Students are bullied for a number of reasons, which include but are not limited to race, religion, popularity, intelligence, vulnerability, isolation, physical characteristics, economic circumstances, disabilities and success.
Some people argue that changing behaviors and appearances to mitigate bullying is the answer in reducing incidents; however the real answer is identifying, reporting and changing the behavior of the bully. The BRIM Anti-Bullying Software Application is a game changer in safe anonymous reporting. Actions need to have consequences and without reporting, bullying situations tend to get worse; they don’t magically get better without intervention. The good news, BRIM can be implemented daily for less than the cost of a cup of coffee…
Although often over looked, successful students get targeted for bullying frequently and even when reported, school administrators tend to dismiss these incidents due to the perception that successful students can’t be bullied… because they are successful which somehow negates the bullying in the minds of these administrators. Nevertheless, it does happen and it happens far more than it is reported. There is a stigma attached to the successful students and it is that those students don’t need help and they are expected to deal with the bullying on their own. This stereotyping by school administrations needs to be addressed and corrected. BRIM tracks all reported incidents and by many various categories which can be sorted and filtered to help identify reoccurring incidents so that administrators can be proactive. Often, the results of whom are being targeted and bullied are surprising to school officials.
The BRIM Anti-Bullying Software application is a very important tool for those that are most vulnerable to bullying and physical abuse because it reports instantaneously and anonymously. The BRIM app allows photo and video uploading to support the facts of the incident… the old cliché that a picture is worth a thousand words is never truer than when reporting bullying. That said, BRIM is not a substitute for contacting the police during an emergency situation. Students that tend to be introverted, submissive, anxious or “people pleasers” are often seen as vulnerable and are perceived as weaker than the bully and are targeted by bullies because the bullies do not fear repercussions from these students. Once again, anonymous reporting by other student witnesses who don’t have to fear reprisal from the bully is very valuable and the catalyst for an improved student learning environment and safe campus.
Short, tall, thin, large, bespectacled…. physical characteristics can cause bullies to act out and this type of bullying can be especially hurtful because physical characteristics are not easily changed. Economic status whether a student is too poor or too rich also can be a catalyst for bullying along with students learning English as a second language. The BRIM Anti-Bullying software application is offered in Spanish and French in addition to English. Unfortunately, there is almost a seemingly endless list of why bullies target other students however whenever BRIM Anti-Bullying software is implemented there is a sharp reduction of bullying incidents.
