The question comes down to this: by calling a child a bully, are you reinforcing that behaviour? Forever typecasting them into the role of bully? Building up their self-image into that of a bully? Currently, there’s at least a few different ways of thinking about this issue: The first group believes that the focus of bullying should be on changing behaviour and that labeling the participants is counterproductive to that (e.g., we should refer to ‘the child that bullies’ rather than ‘the bully’.) Especially in the cases of learning disabilities and illness, that makes sense. You don’t want to forever refer to the child with asthma as ‘the asthmatic’. There’s more to any child than their illness or disability and so they ...
In Barbara Coloroso’s renowned book on bullying, The Bully, The Bullied and the Bystander, she makes a clear distinction between teasing and taunting. Teasing is a benign act between friends not intended to cause hurt and done in a light-hearted way with both parties able to switch roles easily. Teasing is not bullying. Taunting on the other hand is intended to cause harm, is one-sided, malicious in motive and involves cruel comments thinly veiled as jokes. Teasing and Bullying: Teasing Is a Normal Part of Healthy Relationships Teasing is a fun thing done between friends – with people you care about. Because of this, teasing does not involve comments about the ‘big 5′ subjects often come up in verbal bullying: ...
In a recent call with a school administrator, they mentioned to me that they weren’t interested in tracking name calling incidents, didn’t consider name calling bullying and wouldn’t want students that call other students names labelled as bullies. Now, one of the great parts of my job is that I get to speak with motivated and dedicated school administrators all around the world every single day! In this rare instance though, I was a bit taken a back. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” is a lie! This couldn’t be more the case than with young students who have yet to fully develop a sense of self. From the perspective of a mature ...
Are you a parent that’s just found out from your child (or your child’s school) that they’re being bullied? The folks over at the UK Anti-Bullying Alliance have put out these five steps for parents just like you: Understand your role: As the parent, your task is to listen, remain calm and reassure your child that things will get better once action is taken. Helping your child through bullying is an ongoing process, and so it’s important that the lines of communication between you and your child remain open. Being a calm, safe place where your child can talk will help to ensure that happens. Listen attentively: The fear and shame attached to being bullied means that children are often ...
We’re excited to welcome Trochu Valley School in Alberta, Canada into the BRIM family of schools! They featured BRIM in their school news section of their website and you can learn more about their implementation of BRIM by visiting http://trochuvalley.ghsd75.ca/News.php?news_id=440
The Canadian RCMP has put out their own It Gets Better video featuring RCMP officers telling their stories of coming out to family, dealing with bullying in high school and, most importantly, how things really do get better for queer youth after high school!
Important Update March, 2017: According to the Ontario Ministry of Education’s website: “Please note that as of April 1, 2016, the Registry of Resources for Safe and Inclusive Schools has been permanently phased out and is no longer available on the Ministry of Education’s website.” Great news! As of November 1, 2012 BRIM Anti-Bullying Software has been reviewed by the province of Ontario’s Ministry of Education and approved for listing on the Ministry’s Registry of Resources for Safe and Inclusive Schools. BRIM is the latest in anti-bullying technologies for schools. BRIM is founded on the basis that communication is key. When students and parents have a clear line of communication with teachers and administrators, they can report bullying and work ...
First, the good news: according to an August 2012 Ipsos Reid Survey, Canadians across the country are all concerned with bullying. Saskatoon and Manitoba were the provinces where the greatest percentage of people are “very concerned” about bullying. Alberta and British Columbia were the provinces with with the lowest percentage of people reporting they are “very concerned” about bullying. This survey was undertaken just as the province of British Columbia begins implementation of their ERASE Anti-Bullying Program. Concern About Bullying: Across the Provinces Saskatoon and Manitoba 61 per cent Atlantic Canada 57 per cent Ontario 51 per cent Quebec 49 per cent British Columbia 42 per cent Alberta 42 per cent Survey Size and Margin of Error The survey was ...
Premier Christy Clark of British Columbia announced her government’s new ERASE (Expect Respect and a Safe Education) back in June of 2012. According to the BC government’s press release on the ERASE program, the program includes 10 elements that will kick in to effect starting with the 2012/2013 School Year. As highlighted in point 4 of the ERASE program’s 10 point plan, this plan introduces tougher, mandatory reporting of bullying incidents in all school districts. How that reporting process should work is not completely clear, however in other provinces (e.g., Ontario and Quebec), the laws specifically state that all bullying incidents must be reported to the school principal or their designee. What the ERASE Program Means for British Columbia Schools ...
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