USD 298 district employee Norma Kobbeman has posted a notice on the USD 298 website in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month.
Norma wrote, “By joint resolution, the Kansas State Senate and the Kansas State Board of Education declared the first full week of October as Kansas Anti-Bullying Awareness Week. October is also National Bullying Prevention Month. The Kansas Department of Education has encouraged everyone to wear pink on Tuesday, October 3 to raise awareness and address the harm that bullying creates.”
Lincoln Elementary School students were encouraged to support Anti-Bullying Awareness Week by dressing up on three different days. Monday, October 2 was designated “Inside Out” Day. Wearing their clothing inside out represented that words hurt more on the inside than on the outside. Wednesday, Oct 4 is Mismatch Day when students will wear mismatched clothing to express and appreciate our differences. Friday, October 6 has been designated “Blue Out” Day. Blue is the theme color supporting a safe and bully free school.
National Bullying Prevention Month takes place each year in October. To kick it off, October 2, 2023, is the 17th annual World Day of Bullying Prevention. Organizations like “Stomp Out Bullying” sponsor special events on this day to help spread the word. October 18, 2023, is Unity Day, a time to unite for kindness, acceptance and inclusion.
While all people are mean to one another from time to time, bullying is a persistent pattern of behavior meant to emphasize a power imbalance and hurt the victim. It can occur face-to-face or from afar via social media. Bullying over the internet is called cyberbullying and has become a major issue in many schools. One in five students now report experiencing bullying behavior for their physical appearance, race or ethnicity, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation and anything that might set them apart from their bullies.
Research indicates that strong bullying prevention programs can help reduce bullying at school. These programs can help potential bullies recognize and stop their own behavior. They can also empower victims, giving them the support needed to face bullying.
Bullying is not unique to certain cultures or civilizations; it isn’t even unique to humans. Animals have been known to exhibit such behavior as well, especially baboons.
Bullies have been around since Neanderthal Man and is still all too common around the globe. The effects are the same everywhere. A study spanning multiple countries even proved that bullying was common all over the world, and so were its effects. While the study showed variations in the targeted individuals, in no place was bullying completely absent.
No single culture is responsible for creating this behavior; this tendency to coerce, intimidate or harm others is likely evolutionary, scientists say. Man had to fight for everything once, and this attitude persists today.
Studies conducted on bullying were sporadic until Dan Olweus’s 1978 study. After studying school children and their overt behavior, he described bullying as physical harm. Various forms of indirect bullying did not enter his description. His research proved a strong base for others who study bullying in a variety of disciplines.
The description of bullying has evolved to include less obvious forms of bullying besides physical. Now verbal abuse and social exclusion are included in the effects.
According to Stopbullying. gov, the best thing a parent can do to try to protect their child from this behavior is to keep the lines of communication open, so the child is comfortable talking about things going on in his/her life. Research indicates that children look to parents and caregivers for advice and help on tough decisions, even when it may seem the opposite.
It is also recommended children are encouraged to do what they love in terms of activities, in hopes they will meet others with common interests.
Parents need to set an example of kindness and consideration, but so do our schools. Bullying is a serious issue that can have long-lasting effects on the victim. Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing bullying helping kids understand bullying, talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely, tell kids bullying is unacceptable, make sure kids know how to get help, keep the lines of communication open, check in with kids often, listen to them, know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns . Encouraging kids to do what they love, such as special activities, interests, and hobbies, can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them from bullying behavior .
Because schools can be a breeding ground for negativity, schools can play a vital role in preventing bullying by trying to build and maintain a positive school climate, where students feel safe, connected and engaged. In addition, social and emotional learning (SEL) involves teaching students how to manage emotions, set goals, establish relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL involves teaching students how to manage emotions, set goals, establish relationships and make responsible decisions. SEL programs can help students develop empathy, respect and kindness toward others, which reduces bullying behavior.
StopBullying.gov provides a wealth of resources for parents, educators, and students to prevent bullying. They offer tips for parents of middle schoolers, strategies for staying safe, and ways to help children build resilience.
Remember, preventing bullying requires a collective effort from everyone in the community. By working together, we can create a safe and supportive environment for all.
