Bullies Never Win
National School Safety Week
October 17 – 23, 2019
Bullying continues to be a serious problem in Canada.
On the heels of this year’s return to school, children
across the country have started getting back into their routines, spending
their days with friends and classmates. But unfortunately, a lot of our
nation’s youth also find themselves spending time with bullies and aggressors.
October 17 – 23 is National School Safety Week and
this year, the Canada Safety Council’s message is simple: there can be no
tolerance for bullying. Whether you’re a student, an educator, a parent or a
caregiver, we all have a duty to keep children safe.
According to the Promoting Relationships &
Eliminating Violence Network (PREVNet), a network of researchers and
organizations shedding a light on bullying prevention, 75 per cent of people
say they have been affected by bullying. This can take shape either as a
victim, a bystander or an aggressor, and includes three primary forms of
bullying:
· Physical bullying, which can take the form of hitting,
destruction of property and physical humiliation;
· Verbal bullying, which can include teasing, threats
and name-calling; and
· Social bullying, which can include rumours, gossip and
exclusion with the intent of lowering the victim’s social worth among their
peers.
Additionally, the role that technology plays in
day-to-day life has contributed to the rise of cyber-bullying. This means that
victims aren’t easily able to escape the torment – bullying has become a
24-hour-a-day phenomenon, and has caused children to not even feel safe in
their own homes. PREVNet reports that one in five teenagers report being victimized
electronically, a number which has been steadily on the rise since the Internet
and smartphones became ubiquitous.
Be on the lookout for signs of your child being
bullied. These are numerous and varied, but can include: heightened anxiety,
low self-esteem and excessive self-deprecation, low performance in school,
visible injuries, irritability, unhappiness, withdrawal from activities they
once enjoyed, isolation and fear of going to school.
Conversely, you should also look for signs that your
child may be a bully. These signs can include: aggression, manipulative
behavior, unexplained money or items and a minimal concern for others’
feelings.
Your role in the bullying discussion is simple, yet
crucial, and begins long before your child is put in a situation where bullying
may arise. Open a conversation with your child and make it clear that
bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Let them know you will
always be prepared to listen and be their advocate. If your child is being
bullied, they won’t always be open to discussing it unless they know they can
trust you. Additionally, many children will not report cyber-bullying incidents
to their parents for fear that their phone or computer will be confiscated or
restricted. Make it clear that this will not be the case if such a situation
arises.
If your child tells you that they are being bullied,
document the bullying as best as you can. Keep text messages, emails and any
other examples that demonstrate the inappropriate behavior. Report the bullying
to the proper authorities – either school administrators or police, depending
on the severity. Monitor progress in managing to the desired change and be
vigilant in follow-up to ensure that the bully behavior stops.
Bullying can escalate quickly and your intervention
can make a difference in your child’s quality of life, both in the short- and
long-term.