BULLYING MUST STOP!

OBJECTIVES

• To raise awareness of bullying in schools

• To propose measures that we should undertake to ensure our class is free of any type of bullying

What does bullying mean?

NEWS

[...] She described the old method of dealing with bullies as having only two options: ignoring the tormentor or responding aggressively.“We’re teaching that the best choice is you let people know with your words and your body language and your voice how they’re treating you is not OK,” she said.Bishop-Yanke, 44, teaches children to stand up to bullies by first confronting them and then walking away. If after three times the bully persists, then the child should seek help from an adult. Just ignoring the bully doesn’t help, she said.“It doesn’t go away,” she said. “All it does is send the message, ‘I can keep treating you that way ’cause you’re not gonna do anything about it.’”Pat Strauss, the school’s social worker, said this method has been more effective than others. “Too many times we hear, ‘Just ignore them’”, she saidBishop-Yanke founded Birmingham-based Girls and Boys Empowered 11 years ago. It offers counseling for children who are bullied or have low self-esteem. The company also trains teachers and staff to deal with bullying and help their students. Bullied youths are more likely to have mental health problems, be more susceptible to substance abuse, have academic problems and exhibit violent behavior.Strauss said Bishop-Yanke’s method “gives kids their power back” and teaches them that their feelings are important.“This is a positive way of helping kids be able to stand up for themselves and not rely on others to take care of them,” she said.

TASK 1• Make a list of things that we

should do to improve the situation. For example: Everyone’s opinion should be respected.

HOW CAN BE STOP BULLYING HAPPENING IN

SCHOOLS?

CONCLUSIONS

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