Fighting Bullying

October is Bully Prevention Month. Today the word bully is used freely any time one student makes unkind remarks to another student.  Calling a person names or making fun of another is not appropriate, it may not be bullying. It may be just be teasing.  Teasing can become bullying.  The true definition of bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.  (www.stopbullying.gov ) It is important to teach children how to not only how to handle a bully but how to stand up for bully prevention.  If we don't continually encourage and teach our students how to stand up, we will loose students to the worst side of bullying - suicide. 

Check out sites such as www.stopbullying.gov, http://www.pacer.org/bullying/, and http://www.nea.org/tools/lessons/teaching-students-to-prevent-bullying.html.  These are just a few that give tips and lessons for a teacher. Help give our students tools to prevent bullying.