Learn with Cherished Values

                      A bullying guideline for schools and other youth groups

Bullying is a major problem in schools today. There have been multiple incidents of humiliation and even suicides as a result of bullying. 

Bullying is engaged in by males and females, to much the same degree. In fact, in many areas girls are more likely to bully than boys. 

Parents, schools, churches and communities want to know the causes of bullying and steps they can take to stop it.   In the ages that follow I will share with you, as a young person, information 

To begin with bullying is morally wrong and illegal. It is morally wrong because it is a violation of the laws of decency and a tremendous disrespect of human dignity and personality.

It is illegal because it violates the rights of individual protected by the constitution. 

Schools should have a clear definition of bullying and very strict guidelines about it and swift and sure consequences to deal with it.

An air of meanness

Bullying can never be totally separated from the rest of society. The student who bullies grows up in households. They watch television and behavior in their homes and communities. see things in their community. It would be unwise to think they are not influences by some of these things. There is in our society a meanness that didn’t exist years ago. Children were playful, but they weren’t mean. The 

Definition: Bullying is harassing, taunting, bluffing, threatening, and exhibiting any speech or behavior toward another person who is threatened by that behavior, especially if you have a physical, authoritative or emotional advantage over. It is bothering somebody who is not your equal. Bullying can be done as an individual or as a group.

The worst bullying is intentional. However, some kids can be bullied unintentionally. Therefore, it is the responsibility of person to measures other people’s response to their behavior. If one feels he or she is being bullied by you, even if that is not your intention, it is up to you to change your behavior toward that person.

As a classroom teacher I witnessed many kids playing and joking around with each other. It was almost always friendly and the kids almost always took it well and it had no apparent lasting impact on them. But there seems to be a meanness in the country today, even among young people. An

We can stop kids from bullying in two. We can make the penalties of bullying so severe that almost no reasonable person would risk doing it and facing those consequences. 

Or

We can educate and sensitize our society to a degree of civility that they would be ashamed to participate in such barbaric and hurtful behavior to another human being.

In fact, every institu8tin that works with kinds, whether it is the home, church, school, or community organization should have both if these methods in place simultaneously. Young people should always be taught the civilized and humane way to treat others in their environment, but they should also know that we are a country of laws, and every individual in our country is protected by those laws. When they reduce themselves to bullying anther human being, for whatever reason, they are breaking lawas and infringing upon the rights o that person, and their behavior will not be tolerated. 

Bullying thrives when kids are not sure of the authority’s position on bullying. 

Every environment should have a clearly stated position…the position must be embodied by the entire community. It should be explained by the authorities but it must be embodied by the students. (It is the adult’s job and challenge to educate the students on their position.

A person stoops to bullying when he feels inferior and/or insecure and wants to elevate his status at the expense of debasing another person---- 

Those who will have fun at the expense of other’s feelings- picking on people is fun—sometimes it is harmless fun and sometimes it is hurtful fun. Because you don’t always know when it is harmful or hurtful it is better not to do it.

Bullying is sometimes rooted in the arrogance of believing that one has the right to decide what is right for others: Their size, their style, their sexual orientation, their religious preference, their color, or anything about them. 

There is a line (sometimes thin) between having fun and bullying.

Bullying thrives when

Inferiority and insecurity on the part of the bullier

a weak moral and ethical foundation in the community

Cowardly approach on the parts of the bystanders.

What to do when bullying occurs

Everybody stand up for the bullied. When a person bullies anyone in your presence he is bullying everyone in that presence. He is daring everyone to come to the aid of the victim; in fact, he is saying I can do whatever I want to this person and I dare any of you to say anything to me or try in anyway to stop me. All of you guys must agree with me or be afraid of me. If you don’t agree with me and don’t try to stop me that means that you are afraid of me. If you refuse to come to the aid of the victim you are giving victory to the perpetrator. You are telling him/her that he is stronger than your teachings, your reputation, your feelings, your reputation and your ideals.

So when one person is bullied every person in that community should feel bullied. The one who bullies is breaking that code of behavior set by the entire group. He is saying I am more important than the group and I dare anyone in the group to try to stop me.

Form a circle around the bullied. Students who see another child being bullied can in a group go to that child an form a circle around the child. The circle says to the child being bullied we are with you. We are together. We have formed a circle of friendship and protection around you. 

It says to the bullier, “If you want to get to this person you will have to go through the rest of us to do so.”

Hold the community responsible----if this house is not clean when I get back I’m going to whip every but in here.

A community of cowards

Bullying can only take place in a community of cowards. In order for bullying to thrive the community must look the other way. 

1. Be careful in your interaction with anyone that you have an extreme advantage over.

Attitudes that lead to bullying.

1. I have a right to set the rules of this place. I am bigger. I have more money. My sexual preference is more desirable. I am smarter. I am a better athlete. I dress better. I look better. 

2. More people share my view of myself and you than not

3. No one else is going to say anything

Adults are in charge.

Adults should remember that it is the responsibility of adults to set the tone and culture of the space of which they are in charge, whether that is the home, School, playground, or neighborhood. Adults should be in charge and adults should make and enforce the rules. The rules on bullying should clear, strict, fair, and enforceable. There should never be any doubt as to who is in charge in a space and whose rules reign. Whenever there is doubt, there is the crack through which bullying and other unacceptable behavior can creep in.

“He who wins the battle by force has only half won it.”

When it comes to bullying, the objective of every adult should be to convince every child that bullying is wrong and illegal and people of good character and values should not engage in, or tolerate bullying. But until that lesson is learned and obeyed, it is the responsibility of adults to protect the innocent.

1. No child will hit, push, or threaten any child in this space.

Adults 

Every adult who works with young people should be aware of the prevalence and danger of bullying and should be observant of the behavior of all young people in their care. Every adult should have a clear definition of bullying and should be able to explain bullying to every