Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Girls and Bullying




Girls and Bullying
When most people picture a "typical" bully, they imagine a boy who is bigger or older than his classmates, who doesn't do well in school, who fights, and who likes it when others are scared of him. Girls usually face a different type of bully, one who may not look as scary from the outside but who can cause just as much harm.

What's She Like
The typical girl who bullies is popular, well-liked by adults, does well in school, and can even be friends with the girls she bullies. She doesn't get into fist fights, although some girls who bully do. Instead, she spreads rumors, gossips, excludes others, shares secrets, and teases girls about their hair, weight, intelligence, and athletic ability. She usually bullies in a group and others join in or pressure her to bully.

The Effects
This kind of bullying can have just as serious consequences as physical bullying. It can cause a drop in grades, low self esteem, anxiety, depression, drug use, and poor eating habits in girls who are bullied. This kind of bullying is harder to see. Most of the time adults don't realize when girls are being bullied in this way.

What You Can Do
One of the best ways to stop this form of bullying is for the girls who see it or who are stuck in the middle to speak up and say that it is not okay. But only 15 percent of girls speak up, usually because they're afraid the bully will turn on them next. Parents and other adults can help girls beat bullying by teaching them how to stand up for themselves and their friends and by taking action themselves.

Here are a few things to remember:

  • Encourage kids to be kind and to help others, particularly if they see someone being bullied. Praise them when they do so.

  • Tell girls they are special, and point out why.

  • Help girls get involved in activities outside of school so they can make friends in different social circles.

  •  Don't push girls to be in the "right" class or on the "right" sports team. Let them choose what to play and with whom.

  • Stop bullying when you see it. Don't let anyone, even your daughter, make fun of someone else even if she says she is only "joking."

  • Be a good example. Don't gossip or make fun of others in front of young girls.

  • Talk to girls about their friends, what they do together, and how they treat each other. Ask them what makes a good friend, and whether their friends have these qualities.

  •  If you know bullying is happening at school, speak to school officials and ask what they are doing to stop it.




Schedule 2012 - 2013
Bullying Prevention Workshops 
802-362-5448


Mike Dreiblatt is an outstanding national speaker and author who provides dynamic, practical seminars and workshops to students, school staff, administrators, parents and community members. 
  
Using humor and practical strategies, Mike teaches best practices and realistic strategies that can be used immediately. A former teacher, Mike is an expert in bullying and violence prevention, character education, and discipline of students with special needs.

See Mike In Action!!!





                                                                                                                             
  
$36.95 (includes S/H)
 Lessons and Activities That Teach Empathy, Friendship and Respect
Fax POs to 1-802-549-5024 Balance Educational Services 136 Clover Lane Manchester Center, Vt 05255




Mike's book, How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression, has been recognized as a practical resource to teach and reinforce character development and pro-social behavior.





"This timely book includes perfectly sequenced, content-enriched, practical lessons that will enhance any anti-bullying effort. The student-focused activities will facilitate and maintain learning of important anti-bullying concepts that can never be overemphasized."
—Allan L. Beane, Author of The Bully Free Classroom

"A practical book packed with the kinds of anti-bullying strategies that teachers, coaches, therapists, and kids regularly request. Every chapter is packed with tips on how to stay physically and emotionally safe when bullying occurs, and children are coached to practice assertive behaviors and avoid the victim role."

—Cheryl Dellasega, Author of Mean Girls Grown Up



Having trouble viewing this email? Please click here        
To ensure delivery, please add mike@balanceeducation.net to your address book.

8 Things Parents Should Know About Bully






8 Things Parents Should Know About Bully



1. What’s it about?
The much-talked about, oft-debated documentary looks at the problem of bullying in schools from the perspective of five kids and their families, mostly from small towns. Two of the families included have lost children to suicide as a result of bullying. The stories are powerful and not only look at the problem through the victims’ eyes, but also offer some solutions for how society should deal with bullying. The film opened in New York and Los Angeles a couple of weeks ago and opened in 50 additional cities yesterday.

2. Does it live up to the hype?
There was an awful lot of talk surrounding this movie, possibly more hype than it was possible to live up to. And the movie was still good and worth seeing. However, I kept waiting for the big ending and the important takeaway … and there wasn’t one. Toward the end, one of the kids featured in the film says we “can’t change it all at once” and maybe that’s the lesson. If we all make little changes, we might eventually end this problem. Like Curtis Silver said yesterday, ending bullying requires vigilance.

3. Will I like it?
I’m not sure “like” is appropriate for a movie that’s meant to make you feel at least a little uncomfortable, but the story is well told and the people featured are likable (except for the most inept school administrator on the face of the planet). The film moves quickly and it’s definitely worth seeing.

4. Is it appropriate for kids?
Absolutely. There is bullying violence and some language, but, unfortunately, probably not anything your kids haven’t seen or heard before. There’s value for all kids, whether they are bullies, have been bullied, or are bystanders. When kids see how other kids are going through similar issues to them, perhaps they will make a change for themselves or help others.

5. Is it closer to PG-13 or R?
I was shocked that this movie was rated R at one point. Even with the addition of the three f-words that were cut, it wouldn’t have felt even close to an R. The language that is in it comes at the beginning and is forgettable. However, there is content in it that is more worth mentioning than the profanity.
There are some families in this movie whose children have committed suicide. Other kids talk about either thinking about it or attempting to kill themselves or hurt themselves. This issue is definitely worth a discussion with your kids, because the movie is a documentary and what happens on screen is all very real.

6. Is it too scary?
It’s purposefully uncomfortable. There were moments so astounding — regarding the stupidity of adults — that there were audible gasps from people in the theatre where I saw the movie. Some kids who have been bullied may have a difficult time watching kids onscreen be abused both verbally and physically. Further, there’s a moment where a girl who was bullied brings a gun aboard a bus and waves it about, which may be scary to some kids.

7. Will I want to see it again?
I will be going again so my kids (age 10) can see it. I’m not sure there’s much point in seeing it again after that, though. After the first viewing, the message will have been delivered, and there wasn’t a lot of nuance that could have been missed.

8. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?
The movie is just 94 minutes long and moves along at a brisk pace, especially for a documentary. However, there are still a couple moments when you could leave: first at the 30 minute mark after meeting Tyler’s parents, and then again at the 60 minute mark after meeting Devon.



Schedule 2012 - 2013
Bullying Prevention Workshops 
802-362-5448


Mike Dreiblatt is an outstanding national speaker and author who provides dynamic, practical seminars and workshops to students, school staff, administrators, parents and community members. 
  
Using humor and practical strategies, Mike teaches best practices and realistic strategies that can be used immediately. A former teacher, Mike is an expert in bullying and violence prevention, character education, and discipline of students with special needs.

See Mike In Action!!!





                                                                                                                             
  
$36.95 (includes S/H)
 Lessons and Activities That Teach Empathy, Friendship and Respect
Fax POs to 1-802-549-5024 Balance Educational Services 136 Clover Lane Manchester Center, Vt 05255




Mike's book, How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression, has been recognized as a practical resource to teach and reinforce character development and pro-social behavior.





"This timely book includes perfectly sequenced, content-enriched, practical lessons that will enhance any anti-bullying effort. The student-focused activities will facilitate and maintain learning of important anti-bullying concepts that can never be overemphasized."
—Allan L. Beane, Author of The Bully Free Classroom

"A practical book packed with the kinds of anti-bullying strategies that teachers, coaches, therapists, and kids regularly request. Every chapter is packed with tips on how to stay physically and emotionally safe when bullying occurs, and children are coached to practice assertive behaviors and avoid the victim role."

—Cheryl Dellasega, Author of Mean Girls Grown Up





Having trouble viewing this email? Please click here        
To ensure delivery, please add mike@balanceeducation.net to your address book.


Monday, April 30, 2012

Not All Meanness and Cruelty is Bullying



by Danah Boyd -- The Wall Street Journal

Bullying is a serious issue. Cries to do something—anything—have triggered new legislation, school assemblies, and pressure to punish those who hurt others. The tenor of the discussion is one of grave concern mixed with moral panic. As difficult as it is to step back and gain perspective, we must do so in order to actually address the problem. As researchers, we have found that misunderstandings undermine interventions.  With this in mind, we would like to offer five aspects of bullying that must be broadly understood in order to move from awareness to action.

1. “Bullies” usually aren’t the source of the problem: They’re often a symptom of the problem. Many bullies have difficulties at home or in school, and need just as much help as those who are targets of and bystanders to bullying. Bullies are often victims in other contexts who are lashing out.

2. Not all meanness and cruelty is bullying: Bullying refers to repeated psychological, social and physical aggression propagated by those who are more physically or socially powerful. Addressing the role of power is critical to combating bullying. Different strategies are needed to curb other types of meanness and cruelty, but it’s also important not to overreact.  Some forms of teasing, pranking and drama are perfectly healthy, even if they look troublesome from the outside.

3. “Cyberbullying” has become an unnecessary distraction: Students consistently report that school bullying is still more common—and that it has a greater negative impact—than what happens online. Most bullying is relatively invisible to adults, but online traces make many forms of meanness and cruelty, including cyberbullying, especially visible. Thus, adults focus on the technology.  Certain types of negativity do flourish online, but the Internet typically mirrors and magnifies existing dynamics. Rather than being something to blame,technology should be leveraged in order to identify those who are struggling.

4. When a child has been hurt, people want someone—or something—to blame, but rushing to prosecute purported bullies only undermines society’s ability to curb bullying. Teen suicides should prompt us to act. But enacting flawed legislation in memory or prosecuting teens’ peers shifts the onus of responsibility away from society onto individuals. Teen suicides can rarely be explained by the actions of one person. All too often, mental-health issues, struggles to fit in, parental pressure and a culture of intolerance create a deadly combination.Rather than looking for people to blame, it’s important to look for root causes and work to address those. The blame game does little to stop the cycle of violence.

5. Most anti-bullying assemblies are ineffective, and the messages of well-meaning advocates tend to fall on deaf ears. Teens don’t recognize most of the meanness and cruelty they witness or experience as bullying; they see it as drama, teasing or pranking. Students do recognize certain serious encounters as bullying, but they often lack the social, structural and educational infrastructure to make a difference.  Punitive approaches (including “zero tolerance” school policies) appear reasonable but are consistently ineffective at addressing the core issue.  Likewise, “tell a trusted adult” seems like a good idea, but when adults have no training in dealing with these issues, they often make things worse. There are effective programs for addressing the underlying issues; they require social-emotional learning and empathy development. Yet, putting these in place requires serious commitment in terms of money, time and community involvement.  If we want to change the ecosystem, we need to invest in these long-term solutions.

There’s no doubt that bullying does serious harm, both to those who are victimized as well as to perpetrators and bystanders. Combating bullying—alongside other forms of aggression and violence—should be a social priority. But bullying is not just a youth problem. If we want to help young people, we need to put an end to adult meanness and cruelty and take responsibility for how we perpetuate problematic values and intolerance. We cannot expect youth to treat each other kindly when we accept politicians berating each other for sport, parents talking behind their neighbors’ backs, and reality TV stars becoming famous for treating each other horribly. If we want to create a kinder, braver world, we must collectively work to develop compassion, empathy and respect.

Dr. Boyd is a research fellow at the Born This Way Foundation, a senior researcher at Microsoft Research and a research assistant professor at New York University.


Schedule 2012 - 2013
Bullying Prevention Workshops 
802-362-5448

Mike Dreiblatt is an outstanding national speaker and author who provides dynamic, practical seminars and workshops to students, school staff, administrators, parents and community members. 
  
Using humor and practical strategies, Mike teaches best practices and realistic strategies that can be used immediately. A former teacher, Mike is an expert in bullying and violence prevention, character education, and discipline of students with special needs.

See Mike In Action!!!




                                                                                                                           
  
$36.95 (includes S/H)
 Lessons and Activities That Teach Empathy, Friendship and Respect
Fax POs to 1-802-549-5024 Balance Educational Services 136 Clover Lane Manchester Center, Vt 05255


Mike's book, How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression, has been recognized as a practical resource to teach and reinforce character development and pro-social behavior.




"This timely book includes perfectly sequenced, content-enriched, practical lessons that will enhance any anti-bullying effort. The student-focused activities will facilitate and maintain learning of important anti-bullying concepts that can never be overemphasized."
—Allan L. Beane, Author of The Bully Free Classroom

"A practical book packed with the kinds of anti-bullying strategies that teachers, coaches, therapists, and kids regularly request. Every chapter is packed with tips on how to stay physically and emotionally safe when bullying occurs, and children are coached to practice assertive behaviors and avoid the victim role."
—Cheryl Dellasega, Author of Mean Girls Grown Up