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Bullying Prevention
What is bullying?
Bullying...
is confrontational, deliberate, mean and hurtful
behavior.
Bullying...
can focus on many things, including a person's
height, size, race, religion, sexual orientation or even their
general appearance.
Bullying...
can be done by one person or a group of people.
If you are a victim of bullying...
keep in mind that it is not your fault. No one
deserves to be bullied and everyone has the right to learn in
school. Most importantly, everyone has the right to be
themselves.
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Talk to someone you trust, such as a parent,
relative, teacher, counselor or a friend.
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Write a note to someone you trust asking for
help.
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Try using humor. "Yes, I do look like a geek
in these glasses, but I'm going for the Harry Potter look."
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Stay calm and walk away.
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Keep a journal about each occurrence telling
how you feel.
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Confront the bully with a friend and be firm
and assertive.
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Never confront a bully aggressively or
physically or if a weapon is present and give into the
bully's demands if you feel your safety is at stake.
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For free, confidential help, contact the
Sexual Assault and Crime Victims Assistance Program for
Rensselear County at (518) 271-3445.
If you see someone being bullied...
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Reach out to the victim.
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Walk together in the halls.
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Arrange a common meeting place if your
lockers are far apart.
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Eat lunch in a group.
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Be nearby in the locker room.
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Encourage them to tell someone.
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If the victim wants to be firm and assertive
and talk to the bully go with them. (Do this in a group as
there is safety in numbers.)
Remember that by NOT helping, you are sending
a message that the bully's behavior is OK.
Bullying affects your entire school.
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Creates low morale
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Leaves victims feeling helpless and angry
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Can lead to violence
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Increases absenteeism and dropout rate
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Makes everyone feel unsafe
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Makes bystanders feel guilty
Forms of bullying
Verbal
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Teasing
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Threatening
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Name calling
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Taunting
Physical
Emotional
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Rumors
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Excluding
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Scaring
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Isolation
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Gesturing
Information from the Sexual Assault & Crime
Victims Assistance Program for Rensselaer County.
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