Bullying Awareness Week: 11/13 through 11/19

Bullying Awareness Week

November 13-19

STAND UP & BE A FRIEND!

Bullying situations usually involve more than someone who bullies and someone being bullied.  They also involve bystanders—those who watch bullying happen or hear about it.  An important new strategy for bullying prevention focuses on the powerful role of the bystander.  Depending on how bystanders respond, they can either contribute to the problem or the solution. Bystanders rarely play a completely neutral role, although they may think they do.  A key element of Coronado SAFE's Bullying Prevention Initiative is to empower and engage bystanders because bystanders have the power to play a key role in preventing or stopping bullying. 

There are two types of bystanders – Hurtful Bystanders and Helpful Bystanders:

Hurtful Bystanders

• Some bystanders . . . instigate the bullying by prodding the bully to begin.
• Other bystanders . . . encourage the bullying by laughing, cheering, or making comments that further stimulate the bullying. 
• And other bystanders . . . join in the bullying once it has begun. 
• Most bystanders . . . passively accept bullying by watching and doing nothing. Often without realizing it, these bystanders also contribute to the problem. Passive bystanders provide the audience a person bullying craves and the silent acceptance that allows people who bully to continue their hurtful behavior.

Helpful Bystanders     

• Some bystanders . . . directly intervene, by discouraging the bullying, defending the target, or redirecting the situation away from bullying.
• Other bystanders . . .  get help, by rallying support from peers to stand up against bullying or by reporting the bullying to adults.

Bystanders who don’t intervene or don’t report the bullying often suffer negative consequences:

• Pressure to participate in the bullying
• Anxiety about speaking to anyone about the bullying
• Powerlessness to stop bullying
• Vulnerability to becoming victimized
• Fear of associating with the target, the person bullying and/or their pals 
• Guilt for not having defended the target

Preparing Children to Become Helpful Bystanders:

Parents may want to get the latest on the subject before talking with their children.  Two of the many good online resources are www.stopbullying.gov and www.StopBullyingNow.com.  Search ‘bullying” on www.CNN.com for helpful videos.  The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander: From Preschool to High School--How Parents and Teachers Can Help Break the Cycle of Violence by Barbara Coloroso is a comprehensive book.

If nothing else, children who are bullied or witness bullying should be encouraged to report, report, report – tell a trusted adult every time it happens.

For more information about Bullying and/or Cyberbullying, please contact Carole.Tessicini@CoronadoSAFE.org or call the SAFE office at 619-522-6884.