A LOOK AT BULLYING

University of La Verne
EDUC 330
Theresa Nedry-Molinaro, Instructor
Film Notes from School House Bullies: Preventive Strategies for Professional Educators
with Judy M. Brunner and Dennis K. Lewis. www.edu-safe.org

What is Bullying? Reactions to Bullying:

Aggressive behavior (physical, verbal, non-verbal) Helplessness Inability to Concentrate
Repeatedly carried out over time Confusion Inability to Identify Problem
An imbalance of power (showing dominance) Regression Difficulty sleeping
Occurs without provocation Feelings of sadness, anger, aggression

Characteristics of Elementary-aged Victims General Characteristics of Bullying Behaviors:

passive Males - physical, verbal, aggressive
insecure Females relational
immature Those involve include the bully, the victim,
impulsive the by-standers, and adult supervisors
submissive The playground is the most likely place for
bullying to occur in elementary school
Types of Elementary-aged Bullying
Name-calling
Teasing
Being lied about IF YOU REALLY WANT TO CHANGE
Being hit
Being isolated
THE CULTURE OF A SCHOOL,
Being threatened YOU WILL FIRST HAVE TO CHANGE
Having items stolen
THE BEHAVIORS OF THE ADULTS!
Being left out of activities

What Should Staff Do

Create a Bully-Free Zone with zero tolerance for bullying behavior
Communicate expectations (with students, staff, parents, and community)
Provide structured activities during recess
Ensure sufficient number of supervisors (1 to 50)
Strategically place staff around school grounds
Recognize bullying, listen carefully, and offer constructive feedback
Identify potential bullies and victims
Encourage students to be a friend to others
Reinforce playground rules
Role-play a variety of situations
SUPERVISION MUST BE ACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE!