Got Power?
Bystanders don’t need to just “stand by.” If they witness bullying, they can stand UP and speak out. When they do, they’re powerful. Seriously powerful. More than 60 percent of bullying situations will end when another student gets involved.
Getting involved doesn’t necessarily mean jumping into the middle of a fight—or even doing something publicly. It could mean giving the targets of bullying a little support, like telling them they didn’t deserve what happened. A few kind words—even spoken in private—are powerful. They let the person know someone cares and they’re not alone. That’s powerful.
When bystanders do nothing, it’s like saying bullying is more powerful than they are, than everybody is. And that’s just not true. If silence indicates agreement, speaking up shows who’s really got the power. The power to say no to bullying and yes to true coolness. Link arms, stand strong, and remember: Together we are powerful!
From "Kerv": My 9th grade focus group plans to take on this topic [bullying prevention and awareness] and to air out some feelings, experiences, impressions, and talk through a few strategies. Your website is going to be very helpful. One thing we began to discuss is the permission we give bullies to continue their hurtful and damaging behavior is when nothing is said in opposition. Sometimes "saying" is giving a disapproving look, verbal acceptance of the victim, and even calling out the BULLY POLICE -- protests by peers and adults who could impose sanctions/meaningful interventions against the bully. Sympathetic students must be willing to stand up on behalf of the bullied student more than once until the bully finds no allies or supporters. Well this is the approach my 9th graders want to take as an action on behalf of the student being bullied and strategies that decrease bullying
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I have found your blog to be wonderfully informative. I hope that kids will learn that bullying is not only damaging to the victim but it is also one of the quickest routes that a bully can take which leads to the bully's development of a negative self-image. The bully hurts the victim as well as his or her own inner-being.
ReplyDeleteCruelty is not hip. It is not cool. If a bully is misguided in thinking that such tactics may make him or her seem more cool or more popular, I encourage looking up the definition as I did on "POPULAR."
I was interested to read the definition of "POPULAR" in the Webster's dictionary:
"Suitable to common people; easy to be comprehended; not abstruse; familiar; plain."
"Adapted to or indicative of the understanding and taste of the majority."