Students at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, N.J., are old hands at text messaging, but not all of the words are friendly.
Read article by clicking title link
Source - http://www.nytimes.com
June 29, 2010
Online Bullies Pull Schools Into the Fray
Students at Benjamin Franklin Middle School in Ridgewood, N.J., are old hands at text messaging, but not all of the words are friendly.
Read article by clicking title link
Source - http://www.nytimes.com
June 11, 2010
9 teens charged in girl’s bullying
NORTHAMPTON — With sharp words and a strikingly aggressive prosecutorial stance, authorities yesterday spelled out a litany of charges against nine teenagers accused of subjecting 15-year-old South Hadley student Phoebe Prince to months of tortuous harassment before she hanged herself in a stairwell at home.
June 6, 2010
June 3, 2010
Phoebe Prince, South Hadley High School's 'new girl,' driven to suicide by teenage cyber bullies
Nine Massachusetts teens were indicted Monday for driving a pretty 15-year-old "new girl" from Ireland to suicide in a case that has become a symbol of high school bullying.
The sweeping charges - which come after months of complaints that the bullies weren't being punished - include statutory rape, violation of civil rights with bodily injury, criminal harassment and stalking.
Phoebe Prince, a new arrival at South Hadley High School from a tiny seaside hamlet in County Clare, was mercilessly tormented by a cadre of classmates later dubbed the "Mean Girls" by Massachusetts newspapers.
"The investigation revealed relentless activity directed toward Phoebe designed to humiliate her and to make it impossible for her to remain at school," District Attorney Elizabeth Scheibel said.
"The bullying, for her, became intolerable."
Students said Phoebe was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring.
Her books were routinely knocked out of her hands, items were flung at her, her face was scribbled out of photographs on the school walls, and threatening text messages were sent to her cell phone.
Scheibel said she had drawn the ire of the "Mean Girls" by briefly dating a popular senior football player in her first freshman weeks at the school. One student later said it felt like the whole school ganged up on her.
On Jan. 14, Phoebe was harassed and threatened in the school library and in a hallway, Scheibel said. As she walked home, one of the "Mean Girls" drove by and threw a can of Red Bull at her.
Phoebe walked into her house and hung herself in a stairwell.
The nastiness didn't even end there. Her tormentors posted vicious comments on the dead girl's Facebook memorial page.
For months, community anger simmered that no punishment had befallen Phoebe's bullies. Petitions were signed and town hall meetings held.
Scheibel said her investigators were taking the time to investigate thoroughly, and she slammed "the inexplicable lack of cooperation from Internet service providers, in particular Facebook and Craigslist."
Seven of the nine teens indicted were girls charged with a range of crimes, from criminal harassment to stalking to civil rights violations. A juvenile girl was charged with assault by means of a dangerous weapon - the Red Bull can.
The two males, 17 and 18, were charged with statutory rape.
Unveiling the indictments, Scheibel said numerous faculty members, staff members and administrators at South Hadley High School were aware of the bullying - some even witnessed physical abuse - and did nothing.
She said the investigation looked at whether the adults' failure to help Phoebe amounted to criminal behavior.
"In our opinion, it did not," she said. "Nevertheless, the actions - or inactions - of some adults at the school are troublesome."
Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/03/29/2010-03-29_phoebe_prince_south_hadley_high_schools_new_girl_driven_to_suicide_by_teenage_cy.html#ixzz0qZD5hkyO
May 30, 2010
Police address problem of bullying
PINELLAS PARK – Pinellas Park Police are going into schools to talk with administrators, teachers and students about the ever-growing problem of bullying.
Pinellas Park Police Chief Dorene Thomas said the problem exists mainly in elementary and especially in middle schools. She said by the time students reach high school level they have more important things to do like participating in sports and other school events.
So great is the problem that at least two students, though not local ones, committed suicide in Florida schools rather than face the wrath of their confrontational peers.
“Bullying knows no boundaries and it has worsened in recent years because of the Internet,” Thomas said.
Pinellas County schools have launched their own efforts to stem the browbeating that often begins with name calling and can end in actual assaults and outright beatings.
Parents can do a lot to end the problem simply by paying more attention to what their children are saying or experiencing while in class. They can then determine what triggered the problem. Those with children who are the aggressors can help offspring channel their feelings in more socially acceptable ways.
Thomas said the worse thing a parent can do is punish a bullying child by resorting to physical punishment. That often leads youthful bullies to become even more aggressive in school and in the neighborhood.
Thomas said the Internet with its social sites such as My Space and Facebook often can be a launching pad for trouble. Children leave disparaging remarks on these sites that lead to actual confrontations in the schools.
“Kids get picked on,” she said. “Kids have their lunch money stolen, their books and other property damaged or taken.”
The behavior often leads to more aggression and retaliation. Bullying, Thomas said, knows no social or economical boundaries. The problem exists among poor children, middle class and rich students.
“Most bullies have personal demons and use aggression toward others to make up for their own shortcomings,” Thomas said. “They often suffer from low self-esteem, come from violent backgrounds or themselves were the target of bullies in their earlier years.”
To cope with the problem schools have put in place a variety of anti-bullying programs. Police, too, now are taking a more active interest in the problem and even the city has a mentorship program where city employees volunteer to help troubled students.
“We must deal with the bullying problem head-on,” Thomas said. “It’s not something that will go away by ignoring it.”
Source - http://www.tbnweekly.com/pubs/pinellas_park_beacon/content_articles/052010_par-02.txt
May 14, 2010
Colin Farrell's Thoughts on Bullying (video)
While chatting with Colin Farrell, Ellen took the time to thank him for the statement he recently wrote regarding bullying.
Read more: http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/05/colin_farrells_thoughts_on_bullying_0526.php#ixzz0pQw3sQgd
Read more: http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2010/05/colin_farrells_thoughts_on_bullying_0526.php#ixzz0pQw3sQgd
May 13, 2010
Girl Have Hanged Self Because Of Bullying
Port St. Lucie police spokesman Tom Nichols said the girl hanged herself Thursday evening at her Tradition home. He said a diary found at her home indicated she had been bullied at school.
The girl was a fifth-grade student at St. Anastasia Catholic School in Fort Pierce.
Nichols said detectives would be interviewing classmates, teachers and friends to determine why she committed suicide.
"There was no suicide note found at the scene other than the diary, and inside the diary there were some entries made of her being bullied at school," Nichols said. "To the extent of what she was being bullied about is unknown at this time."
Nichols said it wasn't clear how recent the entries were.
"They could have been as early as last night and, you know, they could have been as late as six weeks ago," Nichols said.
A letter was sent home with students informing parents about the incident. The school's principal wouldn't comment, and referred all inquiries to the Diocese of Palm Beach.
A statement from the Diocese of Palm Beach read:
"The Diocese of Palm Beach is saddened to learn of the untimely death of one of our students from St. Anastasia School in Ft. Pierce. We grieve with the school community of St. Anastasia and ask for prayers for the student’s family as well as the school community. Administration at St. Anastasia is currently in the process of notifying school parents about this devastating loss, and members of the Diocese of Palm Beach Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team are available at the school to minister support to the students, teachers, administrators, and parents who are coping with news of this tragic loss of life."
Several parents told WPBF 25 News they had complained to the principal about bullying since last year, but he never responded.
"It's not common for an 11-year-old to commit suicide," Nichols said.
April 22, 2010
Study: Office Bullies Create Workplace 'Warzone'
The office might be far from the playground, but it’s not off limits to bullies. From a screaming boss to snubbing colleagues, bullies can create a “war zone” in the workplace.
In a recent study, bullied employees likened their experiences to a battle, water torture, a nightmare or a noxious substance. Understanding the seriousness of workplace bullying and what it feels like to get bullied could help managers put the brakes on the behavior, shown to afflict 25 to 30 percent of employees sometime during their careers.
“Many Americans are familiar with sexual and racial harassment, but not generalized workplace bullying,” said study team member Sarah Tracy of Arizona State University. Bullying can lead to higher company costs including increased employee illness, use of sick days, and medical costs, ultimately affecting productivity, she added.
Workplace bullying can include “screaming, cursing, spreading vicious rumors, destroying the target’s property or work product, excessive criticism, and sometimes hitting, slapping, and shoving.” Subtle behaviors, such as silent treatment, disregard of requests and exclusion from meetings, count as bullying.
The scientists interviewed 17 women and 10 men ranging from 26 to 72 years old, who had experienced bullying. Often, people have trouble putting into words their emotions surrounding bully behavior. So the researchers analyzed the metaphors found throughout the participants’ descriptions of bullying.
The bullies were described as two-faced actors, narcissistic dictators and devils, leading workers to feel like vulnerable children, slaves and prisoners in these situations. As one employee explained, "I feel like I have 'kick me' tattooed on my forehead."
Source -http://www.livescience.com
In a recent study, bullied employees likened their experiences to a battle, water torture, a nightmare or a noxious substance. Understanding the seriousness of workplace bullying and what it feels like to get bullied could help managers put the brakes on the behavior, shown to afflict 25 to 30 percent of employees sometime during their careers.
“Many Americans are familiar with sexual and racial harassment, but not generalized workplace bullying,” said study team member Sarah Tracy of Arizona State University. Bullying can lead to higher company costs including increased employee illness, use of sick days, and medical costs, ultimately affecting productivity, she added.
Workplace bullying can include “screaming, cursing, spreading vicious rumors, destroying the target’s property or work product, excessive criticism, and sometimes hitting, slapping, and shoving.” Subtle behaviors, such as silent treatment, disregard of requests and exclusion from meetings, count as bullying.
The scientists interviewed 17 women and 10 men ranging from 26 to 72 years old, who had experienced bullying. Often, people have trouble putting into words their emotions surrounding bully behavior. So the researchers analyzed the metaphors found throughout the participants’ descriptions of bullying.
The bullies were described as two-faced actors, narcissistic dictators and devils, leading workers to feel like vulnerable children, slaves and prisoners in these situations. As one employee explained, "I feel like I have 'kick me' tattooed on my forehead."
Source -http://www.livescience.com
April 19, 2010
The workplace bullying suicide of Jodie Zebell, age 31 (article)
Jodie Zebell took her own life after enduring months of workplace bullying at the clinic where she worked as a mammographer. As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal:
In 2008, 31-year-old Jodie Zebell appeared to have a full life. The UW-Madison graduate was married with two young children and a part-time job as a mammographer at a La Crosse clinic, where she was praised as a model employee.
But soon afterward, Zebell became the target of co-workers who unfairly blamed her for problems at work. After she was promoted, the bullying intensified….(T)he boss joined in the harassment, filling Zebell’s personnel file with baseless complaints about her performance and loudly criticizing her in front of others.
“This went on for a series of months,” said [her aunt Joie] Bostwick, a Blue Mounds native who now lives in Naples, Fla. “It just got worse and worse.”
On Feb. 3, 2008, the day before she was to receive a poor job review, Jodie Zebell took her own life.
The Journal article recounts the testimony of many other workers who have been subjected to severe workplace bullying. It closes with a plea from University of Wisconsin labor studies professor Corliss Olson, who has long been involved in advocacy and education efforts around workplace bullying:
Corliss Olson, associate professor at the UW-Extension’s School for Workers, said the bill is “desperately” needed.
Olson said most targets of bullying are “normal, competent people” who can be driven to disability or even death.
“This is a viciousness in the workplace that we need to stop,” Olson said. “We can and we must change our workplaces so they are civil.”
For good reason, much attention has been devoted in recent weeks to the suicide of Massachusetts teenager Phoebe Prince, who took her own life after a merciless campaign of bullying by her schoolmates.
In addition, we cannot forget that in severe circumstances, adults can be driven to suicide because of horrific treatment at work that threatens their security and livelihoods.
Source - http://newworkplace.wordpress.com
April 1, 2010
Teen's EXPERIENCE of being bulled
Charlotte, 13
I got bullied when I was in year 6, year 2 and year 3 it was horrible. Speak up about it, tell someone that's how my bullying stopped. X
Emily, 12
When I was being bullied, I didnt want to tell anyone, I thought that they might think that I was making it sound worse than it really is. but after i had told my parents they told my school and they sorted it out. but unfortunatly the person who was bullying me lived in my village, and he used to follow me when i got off the bus and would shout out names. Soon the police got involved as he bullied many other people. if i hadnt told anyone i would have still been very unhappy.
Kylie, 12
I know how angel feels. My friend, also named Callum, turned against me. It really isn't a nice feeling and I cried every day. Now, I see what happened. I really wanted to be friends with him again and he just didn't want to know. I also had a mega crush on him, and when he started going out with Romany, I just about died. I still feel ill when i think about him. I just need help!!!
xx, 14
i have been builled all my life this site has helped me aalot i can feel good about my self and im not a fat cow xx :) =)
Sarah , 17
I've been bullied and i still get bullied now and then but i try to ignore the name calling and people shouting abuse to me but if someone hit me or attacked me i'd say something about it
Danielle , 15
I got bullied for years, although i never spoke up.. felt quite stupid saying i got bullied, was really embrassed.. i used to skiped school because of it. I still try my best to keep my distance from the people who like to pick on me and start fights with me...
Kerry, 13
When I was bullied I didn't at first just speak out.Instead I found a way of showing the bullies that they didn't phase me. For me this was performing in the school concert, and doing karaoke in our school music class. And now I'm not being bullied and i'm getting people telling me how good I was in the school corridor, whereas before they wouldn't even say hi. So now I think that as well as talking about it, it can be good to show people who you instead of being quiet.Coz that gets people to listen to you and to notice you and that can create respect for who you are.
jane, 15
I was bullied last year by people spreading rumours, teachers didn't listen and just took no notice. all they said was ignore them they will soon give up, thing is they didn't. things got so out of control that i took an overdose at school and ended up being took to hospital. i was maded to speak to a sicologist which helped. the teachers at school finally then started to do something about it. i'm not saying that you should risk taking your life to be heard i'm just saying that you should never give up trying. when i ever get any trouble now i keep telling and telling the teachers at school and they do something about it. xxxxx
sophie, 14
i this previous year i have been bullied. it started of as what they called a joke but i didnt find it funny at all. then they got about 6 people to come up to me to me and start verbally harrassing me when i was out of site of the teachers. they excluded me and gossiped obout me behind my back and half the time they wernt quiet enough and i heared what they were saying. what was even worse, i thought these people were my best friends. one person stuck by me and went with me to tell someone, which is the best option, but then they found out. they didnt believe they done wrong and started pushing me away from my remaning friends and bullying me to say sorry for what i believe is telling someone about it but i still am glad i told someone because if they carry on the person i told will be notified straight away... TELL SOMEONE!!!
Mable, 16
When I got bullied it took me along time to say anything about it... But it was soo long that I had deletled the message and reported abuse on the bebo profiles so I couldn't show the evidence... It you are bullied tell straight away!
Jessica, 12
I got bullied at one point by them slagging me off but as someone else said I think they were jealous. At one point they thought I was gonna dob on them so they were really nice 2 me - I h8 them. I have gd friends now though.
Lizzie, 13
I was badly bulllied for a long time. i was beaten up, rumours were spread about me, i was called names the lot but the best thing i ever did in the time i was bullied was tell someone, at first the school didnt do much, but in the end the bully got chucked out of the school, because other people were being bullied by the same girl, and everyone who told helped themselves!!! Tell someone if ur being bullied, its the best thing !!
rosie, 15
i think bullies are just jelous of the person that they are bullying and would like them not to be who they are. the person who is been bullied might have bigger boobs than them (iam and i am getting bulllied for it)or might be slimmer or bigger than them. the bullies only go for quiat people as they know they wont tell and wont stand up for them selfs. we need to stop bullies. if you are one of the quiat people, then go talk to someone who you know and trust and let them know whats going on, dont suffer in silance. Never suffer alone! Be yourself, not what everyone else wants you to be. Dont let bullies win. xxxxx
Angel, 16
I was going out with a mosher called Callum for about 4 1/2 years. A few months ago, we decided to go public. Suddenly, the whole school turned on me for going out with him. I was a "slag, tart, slut, desperate prozzie" for going out with Callum. I didn't spend a day at school without having something thrown at me- more often than not, a condom. Then the worst happened. Callum turned his back on me. he didn't want to know. He'd tried sticking up for me, but his mosher mates didn't like me, and told him if he spoke to me, they'd not let him in his group. he picked them over me.
Source -http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/advice/your_world/bullying/bullying_are_you_being_bullied/
I got bullied when I was in year 6, year 2 and year 3 it was horrible. Speak up about it, tell someone that's how my bullying stopped. X
Emily, 12
When I was being bullied, I didnt want to tell anyone, I thought that they might think that I was making it sound worse than it really is. but after i had told my parents they told my school and they sorted it out. but unfortunatly the person who was bullying me lived in my village, and he used to follow me when i got off the bus and would shout out names. Soon the police got involved as he bullied many other people. if i hadnt told anyone i would have still been very unhappy.
Kylie, 12
I know how angel feels. My friend, also named Callum, turned against me. It really isn't a nice feeling and I cried every day. Now, I see what happened. I really wanted to be friends with him again and he just didn't want to know. I also had a mega crush on him, and when he started going out with Romany, I just about died. I still feel ill when i think about him. I just need help!!!
xx, 14
i have been builled all my life this site has helped me aalot i can feel good about my self and im not a fat cow xx :) =)
Sarah , 17
I've been bullied and i still get bullied now and then but i try to ignore the name calling and people shouting abuse to me but if someone hit me or attacked me i'd say something about it
Danielle , 15
I got bullied for years, although i never spoke up.. felt quite stupid saying i got bullied, was really embrassed.. i used to skiped school because of it. I still try my best to keep my distance from the people who like to pick on me and start fights with me...
Kerry, 13
When I was bullied I didn't at first just speak out.Instead I found a way of showing the bullies that they didn't phase me. For me this was performing in the school concert, and doing karaoke in our school music class. And now I'm not being bullied and i'm getting people telling me how good I was in the school corridor, whereas before they wouldn't even say hi. So now I think that as well as talking about it, it can be good to show people who you instead of being quiet.Coz that gets people to listen to you and to notice you and that can create respect for who you are.
jane, 15
I was bullied last year by people spreading rumours, teachers didn't listen and just took no notice. all they said was ignore them they will soon give up, thing is they didn't. things got so out of control that i took an overdose at school and ended up being took to hospital. i was maded to speak to a sicologist which helped. the teachers at school finally then started to do something about it. i'm not saying that you should risk taking your life to be heard i'm just saying that you should never give up trying. when i ever get any trouble now i keep telling and telling the teachers at school and they do something about it. xxxxx
sophie, 14
i this previous year i have been bullied. it started of as what they called a joke but i didnt find it funny at all. then they got about 6 people to come up to me to me and start verbally harrassing me when i was out of site of the teachers. they excluded me and gossiped obout me behind my back and half the time they wernt quiet enough and i heared what they were saying. what was even worse, i thought these people were my best friends. one person stuck by me and went with me to tell someone, which is the best option, but then they found out. they didnt believe they done wrong and started pushing me away from my remaning friends and bullying me to say sorry for what i believe is telling someone about it but i still am glad i told someone because if they carry on the person i told will be notified straight away... TELL SOMEONE!!!
Mable, 16
When I got bullied it took me along time to say anything about it... But it was soo long that I had deletled the message and reported abuse on the bebo profiles so I couldn't show the evidence... It you are bullied tell straight away!
Jessica, 12
I got bullied at one point by them slagging me off but as someone else said I think they were jealous. At one point they thought I was gonna dob on them so they were really nice 2 me - I h8 them. I have gd friends now though.
Lizzie, 13
I was badly bulllied for a long time. i was beaten up, rumours were spread about me, i was called names the lot but the best thing i ever did in the time i was bullied was tell someone, at first the school didnt do much, but in the end the bully got chucked out of the school, because other people were being bullied by the same girl, and everyone who told helped themselves!!! Tell someone if ur being bullied, its the best thing !!
rosie, 15
i think bullies are just jelous of the person that they are bullying and would like them not to be who they are. the person who is been bullied might have bigger boobs than them (iam and i am getting bulllied for it)or might be slimmer or bigger than them. the bullies only go for quiat people as they know they wont tell and wont stand up for them selfs. we need to stop bullies. if you are one of the quiat people, then go talk to someone who you know and trust and let them know whats going on, dont suffer in silance. Never suffer alone! Be yourself, not what everyone else wants you to be. Dont let bullies win. xxxxx
Angel, 16
I was going out with a mosher called Callum for about 4 1/2 years. A few months ago, we decided to go public. Suddenly, the whole school turned on me for going out with him. I was a "slag, tart, slut, desperate prozzie" for going out with Callum. I didn't spend a day at school without having something thrown at me- more often than not, a condom. Then the worst happened. Callum turned his back on me. he didn't want to know. He'd tried sticking up for me, but his mosher mates didn't like me, and told him if he spoke to me, they'd not let him in his group. he picked them over me.
Source -http://www.bbc.co.uk/switch/surgery/advice/your_world/bullying/bullying_are_you_being_bullied/
March 14, 2010
March 11, 2010
What are the Warning Signs that a Child is Being Bullied?
What are the Warning Signs that a Child is Being Bullied?
* Sudden decrease in school attendance or skipping certain classes
* Decline in quality of academic performance
* Difficulty concentrating in class and easily distracted
* Wants to take a different route to school or different transportation to school
* Sudden lack of interest in school-sponsored activities and events
* Seems happy on weekends but unhappy and preoccupied or tense on Sundays
* Uses “victim” body language: hunches shoulders, hangs head, will not look people in the eye, and backs off from others
* Suddenly prefers the company of adults
* Frequent illness or fakes illness (headaches, stomachaches, pains)
* Nightmares and insomnia
* Comes home with unexplainable scratches and bruises
* Suddenly develops a stammer or stutter
* Angry, irritable, disruptive, aggressive, quick-tempered, and fights back (but always loses)
* Cautious, clingy, nervous, anxious, worried, fearful, and insecure
* Overly concerned about personal safety; spends a lot of time and effort thinking or worrying about getting safely to and from school and getting around in the school (to and from lunch, to and from recess, to and from the bathroom, to and from the lockers); wants to stay in at night and prefers to stay home on weekends
* Talks about avoiding certain areas of the school
* Carries protection devices (knife, box opener, fork, gun)
* Frequently asks for extra money, saying it is for lunch or school supplies
* Possessions (books, money, clothing) are often “lost,” damaged, or destroyed without an explanation
* Sudden change in behavior (bed-wetting, nail-biting, tics)
* Cries easily or often, becomes emotionally distraught and has extreme mood swings
* Blames self for problems or difficulties; feels defective and inadequate.
* Talks about being made fun of, laughed at, picked on, teased, put down, pushed around, threatened, kicked, hit, called names, or students telling lies about them, gossiping about them, or excluding them from a group, and other bullying behaviors
* Talks about not being able to stand up for himself or herself
* Expresses lack of self value and self confidence
* Talks about dropping out of school
* Expresses lack of trust in and respect for school personnel
* Suddenly starts bullying other students, siblings, or children in the neighborhood
* Becomes overly aggressive, rebellious, and unreasonable
* Sudden loss of respect for authority figures
* Seeks the wrong friends in the wrong places
* Talks about joining or forming a cult
* Sudden interest in violent movies, video games, and books
* Talks about running away
* Talks about feeling depressed
* Talks about or attempts suicide
* Self harms (cutting, no eating, overeating)
* Drastic change in appearance
Source - http://bullyfree.com
Boy Bullies vs. Girl Bullies (article)
How Are Boys and Girls Different in Their Bullying?
Both boys and girls use verbal aggression (such as mocking, name-calling, teasing, mean telephone calls, verbal threats of aggression) and intimidation (such as graffiti, publicly challenging someone to do something, playing a dirty trick, taking possessions, coercion) (Garrity, Jens, Porter, Sager, and Short-Camilli, 1996). Nevertheless, there are some differences.
Boy Bullies:
* Boys may bully more than girls. However, some question this.
* Boys bully both boys and girls (Olweus, 1993).
* Boys use more direct behaviors (physical and verbal bullying) than girls do. They usually use more indirect bullying as their verbal skills increase (Mullin-Rindler, 2002).
* Boys may use more physical aggression than girls (Espelage, Bosworth, & Simon, 2000; Hyde, 1986; McDermott, 1966). However, more research is needed to verify this, and the research indicates that assumptions should not be made about the nature of their aggression (Espelage & Swearer, 2004).
* Boys are just as likely as girls to use social and emotional taunting.
Girl Bullies:
* Girls are aggressive, but may use more indirect behaviors to damage relationshipsand can be sneaky and nasty.
* Girls are becoming more physical in bullying than in the past
* Girls are more likely to bully other girls, but sometimes they bully boys (Olweus, 1993).
* Girls bully in groups more than boys do.
* Girls seek to inflict psychological pain on their victims, which hurts as much as, if not more than, physical attacks and has long-lasting effects.
* Girls behave well around adults but can be cruel and mean to peers.
* Girls target weaknesses in others.
* Girls frequently make comments regarding the sexual behavior of girls they don’t like (Byrne, 1994a, 1994b).
* Girls attack within tightly knit networks of friends, which intensifies the hurt.
Source - http://bullyfree.com
March 5, 2010
Megan Maier Story - example of cyberbullying (video)
Probably the most frightening example of cyberbullying. Megan was 13 in October 2006 when she took her own life after being cyberbullied. She had been in contact with a “Josh Evans” on MySpace. Josh started being kind and flirty, but then turned mean and insulting. He wrote: “The world would be a better place without you.” However, “Josh” never existed. It was created by some adults who lived on Megan’s street. Her story was covered extensively by the media in the US and worldwide.
February 24, 2010
The victim of Bullying at school: signs and symptoms
If you're a parent concerned about bullying, it's important to recognize the signs of one who is being victimized.
Ten percent of children could be considered extreme victims who have been the victim of bullies at least once a week for a long period of time. These children are often considered younger, weaker, or sicker by their peers. Victims are just as likely to be boys as girls. They often report strong fears or dislike of going to school. These children often report closer feelings to parents and siblings, but whether this causes them to be victims or is simply how they cope with being bullied is unclear. Being labeled a victim is likely to follow children around from year to year. Most extreme victims report having few or no friends and being alone at recess and lunch.
The victim: signs and symptoms
A child who is a victim of bullying may display one or more of the following behaviors at home*:
* Comes home from school with clothing that's torn or in disarray, or with damaged books.
* Has bruises, cuts, and scratches, but can't give a logical explanation for how he got them.
* Appears afraid or reluctant to go to school in the morning, complaining repeatedly of headaches or stomach pains.
* Chooses an "illogical" route for going to and from school.
* Has bad dreams or cries in his sleep.
* Loses interest in school work, and his grades suffer. If your child normally struggles in school because of a learning disability and is teased about having LD, school may become unbearable for him.
* Appears sad or depressed, or shows unexpected mood shifts, irritability, and sudden outbursts of temper.
* Requests money from you to meet the bully's demands and might even resort to stealing money from you or other family members.
* Seems socially isolated, with few — if any — real friends; is rarely invited to parties or to the homes of other kids. His fear of rejection may lead him to shun others.
Source-http://www.greatschools.org
February 20, 2010
What you should know about bullies (article)
What you should know about bullies:
1. Bullies come in all ages, sizes, races, religions, and in both genders.
2. Bullies use many tactics to threaten and harass people including, but not limited to, words and physical violence.
3. People who behave in openly hostile behavior, who threaten others to make themselves feel powerful, or who build themselves up by tearing others down are bullies.
4. Girls are more likely to bully with words while boys most often resort to physical attacks. For this reason bullying by girls is often ignored or not taken as seriously as bullying by boys. The reality is that both types of bullying are very serious.
5. Words can be just as harmful as physical violence and can cause lasting psychological damage to victims. The old adage, "Sticks and stones can break your bones but words will never hurt you!" is simply not true
6. Bullies often model what they see at home. Sometimes a bully is really crying out for help. Bullies often act out because they feel they have no control over their own lives; they bully in an attempt to take control. Telling an adult about a bully may end up helping BOTH of you.
7. Ignoring bullies does not make them stop. Only adult intervention and awareness can end the harassment. Bullies thrive on the reactions of their victims and ignoring them can make them step up their efforts. However, if you tell an adult and then start ignoring the bullying behavior the bully will tend to back off. Only start ignoring the behavior after you have made as many adults as possible aware of the problem.
8. As children grow in to teens bullying behaviors often escalate. Death threats, taunts urging suicide, group attacks, and violence with weapons can occur. This sort if behavior is criminal and should always be reported to the police as well as to school officials and parents.
Also:
* They like embarrassing or hurting people.
* They are often not confident people themselves, which is why they pick on others. They often are not happy people and have more problems than the people they pick on!
* They feel better about themselves if they can make others feel worse.
* Many experts believe that bullies have learned to bully because they have been bullied themselves in the past, maybe in their homes, outside or at school. (But even if you are bullied, you have a choice what to do - you don't have to turn into a bully).
* Some people join in or go along with the bullying of others to save themselves from being bullied.
* Bullies often work in groups, because it is easy for them to make excuses when they are caught [eg. "I didn't start it..." "I was just there..." "He [the victim] started it and I was just helping my friend".]
Bullying is only successful if people don't do anything about it.
Source -http://teenadvice.about.com ,http://www.cyh.com
February 18, 2010
Bullied because of their size (story)
It seems as if we can't open a magazine without seeing either a super skinny celebrity in a bikini or someone with a few more curves just as scantily clad.
Whether the magazine is celebrating their figure or slating it usually depends on what week it is.
We talk to two n2k readers who were bullied because of their size.
Katie, 17, has always been on the larger side compared to other girls her age. "I've always been tubby," she says, "it's just the way I'm made.
When I was at primary school I wasn't fat or anything, but had a round face and chubby cheeks, so probably looked bigger than I was. Nobody really mentioned it that much; it was at secondary school that the name calling started.
When joining her new school and meeting new people, Katie got the feeling that she wasn't fitting in.
"It didn't seem to be fair. Loads of other girls would get the same as me from the school shop at break but never seemed to put on any weight. I was too embarrassed to do any sport because of my size and I just couldn't think how to lose weight."
Katie found herself the subject of ridicule by both boys and girls. "It was the usual names of Fatty and a few ruder ones. I used to run home feeling depressed and cry. To make myself feel better I'd turn to food which, of course, was a mistake because I got bigger."
Do it for you
Eventually, Katie decided to do something about it, but insists that the bullies didn't force her into her decision. "Although I was upset at being bullied, that's not why I decided to go to a dietician," she tells us.
"I noticed how out of breath I was getting and that I couldn't find any decent clothes. Clothes shops do go up to plus sizes but they just didn't look right on me and made me look older. I knew that I'd feel better if I looked better."
Now Katie's at college and has left the bullies behind. "I think that the bullies were just immature," she says, "now I'm at college everyone is more mature and although I'm still getting fit at the college gym, nobody has commented on my size once. You've got to do it for you, nobody else."
Jack, 18, was also bullied because of his weight- because he was skinny. "Everyone thinks that it's only fat people who get picked on," he says, "but that's not true at all. I have always been naturally skinny; it seems to run in my family."
No chance
Jack began to feel inferior next to the other boys at school and he reckons this is where the problems started. "I think once a bully senses you feel insecure, they play on it.
They'd call me a wimp and during sports lessons would make a real effort to bump into me or jump on me in some way. When you're skinny and rubbish at sport, you've no chance."
Learn acceptance
It seemed that no matter what he did, Jack couldn't gain weight. "I tried all sorts like eating junk food or snacking all the time, but I was probably doing myself more harm than good.
I realised the only way to beat the bullies was to act more confident and not let their childish names hurt me. I think once you learn to accept you for who you are, you've got them beaten!"
Source -http://www.need2know.co.uk
February 13, 2010
February 12, 2010
People who have been bullied at work - Christie's story
Christie used to work for a big company. In her office, there was a manager who was renowned for her temper tantrums and completely hostile behaviour if she was in a "bad mood."
The manager would purposely withhold information from her staff, and if a decision was made that was not to her liking, she would punish those who supported the decision by not talking to them and by rallying other managers against them.
The manager was extremely petty, resorting to childish acts like simply not responding to any requests for help or information from people she didn't like or agree with and by blatantly excluding individuals on both a business level and person level. Christie felt more like she was back in school than being part of the team of staff.
Christie's senior manager was repeatedly made aware of the situation by various members of the staff, and while he tried to set examples for the manager in question and tried to speak with her on occasion, it never made any difference. It was extremely difficult for Christie to deal with this behaviour on a daily basis and resulted in even more stress, when her job was already stressful enough.
Christie's environment was extremely unhealthy and depressing and she was overjoyed when she was finally able to resign and move on from that company, and it was due in large part to the bully of a manager with who she had to work.
Source -http://www.need2know.co.uk
The manager would purposely withhold information from her staff, and if a decision was made that was not to her liking, she would punish those who supported the decision by not talking to them and by rallying other managers against them.
The manager was extremely petty, resorting to childish acts like simply not responding to any requests for help or information from people she didn't like or agree with and by blatantly excluding individuals on both a business level and person level. Christie felt more like she was back in school than being part of the team of staff.
Christie's senior manager was repeatedly made aware of the situation by various members of the staff, and while he tried to set examples for the manager in question and tried to speak with her on occasion, it never made any difference. It was extremely difficult for Christie to deal with this behaviour on a daily basis and resulted in even more stress, when her job was already stressful enough.
Christie's environment was extremely unhealthy and depressing and she was overjoyed when she was finally able to resign and move on from that company, and it was due in large part to the bully of a manager with who she had to work.
Source -http://www.need2know.co.uk
February 10, 2010
Bullying girls (article)
So you know that bullying is generally a bad thing. It stinks to be picked on, and bullies can provoke violent reprisals. But do you really know how to recognize bullying or how to prevent it?
Bullying, particularly among teenage girls, is harder to recognize because girls are more likely to bully through gossip, backstabbing and controlling friendships.
You've probably seen it at your school: girls being excluded from lunch tables, cliques or conversations; girls who make 'rules' for their friends - like what to wear and who to talk to; and girls who spread rumors about their former best friend
"While boys are likely to bully strangers, girls frequently attack within their group of friends," Rachel Simmons, the author of Odd Girls Out, told the New York Times Magazine.
Girls have traditionally been thought of as of less competitive and aggressive than guys, but, according to several new books, this is no longer true. Girls are more likely to engage in "relational aggression" meaning cattiness, meanness, and nastiness within a group of friends.
Amy Weisman, author of Queen Bees and Wannabes, told the New York Times Magazine that teens need to "take responsibility for how they treat each other and develop strategies to interrupt the cycle of gossip, exclusivity and reputations."
Source-http://www.youthnoise.com
Tragedy turns glare on work bullies (article)
AMONG the many stomach-turning aspects of the workplace ordeal that ended with the 2006 suicide of 19-year-old Brodie Panlock was the cheerful, suburban setting. She was not subjected to what magistrate Peter Lauritsen described as ''persistent and vicious'' bullying in the military, say, or in high school or in other contexts in which incidents of this sort usually surface, but in Hawthorn's Cafe Vamp, where she worked as a waitress and sandwich hand.
This is where cafe owner Marc Da Cruz allowed Nicholas Smallwood, Rhys MacAlpine and, to a lesser extent, Gabriel Toomey to torment Panlock, later dismissing what had transpired as ''just a boyfriend, girlfriend type of thing''.
This week's Melbourne Magistrates Court ruling, imposing a hefty $335,000 in fines on the three staff, the cafe owner and his company Map Foundation, sends an unambiguous message about the nature and gravity of workplace bullying. It is also, sadly and somewhat surprisingly, a message that needs amplifying.
Only last month, a draft report of the Productivity Commission found 2.5 million Australians experienced some aspect of bullying during their working lives. The report estimated the annual economic cost of such ''psycho-social hazards'', measured in terms of absenteeism and poor performance, at nearly $15 billion. It also found that workplace bullying was not explicitly addressed in occupational health and safety laws. South Australia is the only state that mentions inappropriate behaviour in its legislation, while only Western Australia and Queensland have codes of practice on how to detect and manage bullying. Small businesses, seeking clarity about their responsibilities, might be particularly well served with the latter. In any event, WorkSafe Victoria should consider an advertising campaign that stresses the illegality of bullying across all occupations and age groups. In time, an absence of workplace harassment should be as obvious an imperative as protective clothing and safety equipment.
This tragic case will no doubt send a shudder through small business employers and employees. These businesses, which don't have human resources departments to develop anti-bullying protocols, need to have an urgent discussion about how to detect and tackle toxic conduct in the workplace. As the slogan goes, workplace safety is everyone's responsibility; complacency is simply no longer an option.
Source -http://www.smh.com.au
This is where cafe owner Marc Da Cruz allowed Nicholas Smallwood, Rhys MacAlpine and, to a lesser extent, Gabriel Toomey to torment Panlock, later dismissing what had transpired as ''just a boyfriend, girlfriend type of thing''.
This week's Melbourne Magistrates Court ruling, imposing a hefty $335,000 in fines on the three staff, the cafe owner and his company Map Foundation, sends an unambiguous message about the nature and gravity of workplace bullying. It is also, sadly and somewhat surprisingly, a message that needs amplifying.
Only last month, a draft report of the Productivity Commission found 2.5 million Australians experienced some aspect of bullying during their working lives. The report estimated the annual economic cost of such ''psycho-social hazards'', measured in terms of absenteeism and poor performance, at nearly $15 billion. It also found that workplace bullying was not explicitly addressed in occupational health and safety laws. South Australia is the only state that mentions inappropriate behaviour in its legislation, while only Western Australia and Queensland have codes of practice on how to detect and manage bullying. Small businesses, seeking clarity about their responsibilities, might be particularly well served with the latter. In any event, WorkSafe Victoria should consider an advertising campaign that stresses the illegality of bullying across all occupations and age groups. In time, an absence of workplace harassment should be as obvious an imperative as protective clothing and safety equipment.
This tragic case will no doubt send a shudder through small business employers and employees. These businesses, which don't have human resources departments to develop anti-bullying protocols, need to have an urgent discussion about how to detect and tackle toxic conduct in the workplace. As the slogan goes, workplace safety is everyone's responsibility; complacency is simply no longer an option.
Source -http://www.smh.com.au
February 7, 2010
I am being bullied by my boss - story by one employee
Well in short, my boss has been bullying me for quite a while now and I think that another
co-worker has something to do with it.
She has never liked me and has gone out of her way to get me in trouble with our boss.
I have been nothing but nice with this woman so I do not understand why she doesn't like me.
My boss always takes her side and there are never any consequences for this particular employee.
I work in a small office where I am the office manager and there are two other employees.
The receptionist and the executive assistant to the President of the company. I basically have the title but not the power to do anything here. I am constantly criticized and he sends me the most rude and nasty emails. I am basically scared to open my email every morning. Wondering if again he sent me one of those mean emails. To top it off, I was excluded from a Christmas bonus for two years in a row. I do not understand why. It seems like he has something personal against me. I am a good employee, always working hard and on top of things in the office. My receptionist likes me and doesn't understand why I am treated so poorly.
I am sure there are a lot of other people dealing with the same issue. It is so stressful to work in this type of environment. It's very hostile and you can feel the tension as soon as you walk in the door. Fortunately I have an opportunity to be able to leave this job soon and I am very fortunate for that. Unfortunately the receptionist will now be dealing with all of this when I leave. She hates the thought of it so she's looking for another job.
Source -http://www.jobschmob.com/
February 5, 2010
My Daughter Is Being Bullied - story by User
M y daughter started working for a well known international company at 16, she has changed from an outgoing happy go lucky girl into a depressed stress head. It turns out she is being constantly bullied at work by 3 colleagues who are making her life hell. She has reported these people on numerous occasions but very little has been done not even verbal warnings issued.
A few of the things done to her:
- Her mobile phone was taken out of her locker and lewd text messages sent to her boyfriend.
- She went into the stockroom and a male member of staff came out from one of the aisles with his trousers and boxer shorts round his ankles and his hands over his genitals.
-She has been persistently called fat and stupid in front of customers
Every day she is ridiculed, I picked her up today to find her upset again, so I went into the store and spoke to the manager which is something I would have done long ago is I had known the full extent of the situation.
Hopefully this situation is going to be resolved tomorrow but if not she is going to have to resign as I can't bear for her to keep going through this.
A few of the things done to her:
- Her mobile phone was taken out of her locker and lewd text messages sent to her boyfriend.
- She went into the stockroom and a male member of staff came out from one of the aisles with his trousers and boxer shorts round his ankles and his hands over his genitals.
-She has been persistently called fat and stupid in front of customers
Every day she is ridiculed, I picked her up today to find her upset again, so I went into the store and spoke to the manager which is something I would have done long ago is I had known the full extent of the situation.
Hopefully this situation is going to be resolved tomorrow but if not she is going to have to resign as I can't bear for her to keep going through this.
February 4, 2010
My Boss Was a Bully (video-story)
Everyone has heard of the school bully, but just like the rest of us, bullies grow up and get jobs.
- for watching please click the title-link
The Facts About Bullying
The Facts About Bullying (by Michele Borba)
Bullying among our youth is a significant problem--and it is steadily increasing. Many experts fear bullying has become so widespread and common, adults are blinded to its extensive harm. Here are the facts:
* It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Source: National Education Association.
* A survey conducted by the American Association of University Women reported that 85% of girls and 76% of boys have been sexually harassed in some form and only 18% of those incidents were perpetrated by an adults.
Young bullies carry a one-in-four chance of having a criminal record by age 30. Study by Leonard Eron and Rowell Huesman.
* American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims. Dan Olweus, National School Safety Center.
* One in seven students is either a bully or victim.
* 56% of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school.
* 15% of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school.
* 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school.
* One out of 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school.
* Mean behavior among kids is a universal problem. In a poll of 232 kids in kindergarten through 8th grade at a Connecticut elementary school, every child claimed to have been the victim of at least one schoolmate’s or sibling’s meanness in the previous month.
BULLYING MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE
BEING EMOTIONALLY OR PHYSICALLY INJURED DUE TO MEANNESS.
Bullying among our youth is a significant problem--and it is steadily increasing. Many experts fear bullying has become so widespread and common, adults are blinded to its extensive harm. Here are the facts:
* It is estimated that 160,000 children miss school every day due to fear of attack or intimidation by other students. Source: National Education Association.
* A survey conducted by the American Association of University Women reported that 85% of girls and 76% of boys have been sexually harassed in some form and only 18% of those incidents were perpetrated by an adults.
Young bullies carry a one-in-four chance of having a criminal record by age 30. Study by Leonard Eron and Rowell Huesman.
* American schools harbor approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million of their victims. Dan Olweus, National School Safety Center.
* One in seven students is either a bully or victim.
* 56% of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school.
* 15% of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school.
* 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school.
* One out of 20 students has seen a student with a gun at school.
* Mean behavior among kids is a universal problem. In a poll of 232 kids in kindergarten through 8th grade at a Connecticut elementary school, every child claimed to have been the victim of at least one schoolmate’s or sibling’s meanness in the previous month.
BULLYING MUST BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY. TOO MANY CHILDREN ARE
BEING EMOTIONALLY OR PHYSICALLY INJURED DUE TO MEANNESS.
February 2, 2010
Bullying statistics
SCHOOL BULLYING STATISTICS
* Thirty percent (30%) of U.S. students in grades six through ten are involved in moderate or frequent bullying — as bullies, as victims, or as both — according to the results of the first national school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics survey on this subject.
* School bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics are increasingly viewed as an important contributor to youth violence, including homicide and suicide. Case studies of the shooting at Colombine High School and other U.S. schools have suggested that bullying was a factor in many of the incidents.
RECENT SCHOOL BULLYING STATISTICS SHOW THAT:
* 1 out of 4 kids is Bullied. An American Justice Department school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics studies shows that this month 1 out of every 4 kids will be abused by another youth.
* School bullying statistics surveys show that 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally, & physically. Cyber bullying statistic are rapidly approaching similar numbers.
* In a recent school bullying statistics study, 77% of the students said they had been bullied. And 14% of those who were bullied said they experienced severe (bad) reactions to the abuse. Many have tried to stop cyber bullying according to cyber bullying statistics.
* 1 out of 5 kids on a school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics study admit to being a bully, or doing some “Bullying.”
* Each day 160,000 students miss school for fear of being bullied.
* A school bullying statistics reveals that 43% fear harassment in the bathroom at school.
* 100,000 students carry a gun to school.
* 28% of youths who carry weapons have witnessed violence at home.
* A school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics poll of teens ages 12-17 proved that they think violence increased at their schools.
* The same school bullying statictics and cyber bullying statistics poll also showed that 282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.
* More youth violence occurs on school grounds as opposed to on the way to school.
* Playground school bullying statistics - Every 7 minutes a child is bullied. Adult intervention - 4%. Peer intervention - 11%. No intervention - 85%.
ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF JUSTICE SCHOOL BULLYING STATISTICS AND CYBER BULLYING STATISTICS - School Crime and Safety:
* 46% of males, and 26% of females reported they had been in physical fights according to the school bullying statistics.
* The school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics indicated that those in the lower grades reported being in twice as many fights as those in the higher grades. However, there is a lower rate of serious violent crimes in the elementary level than in the middle or high schools.
* The school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics went on to say that teenagers say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings
o — 87% said shootings are motivated by a desire to “get back at those who have hurt them.”
o — 86% said, “other kids picking on them, making fun of them or bullying them” causes teenagers to turn to lethal violence in the schools.
* Students recognize that being a victim of abuse at home or witnessing others being abused at home may cause violence in school according to recent school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics.
o — 61% said students shoot others because they have been victims of physical abuse at home.
o — 54% said witnessing physical abuse at home can lead to violence in school.
* The school bullying statistics and cyber bullying statistics showed that students say their schools are not safe.
The source -http://www.how-to-stop-bullying.com
some real bullying stories by Internet users
Nikki - "When my son Trevor was 14yrs. old he was bullied by kids on his football team. He ended up quitting even though football was his life. He was on the J.V. team and the Varsity coach came to him and asked him not to give up on his dreams because of a few bad kids. He talked to both teams and told them that bulling was not going to be tolerated and if it kept going he was going to kick them off the team. They quit doing it on the field but I guess kept it up during school. On November 1, 2006 I went to town and got a call from emergency dispatch saying there was an emergency at home and I was needed there. I thought my daughter who was 16 yrs. old at the time had hurt herself because she was starting dinner for me. When I arrived home I was informed that my son had taken his life. I had no warnings or signs because when I left 30 minutes before that he was his normal happy self and gave me a hug and said he loved me before I left. My son would have been 17 yrs. old yesterday on March 19th and it was a tough day. I am working on term paper about bulling and how it effects kids. If you have any other good places for me to look please let me know. I feel this is a major problem and I don't want any other parents to ever have to go through what I did."
Blogger Hummy said...
Hummy - " Neighbor found my son on the ground yesterday being kicked, by a older boy. He only recalls a boy he knows as a friend of a friend's older brother was walking with him and other friends. They were play wrestling like those boys often have done,(never hurting each other). This boy started to hurt him he told him to stop, but he did not. He grabbed the boy's hair trying to get loose of neck hold accidently knocking that boy's backpack down, in puddle. Last thin recalls before a neighbor helping him into truck was being jumped from behind and loosing balance. He had hand prints on his neck, some bruises, and bumps on head. Hospital visit and CAT-Scan, results no serious head injury. Police report filed but told nothing likely to be done as "No Serious Injuries". I am gathering information, as very thankful yet scared. Need more information then would be good idea to enroll son in self defense. Yes plan to and pray he will stay safe....
and there are even more the same stories....
Sad story of bullying gone bad...
A Schoolboy hanged himself using his favourite football team scarf after complaining that he was being persecuted on the bus ride home from lessons.
Paul Moran, 13, would sometimes arrive in tears, his hair and clothes covered with food and drink thrown by other pupils, his mother said yesterday.
On one occasion his beloved Liverpool FC bag was ripped and on another he was even thrown down stairs, Carole Moran added.
Finally, after speaking about suicide to friends, the "sensitive and caring" teenager's mother found him suspended from his metal bunk bed with his Liverpool scarf, facing a poster of his favourite team.
In a further tragedy, a girl from the same school, Jenny Sykes, also 13, hanged herself eight months later after apparently becoming depressed over his death.
Detectives investigating the schoolgirl's death took away her computer after fears that she visited suicide chatrooms before killing herself.
Yesterday an inquest into Paul's death in Blackpool, Lancashire, heard that his mother had complained three times to staff at Lytham St Annes High School that he was being bullied.
Mrs Moran, 45, told the hearing: "One day he came home covered in eggs and flour and crying his eyes out. He could not understand why he was being picked on and kept saying 'Why me, why me?'.
"They even tore his Liverpool football bag which upset him. The school bus stop was right outside our house but often he would get off a few stops earlier to avoid more trouble."
One day he was pushed out of his seat on the top deck and thrown down the stairs, and on another his boots were thrown off the bus, she said.
He started avoiding the upper deck after his earring was ripped out but could still hear bullies shouting abuse at him from upstairs, and on one occasion a girl spat at him and shoved a banana in his face.
She added that his older brother Steven, 23, had offered to speak to the bullies, but Paul feared that would only make things worse.
On November 27 last year, a Sunday, just hours after he had been looking at a Christmas catalogue with his mother, his six-year-old sister, Courtney, found him hanging in his room.
She fetched their mother who dialled 999 but paramedics were unable to save him.
Following his death, police took 23 statements from other children at the school and discovered he had spoken to friends about suicide.
But although they found some evidence of bullying, there was nothing that would justify criminal action.
At yesterday's hearing, school headteacher Phillip Wood said teachers had investigated allegations that Paul had been covered in food but found he was not the only one because there had been a "food fight" on the bus.
He added: "I do not think it was aimed at Paul uniquely. The problem is that what is high spirits to some children can appear to be bullying to others."
The school had a strict anti-bullying policy which had been updated since Paul's death, he added.
Coroner Anne Hind said Paul may have been worried because the prospect of going back to school the following morning was looming.
However she recorded an open verdict, saying: "It could have been an accident, it could have been a cry for help, or it could have been a successful suicide, but Paul left no note and we will never know."
Jenny Sykes, who is not thought to have been close friends with Paul but who was apparently deeply moved by his death, was found hanged at her home on July 12.
Police said they did not find any evidence she had visited suicide chatrooms. An inquest into her death is expected to be heard next year.
The source -http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news
January 31, 2010
Bullying at work (article)
What is bullying at work?
Bullying doesn't only happen to school kids, it shows its ugly face in the workplace too.
Harassment, intimidation and aggression are sometimes built into a company's management scheme, or may be carried out by just one individual. Bullying is a gradual process that wears the victim down, and makes them feel worthless, both as a worker and as a person.
Bullying at work is when someone tries to intimidate another worker, often in front of colleagues.
It is usually, though not always, done to someone in a less senior position. It is similar to harassment, which is where someone's behaviour is offensive. For example, making sexual comments, or abusing someone's race, religion or sexual orientation.
Examples of bullying behaviour
Bullying includes abuse, physical or verbal violence, humiliation and undermining someone's confidence. You are probably being bullied if, for example, you are:
* constantly picked on
* humiliated in front of colleagues
* regularly unfairly treated
* physically or verbally abused
* blamed for problems caused by others
* always given too much to do, so that you regularly fail in your work
* regularly threatened with the sack
* unfairly passed over for promotion or denied training opportunities
Bullying can be face-to-face, in writing, over the phone or by fax or email.
The source -http://www.direct.gov.uk
Bullying Widespread in U.S. Schools (article)
Bullying is not just a normal, if unpleasant, part of growing up, according to Federal researchers. Rather, children who bully other children appear to be at risk for engaging in more serious violent behaviors, such as frequent fighting and carrying a weapon. Moreover, victims of bullying also are at risk for engaging in these kinds of violent behaviors.
Bullying is widespread in American schools, with more than 16 percent of U.S. school children saying they had been bullied by other students during the current term, according to a survey funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
The study appears in the April 25, 2001, Journal of the American Medical Association. Overall, 10 percent of children said they had been bullied by other students, but had not bullied others. Another 6 percent said that they had both been bullied themselves and had bullied other children. Another 13 percent of students said they had bullied other students, but had not been bullied themselves.
"Being bullied is not just an unpleasant rite of passage through childhood," said Duane Alexander, director of the NICHD. "It's a public health problem that merits attention. People who were bullied as children are more likely to suffer from depression and low self esteem, well into adulthood, and the bullies themselves are more likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life."
The children were asked to complete a questionnaire during a class period that asked how often they either bullied other students, or were the target of bullying behavior. A total of 10.6 percent of the children replied that they had "sometimes" bullied other children, a response category defined as "moderate" bullying. An additional 8.8 percent said they had bullied others once a week or more, defined as "frequent "bullying. Similarly, 8.5 percent said they had been targets of moderate bullying, and 8.4 percent said they were bullied frequently.
Out of all the students, 13 percent said they had engaged in moderate or frequent bullying of others, while10.6 percent said they had been bullied either moderately or frequently. Some students- 6.3 percent-had both bullied others and been bullied themselves. In all, 29 percent of the students who responded to the survey had been involved in some aspect of bullying, either as a bully, as the target of bullying, or both.
The source -http://parentingteens.about.com
Bullying is widespread in American schools, with more than 16 percent of U.S. school children saying they had been bullied by other students during the current term, according to a survey funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD).
The study appears in the April 25, 2001, Journal of the American Medical Association. Overall, 10 percent of children said they had been bullied by other students, but had not bullied others. Another 6 percent said that they had both been bullied themselves and had bullied other children. Another 13 percent of students said they had bullied other students, but had not been bullied themselves.
"Being bullied is not just an unpleasant rite of passage through childhood," said Duane Alexander, director of the NICHD. "It's a public health problem that merits attention. People who were bullied as children are more likely to suffer from depression and low self esteem, well into adulthood, and the bullies themselves are more likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life."
The children were asked to complete a questionnaire during a class period that asked how often they either bullied other students, or were the target of bullying behavior. A total of 10.6 percent of the children replied that they had "sometimes" bullied other children, a response category defined as "moderate" bullying. An additional 8.8 percent said they had bullied others once a week or more, defined as "frequent "bullying. Similarly, 8.5 percent said they had been targets of moderate bullying, and 8.4 percent said they were bullied frequently.
Out of all the students, 13 percent said they had engaged in moderate or frequent bullying of others, while10.6 percent said they had been bullied either moderately or frequently. Some students- 6.3 percent-had both bullied others and been bullied themselves. In all, 29 percent of the students who responded to the survey had been involved in some aspect of bullying, either as a bully, as the target of bullying, or both.
The source -http://parentingteens.about.com
January 30, 2010
January 28, 2010
Cyber bullying was to blame for the suicide ( article )
While police in South Hadley, Mass., investigate whether cyber bullying was to blame for the suicide last week of 15-year-old Phoebe Prince, the teenager who had recently emigrated from Ireland suffered a final indignity – disparaging remarks believed to be posted by classmates to a Facebook page created in her memory.
Prince died on Jan. 14 after a rough freshman year. Friends and school officials told that Prince had been picked on and taunted since moving to Massachusetts last fall.
South Hadley High Principal Daniel Smith sent out a letter to parents of students at the high school. In the letter, he called Prince "smart, charming, and as is the case with many teenagers, complicated . . . We will never know the specific reasons why she chose to take her life".
School bullies taunted Phoebe Prince through text messages, the computer and on Facebook and other social networking sites.
Smith said the bullying often surrounded arguments about teen dating.
In the letter to parents, dated Jan. 20, Smith addressed the disagreements: "These disagreements centered on relationship/dating issues. School personnel immediately intervened . . . and both counseled and provided consequences as the situations required. It is what happened after those incidents were over that is cause for significant concern.’’
Even after her death, bullies posted disparaging messages on her Facebook memorial page. The comments had to be removed from the page.
A makeshift memorial was held for Phoebe Prince over the weekend.
Local police and the Northwestern District Attorney are investigating.
The information source - http://www.foxnews.com
January 27, 2010
January 13, 2010
How to empower others?
Are you being bullied? Have you been bullied before? It took me 34 years to be bullied. Which is why it hit me so hard. Very few individuals would succeed in bullying me physically, so my susceptibility came subtly to a vindictive and emotionally insecure boss. A clever practitioner of subversion, it took the shape of exclusion, constant belittling, bad mouthing to others and power games, for which I was ill prepared.
I have studied bullying since, and have discoverd some defense mechanisms for my particular weaknesses. I was absolutely astounded by the numbers of people who are bullied. Some estimates are that between 25% and 90% of school children in America are bullied sometime during their school career.
If you are a bullying victim, you have probably been carefully selected as a potential target, in an attempt to satisfy a deep seated inferiority or vulnerability. Much of this is subconscious on the part of the bully but has become a habit which fuels the need to feel better. Being bullied is very lonely because it is very often difficult to detect, and often tolerated or even promoted in the workplace.
This blog is about empowerment. Please add your comments and share what has worked for you as we combat bullying in the workplace and at schools. Let us learn from and coach each other as we share a common ailment - victimisation. It's about fighting back and taking back one's self respect from those bullying cowards who would trample over it.
Bryn Harries
I have studied bullying since, and have discoverd some defense mechanisms for my particular weaknesses. I was absolutely astounded by the numbers of people who are bullied. Some estimates are that between 25% and 90% of school children in America are bullied sometime during their school career.
If you are a bullying victim, you have probably been carefully selected as a potential target, in an attempt to satisfy a deep seated inferiority or vulnerability. Much of this is subconscious on the part of the bully but has become a habit which fuels the need to feel better. Being bullied is very lonely because it is very often difficult to detect, and often tolerated or even promoted in the workplace.
This blog is about empowerment. Please add your comments and share what has worked for you as we combat bullying in the workplace and at schools. Let us learn from and coach each other as we share a common ailment - victimisation. It's about fighting back and taking back one's self respect from those bullying cowards who would trample over it.
Bryn Harries
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