The Bystanders Guide to

Handling Bullying

Michael Alvarado, Daniel Berardo, Luis Gonzalez, Holly

Hunter
Introduction to the Problem
Bullying is a serious problem that plagues many
schools throughout the United States. Every day,
numerous incidents of bullying happen without anyone
reacting to the situation. Our goal with this guide is
to give new high school students tools they can use
when they become bystanders to bullying.
Definition of Bullying
Bullying is comprised of direct behaviors such as teasing, taunting, threatening,
hitting, and stealing that are initiated by one or more students against a victim.
(Banks 140)

A student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and

over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other students. (Olweus
144)

Bullying is repeated aggressive behavior or, quite simply, unprovoked meanness.

Its a form of intimidation, which is behavior designed to threaten, frighten, or
coerce someone. (Kowalski 152)
Definition of Bullying (continued)
Bullying is a specific type of aggression in which (1) the behavior is intended to
harm or disturb, (2) the behavior occurs repeatedly over time, and (3) there is an
imbalance of power this asymmetry of power may be physical or psychological,
and the aggressive behavior may be verbal physical or psychological. (Nansel
174)

What these definitions have in common:

The act of bullying involves two or more people

Bullying is not simply one form of aggression; it can come in many forms
Bullying is repeated over and over again for a long period of time
EDUHSD Official Policy on
Bullying
Page 1 of the Student Handbook
Any form of discrimination one can think
of is prohibited by the districts policy
Retaliations against people who report
bullying are prohibited
If you see bullying happen, REPORT IT
to a staff member immediately
Consequences for Violating Policy
People who engage in bullying
behavior are subject to appropriate
discipline, from counseling up to
expulsion / placed under arrest
These terms apply to BOTH students
& faculty (faculty may be dismissed)
Causes of bullying
People feel powerless in their
own lives
Someone else is bullying
them so they feel a need to
lash out
Jealousy / frustration toward
their target
Lack of understanding or
empathy for others
("What Are the Causes of Bullying.")
Causes of bullying (continued)
Looking for attention by becoming a hostel figure

Negative family influences

Behaviour gets rewarded in the forms of attention

and fear

Inability to regulate emotions, feel like bullying is

the only way to express themselves

("What Are the Causes of Bullying.")

Examples of bullying
Physical Bullying
Punching, pushing, tripping
Verbal Bullying
Name calling, slander, mimicking others, verbal threats
Cyber Bullying
Using the Internet and other technology to abuse, spread lies
or threaten their victims
Why bystanders might join in on bullying
They are pressured to participate in the bullying
They fear being hurt by the bully or becoming another victim
They say I just dont know what to do to make it stop
They believe it to be a joke

("Bystander"
)
What we found about our school
31 students were surveyed

58% say they have been BULLIED

before

35.5% say they have been a

BULLY

74% have WITNESSED bullying

What we found about our school (cont.)
The majority of people interviewed said a fellow student intervened to stop the
bullying -- not a teacher or faculty member

The majority also commented even if the school intervenes not much happened and
the bullying continues

The majority of people also commented the bullying affected them in a negative way
as well -- even to this day
77.4% of people at our school believe that cyber bullying is a problem and that we
need more awareness and support against it

However, 19.4% believe people should just walk away from it and turn off the
computer

50% believe you can stand up to bullying; 50% believe you cannot
What we learned about our school (Cont.)
25% of people believe that the staff needs help stop bullying more

50% believe that the kids should handle it more

The last 25% do not know where to start on the problem

What we learned about our school (Cont.)
35.5% always stand up to a bully when bullied
36% rarely or never stand up when bullied
38.7% of people always or often stand up to bullying when they are a bystander
61.3% would want to always stand up to a bully though
How can bystanders make a difference?
Stand up to bullies by having people unite together and tell the bully to stop
If someone sees another being bullied they can say to the bully that is not cool
and it needs to stop
All it takes is for a few people to form together and defend the victim to limit
the power of the bully and then the bully will feel he is weak and so therefore
the bullying will stop
Conclusion
It is up to peers to stop bullying and the more people who stand together the
more the bully will stop
A few people standing up for victims can truly make a difference and could even
save a person from committing suicide
Bullying can never be 100% over, but it can be prevented and its up to the
bystanders to stand up for the victim
Works Cited
Agatston, Patricia W., Robin Kowalski, and Susan Limber. Students Perspectives on Cyber Bullying.
Journal of Adolescent Health 41 (2007). Web. 27 Jan. 2013.
Banks, Ron. Bullying in Schools. ERIC Digest ERIC Digests ED407154, Apr. 1997. ERIC Clearinghouse
on Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Web. 15 Aug. 2003.
"Bystander." Eyes on Bullying. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 May 2017.
Coloroso, Barbara. The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander. New York: Harper-Quill, 2004. Print.
Duncan, Arne. Elementary and Secondary Education: Key Policy Letters from the Education Secretary and
Deputy Secretary. US Department of Education, 14 June 2011. Web. 3 Sept. 2012.
El Dorado High School. "A Safe Place to Learn." Introduction. Student Handbook. Placerville: El
Dorado High School, 2016. 1+. Print.
Works Cited (continued)
Kan-Rice, Pamela. School Bullies Are Often Also Victims; Feeling Safe Reduces Youth Bullying.
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources News and Information Outreach.
University of California, 2 Sept. 2003. Web. 8 July 2004
Kowalski, Kathiann. How to Handle a Bully. Current Health 2 25.6 (1999): 13-16. Web. 15 Aug.
2004.
Kuther, Tara L. Understanding Bullying. Our Children 29.2 (2004): 12-13. Print.
Nansel, Tonja R., Mary Overpeck, Ramani S. Pilla, W. June Ruan, Bruce Simons-Morton, and Peter
Scheidt. Bullying Behaviors Among U.S. Youth: Prevalence and Association with
Psychosocial Adjustment. NIH Public Access, 25 Apr. 2001. Web. 21 June 2008.
"What Are the Causes of Bullying." NoBullying - Bullying & CyberBullying Resources. N.p., 18 Apr.
2017. Web. 11 May 2017.
Works Cited (continued)
Olweus, Dan. A Profile of Bullying at School. Educational Leadership 60.6 (2003): 12-17. Print.
Stop the Bullying PSA. Prod. Carol Trulli. Wilmington Middle School, Wilmington, MA, 2010. Web.
29 Jan. 2013.