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What Can Students Do About Bullying?
If you have any questions about the information contained within, or you'd like to find out more about Family Network on Disabilities FREE trainings, please visit our website at www.fndfl.org or call TOLL FREE in Florida 800-825-5736. Want to know more? We offer over 30 online tutorials on our website. You can find them at www.fndfl.org/Tutorials.asp What can students do about school bullying? There are a variety of ways students can be involved with bullying. A student can be a bully or the target of bullying. A student may even be both a target and a bully at the same time. Some students are bystanders. Some students may not be aware of bullying at their school and still be affected by the problems it creates. A student who is a target of bullying needs to know that bullies rarely stop what they are doing on their own. In fact, it is more likely that over time a bully will find more serious ways to hurt people. This is why it is important for a target of bullying to tell a responsible and caring adult at school what is happening and to ask for their help. In the meantime, targets can reduce the chances of being harmed by avoiding the times and places they are typically bullied, hang out in safe places at school, and stay close to good friends. It is important to keep reporting bullying until help is provided. A student who bullies in return for being bullied becomes one more bully at school. Some students make the mistake of thinking that carrying a weapon, joining a gang, or planning serious acts of retaliation will solve the problem. More often than not the act of revenge seriously hurts more than just the target- it hurts the bully, the target and innocent bystanders. Students who are bystanders to bullying must realize that they can either be a part of the problem or part of the solution. Bystanders are a powerful majority at any school. Bystanders have the power to help create safe and comfortable schools for themselves and other students. They can use their social power and personal actions to promote respect. They can carry out anti-bullying activities and campaigns. Bystanders should be warned against trying to protect a student or group of students who are being bullied. Peers who intervene risk retaliation or harm. The most important thing they can do is to report bullying when they see it happening to others. A student who is a bully needs help and support to admit the behavior is hurtful and wrong. It is important for students who bully to find respectful ways to express their power when they are with others. Like the target of bullying, a bully can ask for the help of a caring and responsible adult or agree to accept the help when it is offered. Resources: * Wrightslaw - The Special Ed Advocate
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