Bullying Prevention: How You Can Help
Susan Swearer, PhD, Co-Director of the Bullying Research Network and expert consultant for Education.com, says there is a list of actions parents can take if they suspect their child is being bullied.
First, it's important to create a safe place, says Susan, a place that is not judgmental or over-reactive. Parents must gather the facts. Second, it’s important to teach your child how to be what she calls “appropriately assertive,” and say no to bullying. Research shows that if a child stands up and acts assertively, it often derails bullying behaviors in the future.
Last, Susan says the number one tip for parents to handle bullying at school is to demand help from your school or create your own. If you are worried about your child is being bullied, you need to go up the chain of command. If you’re not getting results you want, go to the PTA and gather support. Be part of a grassroots movement to demand change.
Watch Susan backstage for all her tips on preventing bullying...
Go to Education.com to read 10 Actions Parents Can Take If Their Child Has Been Bullied.
Comments
That teacher and principal should be fired. Yes! Absolutely!! What is a child to do when we as adults tell them to "tell someone, an adult, that you are being bullied and they will help you." Especially that principal. Gees, I would not want someone that clueless and ignorant running my sons school. Hats off to Andersons guests...hang in there it will get better as you get older. MOST adults are not as out-of-touch as those in the Bully movie. I am now going to go and sign the petition to change the rating on the movie. Good luck to all!
Thank you Anderson, bringing to your shaw a very sensitive culture, which no body want to talk arranging marriage. Hope things will be a lesson to all of us. Jewish community,African, Muslim, Asian and the others.
I just want to say not to tally avoiding arranging marriage, but it has to be with women voice has to be respected.
Regarding bully, not only at school, what about among adults to adults its silent killer.
Any way I vote to be PG.
Thank you again, You are a great person.
BULLYING is not HUMAN and that every school should administer to that rule.
I believe in every school they should show the documentary BULLY, so the bullies understand how the victim feels, that would not only make them empathize with the victim but also portray bully itself as the main villain, because when they bully someone they think its fun and cool because they do not see the other side of it, but when they see how it affects the victim then no kid would want to be the villain or the bad guy or the bully. The parents and the teachers should discourage bullying. Its the duty of every parent to stop the bullying behavior of their kids when they notice instead of ignoring. Its important how parents and teachers add value and discretion.
Talk show's like this has created better awareness in the society and has given much needed strength to many other victims.
I am in tears while writing this comment I couldn't believe how those children were bullying this boy on the bus and NO ONE helped him, we wonder why we have some much violence in this world those children that were bullied will one day explode. I felt like jumping through the television and helping this boy that is how angry I was while watching. I wish the best for this child and other children that are being bullied. Alex looks so sad... look how they beat this poor boy down mentally it is so sad.
The bullying segment really broke my heart. I related completely because I was bullied a lot, but I always fought back and as a result always was the one who ended up in trouble! I too dropped out of school because I hated it so much and I hated the meanness of others. I am now a very successful nurse, wife, and mother and I pray for the success of all of the kids who have been bullied like I was. Alex has the most wonderful smile, and good for him for telling his story!!
Hello, Great show on bullying it shoud be mandatory that it be shown to 6th thru 12 graders maybe it will embarass some of these idiots that are called bullies i am speaking from past experience and I am 48 yrs. old I have 3 boys riding the bus and almost terrified about the bus and recess . We raised our boys to treat everyone the same no matter what they looked like or how they spoke and with that is one reason We believe the may be BULLIED Sincerely D. DeWayne Evans
I am slapped at the instances of bullying in our schools and busses. Scoop officials should stand up for students who are bullied, in depth looks at the situation and the guilty parties should be punished. And parents of bullies should be questioned re the actions of their children.
Thank you for the opportunity to voice my opinion.
Cathy Krynski
Watching the bullying segment shocked me! I teach in a school where any kind of bullying is not tolerated.
Bullying of others is just one more negative symptom of a 'working' generation that is failing to raise their children with morals, ethics, and consequences. Daycare centers/babysitters are overseeing these kids, but are not raising them! By the time these kids go to school, it is too late, which is apparent in their appalling behavior towards others. We need to get a parent back in the home, and as a nation we should all be striving to make this a reality...because if we don't, the rest of us have to live with the outcome of multiple generations lacking morals/ethics,or consequences. Parents need to understand that giving birth requires more of their time than the first 3 mos of the child's life. Their committment to raise a child and staying home needs to extend thru to 1st grade, then only returning to work on 'mother's hours', and be there when the child gets home from school. I've known some great young people, but I've also been exposed to those that make your skin crawl. The youth of today, are our society of tomorrow. I can't imagine what the impact will be with another generation of daycare kids reaching adulthood. I was a single Mom who had to work, but if I had it to do over again, I would have raised my children with state assistance and been there for them. They deserved no less!
Bullying of this school kid and no one takes up for him. SHAME on them. This makes me mad. The parents of those bullies should be held responsible. Blame the parents. It's kids like these who will never be leaders or mount to anything or have a decent life for themselves. As for the fat ass who sat behind that desk representing the school, she's no teacher, she should be relieved of her duties. This type of behaviour shows that parents who have brats for children really are nobodies themselves.
I never had this prob;em when I was going to school but I worry about my grand children now as it is very prominent also here in Canada. It is most concerning world wide from what I gather.
Adults need to step up and stop this behaviour, I think it should be discussed in every home for the one who is being bullied as well as the bully. Perhaps the education received in the home is more important than everyone thinks.
I have been a school bus driver for 23 years. The idea that it takes a village to raise a child is still what needs to happen. It takes the whole adult community in each child's life to make things work properly. As one person in a child's life I can only do so much, but you add the teacher, principal, and parent into that equation and we can be "a force to reckoned with"
I just watched the segment on Bullying. This gets me so angry! I have 4 grown kids now but if I EVER found out they were bullying someone or even going along with these other kids that are making the victim feel bad, I would be on them so fast! I also taught them to treat others how they would want to be treated. Stand up for themselves and kids like Alex. Where are the parent's of these doing the bullying? And that principal with the shaking hands crap! She has NO clue what that boy is going thru!! I wish there was something I could do to change all this. Hang in there Alex! Your sooo much better than any of these jerks.
My son was bullied by the teachers at our school...if he hadn't been a Senior at the time he would have changed schools but we are in a rural community which made it harder to do. And he is not a quitter... This teacher/waiting to be principal made his life so miserable because he drove a truck to school...again we live in a farming community and he worked on 2-4 farms...played football...was in Band...FFA...and the A honor roll...graduated in the top of his class...but this teacher labeled him as a BAD A$$ because he drove a truck...wore Caterpillar work boots...jeans...and Carhartt shirts and coat and a John Deere cap...we all drive trucks around here they are a necessity...this teacher was originally from a bigger town...he kicked my kid out of the parking lot...after calling me and telling me that he was messing around in the lot, when I asked the teacher what he did he didn't know he just knew he did something wrong. He got kicked off the lot again and when he called me I asked again what he did he hung up on me...real professional...some kids pulled a prank at the school and the "truck boys" (kids who drove trucks to school of which there were several) did it...my son was home in his bed when it happened...his truck got a huge dent in it at the school parking lot during an evening function...they have cameras but the camera where my sons truck was parked didn't work that evening...hmmmm..you thinking what I am??? They had highway patrol sitting in the lot one morning parked with their backs to the drive way, facing where the boys with trucks parked...all the boys got written up for minor things...a light out etc. we were told that the officers were there checking kids on the phone and texting when they arrived at the school...again...hmmmm with their backs to the drive????? I talked to an expert on bulling and he said to go the school administration...hmmmm...how do you do that when they are the ones doing the bulling???? When I told the "expert" this he didn't know what to do either...
I know there are other kids who drive trucks to school and have had the same kind of treatment...it is bad when kids bully kids but what do the kids do when it is the teachers and staff that are the bullies??? Keep watch of your kids I could tell with my son because he is very quiet...when he would come home from football practice and work he would walk in the house with his hands in fists so hard that his knuckles were white I knew something was up....so please keep an eye on your kiddos and ask questions...the will talk to you if you let them know they can trust you...
My 14 yr old son was bullied thru text msg, facebook, & daily at school by a 17 yr old for the last 7 1/2 months. 3 weeks ago he walked into class, the bully shook my son's hand, called him a ****** & my son snapped! He punched the bully several times until the teacher broke up the fight. Bully no consequences! My son suspended for 5 days, expelled from this high school. School district held an expulsion meeting w-out us & wants my son to go to 6 anger management classes, expulsion stays on his record. My son did everything he was told to do, walked away, ignored the bully, told the teacher of this class, who by the way told my son "boys will be boys" & let it continue. The schools are responsible for your childs safety when they are there, so yes I hold the school, teachers & adminstrator responsible for not acting on the complaints.