Reporting Bullying

AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR (BULLYING)

First, it is very important to understand the difference between behaviors that are rude/annoying, mean, conflict, and bullying.

Rude/Annoying behavior is when a person impulsively says or does something that is offensive, impolite, and is emotionally or physically hurtful or annoying.

Mean behavior is when a person purposely says or does something to emotionally or physically hurt someone once or twice out of anger, frustration, spite.

Bullying can be physical, verbal, emotional, racial, sexual, written, damage property, intimidation, electronic (cyberbullying), and relational aggression.

Cyberbullying is a form of aggressive action that takes place on electronic devices/social media. Cyberbullying/electronic aggressive actions do not have to be a repeated behavior.
Relational aggression is a form of bullying in which kids use their friendship—or the threat of taking their friendship away—to hurt someone. Relational aggression takes many forms, including social exclusion, shunning, hazing, and rumor spreading.

HELPING OTHERS WHO ARE TARGETS OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR (BULLYING)

First: Stop, Breathe, & Put Yourself in the Target’s Shoes – What would you like others to do if you were the target of mistreatment?

The following are actions you can do to help others:

Balancing: Saying something positive about a person who was put down. Including someone who was excluded.
Supporting: Trying to help someone feel better when their feelings have been hurt. Showing them you care.
Reasoning: Talking a person out of doing something hurtful by helping them to think through the consequences of the action(s).
Distracting: Drawing attention away from an act of mistreatment.
Active Listening: The skill of paying attention and responding to the person’s thoughts and feelings. When the incident of mistreatment is too big for you to handle yourself, get adult help. Get adult help immediately if violence is involved.
Report Aggressive Behavior (Bullying): Fill out an Incident Reporting Form, which are also available at the school counselors office. Turn in the form to a School Counselor or an Administrator.

Start a Safety Plan right away

Tell the person who is being aggressive to stop in a loud voice to draw attention and then get away to a place you feel safe.
Feel free to go into any teacher’s classroom or an office when you feel threatened.
Ask a teacher to email your teachers and school counselor to be looking out for you. Try to avoid being alone and in areas where you might encounter the aggressor.
Keep evidence and document: Damaged property, emails, text messages, social media post screenshots and any evidence of injury.
Do not blame yourself.

If bullied again within the next 24 hours:

Walk away and tell another adult
Find a “safe room” and/or seek out friends or an adult

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