they end up in a fight or in trouble for defending themselves they have nothing to be worried about with me. Detention maybe but not suspension for defending yourself. The bullying at our schools was part of the reason my son took Tae Kwon Do so he could defend himself if he needs to.
Posted by: Maribel | April 20, 2012 at 01:39 AM
I was searching randomly to find out why kids are bullying each other. I read most of the comments people have been leaving and I somehow feel inspired and all I was really looking for was information on why bullies bully other people.
In my school there is this kid that keeps bullying my friend. I hate to see her so hurt and scared. Everyday I wonder why he bullies her so much. Most of the teachers have talked to him but it never seems to work. I probably can't make much of a difference but I want to so-o bad.
There are always specific people that he bullies. For example, kids that are large for their age, people from a foreign country, and people of a religion that he finds weird or odd.
In my school there are many different types of kids, with disabilities, different beliefs (religions), kids of all sizes.
Surprisingly teachers just tell us to ignore the person that is bothering us.
Name calling is another issue. My friend gets called bad names almost everyday and I can see that its making her weak and not confident about herself.
I actually think the bully might have troubles at home, but most of the time I think he enjoys bullying. I want to know what to do to help the bully open up to people, be nicer. I probably can't make much of a difference but I want to help.
Posted by: Iman | November 03, 2010 at 08:51 PM
Schoolyard bullying is so sad & is rife all over the world & it appears in so many different guises. Ostracising is bullying, being left out of the group for no real reason.
I say to the victims, you are valued and you have self worth. No matter what others say or do, you were created for great things. Look out for others like yourself & make friends with them.
http://www.stop-bullying-now.com/
Posted by: Linda Young | October 19, 2010 at 09:31 PM
Schools don’t do jack about bullying. I’m a 30 year old woman and had to put up with bullying from the time I was in 4th grade all the way through the rest of school. I was threatened with physical/sexual violence, pushed around, slapped, called names and even had school projects sabotaged.
My parents would be at school all the time trying to get the bullying stopped, and this was in the 90’s. The school counselors were a joke. Nothing was ever done, but I was always told to tell an adult when it happened. I would come home with lists of things sometimes two or three sheets long.
My dad’s reaction after it went on for years and years?
“Well, YOU must have done something to make them come after you.”
That made me stop reporting the issue because somehow it was my fault and complaining never did any good anyway. I went through school hating every ounce of myself and feeling like I had no self worth. I thought about and still think about suicide from time to time because I’m unable to work.
I have no self esteem and the sensory issues I have make holding a job impossible.... I have problems with anxiety that I don’t talk about because to this day I still believe my feelings aren’t important enough to mention.
Right now I’m being cyber bullied by people from a cruel website I won’t name because that will just give them more ammunition to harass me. They will probably find this and use it against me. And once again nothing I have done has stopped these people from harassing me.
They had my best pieces of fanworks removed from sites and I’m at a point where I don’t know who I can even trust anymore. I have a circle of online friends I know are “safe” but anybody new I keep at arm’s length; I never know who might be one of those trolls posing as a “friend” to get more information to use against me.
I feel as if the world is always judging everything I do, hoping I fail. I have never loved myself as a person and always feel like I’m not worth anything. I’m crying as I type this.
I. Have. No. Worth.
Everything I say gets twisted against me. Is my only purpose in the world to be a punching bag for every jerk who likes to bully?
STANDING UP TO IT DOES NOTHING. IT JUST MAKES THEM LAUGH HARDER!!!
Posted by: Ambrosia | September 12, 2010 at 08:44 PM
Hi everyone! I am a social work graduate student at Rutgers University and recently created a cause page on facebook to promote awareness about school violence. you can access the page at http://www.causes.com/516415 The page has links to resources for schools, parents and students as well as facts about bullying. Please join my cause and help support my efforts to advocate against school violence.
Posted by: Kristin Pragle | August 16, 2010 at 12:48 PM
Hi,
I recently developed an anti bully program and website to help primary school children tackle bullying at school.
My website has tons of free resources one of which is an animated 16 page book giving tips on how to prevent bullying.
Once at my website just click on the boy with the red X on him in the bottom right hand corner of the screen to access the book.
http://www.wix.com/SpeakUpToYourTeacher/Order-page
Johnny
Posted by: Johnny | July 20, 2010 at 12:42 PM
I just attended a workshop on cyberbullying and sexting at the National Association of School Nurses Conference in Chicago.
I am in my 60's and kids have been bullied as long as I can remember, but things are different today. There is no getting away from bullying when kids can be reached via cell phones and computers.
We as educators need to do a better job in finding a way to teach kids how to deal with bullies, and keep others from bullying. I don't have the answers, but hopefully we'll figure it out soon.
Posted by: Pat | July 16, 2010 at 10:28 AM
Bullying takes so many forms, physical, emotional, verbal, situational, and occurs so often that it's hard to think that it can somehow be stopped. Children need to understand that it isn't their fault they are being bullied. Usually bullies have problems themselves and use bullying as a type of outlet. If we can help children feel confident, assertive and help them establish high self esteem and understanding, I think that's a step in the right direction.
Posted by: Allie | June 02, 2010 at 11:45 AM
It's about time that someone's taking a stand against bullying, and the person above me is right, it can be defeated. We just have to make all children understand the golden rule. If we teach them to treat others the way that they want to be treated then bullying wouldn't be an issue... problem solved!
Posted by: SteeezySea | April 26, 2010 at 05:21 PM
School bullying is nothing new and was once considered a character-building rite of passage for our children, but now it is seen for what it is--a form of victimization and abuse. As a children's author, I do a lot of school visits and invariably the students and I end up talking about their bullying experiences. Bullying is by no means harmless and it can leave lasting psychological scars.
Posted by: Sandra McLeod Humphrey | April 23, 2010 at 06:51 PM
I'm totally sure that you are right some day I see a victim of bullying and it's not very funny to see. I don't know what's the problem of the bully but it's not funny.
Posted by: Charlot | April 15, 2010 at 09:32 AM
You are so right. Bullying is a serious problem. My mom and I were just talking the other day about a student that was bullied in her class and that was in the 60's. I'm sure it has been around for a lot longer than that. I appreciate you writing this blog, you are helping individuals come together and trying to stop bullying for good. Great Job :)
Posted by: Natalie | January 21, 2010 at 08:43 PM
Hi, I just came across your site and am wondering if you'd like to post a link for a book I've written about Arlo, an armadillo that gets bullied. It's a picture book/early reader, published by Sterling, and is geared toward ages pre-K through 3rd grade. When Arlo has to rely on his special armadillo wits and talents (ie. digging and rolling up in his ball), he is a great model for kids. You can see the book on my website: www.wendywax.com , or at:
www.amazon.com/Arlo-Makes-Friend-Wendy-Waxd/dp/1402747268/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263585738&sr=8-1
Posted by: Wendy Wax | January 15, 2010 at 02:03 PM
Bullying is something like physical, verbal harassment to one person. I experienced bullied when I was in grade school.
Posted by: Private Schools Palm Beach | January 06, 2010 at 10:59 PM
Check out the new book The Fat Boy Chronicles. It has been made into a movie too. The novel, inspired by a real kid, gives a realistic view of high school life through the journal of a bullied and obese 9th grader named Jimmy Winterpock. Check out the movie trailer at www.thefatboychronicles.com The authors speak to schools and have raised awareness about how kids treat other kids. The issue of obesity is the underlying cause of so much of the bullying that takes place. So, along with making a kid unhealthy, being overweight also makes them a target for bullies. The book is great and helps bullied kids realize they are not alone and that they should have hope.
Posted by: Mike | December 20, 2009 at 08:56 PM
The company I work for, SchoolTipline, provides an anonymous reporting service for students to call in and report bullying. It is amazing the reports we get and what kids are doing to bully others these days. We work to help prevent all types of bullying.
Posted by: Holly | June 16, 2009 at 05:46 PM
I think the victums feel like they have no place in the world and that they are bullied for reasons they can't find. My school is trying to stop bullying and so far it is working out well. I just hope it stays that way.
Posted by: Shelby Blair | March 09, 2009 at 01:15 PM
No, I haven't been bullied....yet it is one of my biggest concerns for other people. -Bullying is harassment done verbally or physically. Yes this is coming from an 11 year old little girl (which is why my spelling is horrible.) It hurts to see this going on all around us....and it's all over the world! I feel really bad for all those who have been bullied....and especially for those who have killed themselves because there was no other way out. Then again....the bully maybe going through a tough time and taking it out on someone else....people, use your WITS! W- walk away I- ignore T- talk to someone S- seek help right away! This may not be much....yet I'm still trying my best to help prevent this situation. I know people who have been bullied...and I cant explain how disgusted I feel.
Posted by: Michelle Raj | February 09, 2009 at 11:23 PM
Excellent Blog, have bookmarked it. Keep up the good work.
Posted by: ESLTime | October 06, 2008 at 08:19 PM
Bullying is a crime against basic human dignity and equivalent to emotional murder in the eyes of God. Back in the 60's when I was subjected to it on a daily basis, kids had NO rights to a safe learning environment, and NO right to respect as human beings. Whenever you complained, YOU were blamed for being bullied by the teachers.
Posted by: Patricia | July 30, 2008 at 10:33 AM
Bullies don't understand the pain they are causing because of what they say. It is NOT RIGHT for them to make people suffer.
Posted by: Jess | November 16, 2007 at 03:07 PM
I have been badly bullied before and I don't like it a bit. Bullies are mean. I have often wanted to skip school so that I can avoid those bullies. Those bullies appeared awfully nice towards me at first, but after a short period of time, they changed totally. They started to treat me awfully bad. I hate it. They are still bullying me, but I trust one day, they will get back their equal retribution.
Posted by: Anonymous | July 27, 2007 at 04:38 AM
How does bullying affect victims? The victims can feel frustrated when bullies menace them. Bullies try to dominate victims in order to feel important themselves. The victims should speak confidentially with a trusted person. They need to ask for help in order to be secure.
Posted by: Claudia | July 17, 2007 at 11:35 PM