Definition of Bullying
A person is being bullied with he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on part of one or more persons (Olweus, 1993) Students may bully a particular student on the basis of the student’s appearance, national origin, interests, academic achievement, economic status, or any number of factors.
The behavior of bullying occurs in four forms: Physical, Verbal, Emotional/Exclusion, and Cyber-Bullying.
- Physical Bullying: Hitting, kicking, or any physical aggression.
- Verbal Bullying: Teasing, name calling, put downs, or other behaviors that would deliberately hurt others’ feelings or make them feel bad.
- Emotional/Exclusion Bullying: Starting rumors, telling others not to be friends with someone, or other actions that would cause someone to be without friends.
Cyber-Bullying: Using an electronic device such as (but not limited to) computers, cell phones, and pagers to bully (bullying defined above) others through methods such as posting comments, statements, or pictures on blogs or websites, text messages, instant messaging, and email.
Bullying/Intimidating Behaviors can include, but are not limited to:
- Taunting
- Name Calling
- Rumor Spreading
- Making up stories to get other students in trouble
- Telling other students not to be friends with the targeted child
- Kicking, tripping, or pushing another child
- Making remarks about someone’s culture, religion, ethnicity, weight, physical appearance, disabilities, or medical condition
- Intimidating others
- Taking other student’s possessions or demanding money
- Damaging other student’s property
- Picking on other students, even when they are upset
- Making threats to other students
- Manipulating others, getting them to do things that they may not want to do
