Stop Bullying on the Spot

Two students fight in classWhen adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time. There are simple steps adults can take to stop bullying on the spot and keep kids safe.

Do:
Intervene immediately. It is ok to get another adult to help.
Separate the kids involved.
Make sure everyone is safe.
Meet any immediate medical or mental health needs.
Stay calm. Reassure the kids involved, including bystanders.
Model respectful behavior when you intervene.

Avoid these common mistakes:
Don’t ignore it. Don’t think kids can work it out without adult help.
Don’t immediately try to sort out the facts.
Don’t force other kids to say publicly what they saw.
Don’t question the children involved in front of other kids.
Don’t talk to the kids involved together, only separately.
Don’t make the kids involved apologize or patch up relations on the spot.

Get police help or medical attention immediately if:
A weapon is involved.
There are threats of serious physical injury.
There are threats of hate-motivated violence, such as racism or homophobia.
There is serious bodily harm.
There is sexual abuse.
Anyone is accused of an illegal act, such as robbery or extortion—using force to get money, property, or services.

Is this advice for when physical fighting is happening in a classroom for teachers?

For both parents and teachers. Here is the link http://www.stopbullying.gov/respond/on-the-spot/index.html

On the street were I live myself as well as the neighbors watch each others children all of the time. occasionally fights happen, kids make fun of each other and so on usually it is not to bad but things happen:)

I can't stand bullies...if i see someone getting bullied physically i make sure i teach that bully a lesson he'll never forget

an example of bullying being imposed by another bully... teaching a lesson is not done with violence just another form of being a bully.

Who said anything about violence dude, so what are you insinuating?

Actually this response only makes the situation worse. More often than not people who bully are were bullied themselves so this just re-enforces the behavior. And puts all involved at great risk for further retaliation. And the person trying to protect the bullied in the cross hairs of legal action.

Bullying is not just someone needing taught a lesson but taught coping skills and empathy and that is a long process.

The most effective tool against bullying is stopping bullying behavior in it's formation. Leading by example by not calling names, doing spiteful things, and telling hateful jokes.

Good on you Romeo, someone has to step up and whether the child being bullied is yours or not, children will respect you for it. Turning a blind eye solves nothing.
At times the adult parents bully you for intervening....

Thanks sweety i've actually stood up for kids & adults being bullied in real life & its got me quite a few fans & that includes the bullies too lol

I have a had a parent pick on me all summer for stopping their child from pushing another on the ground he did the same thing another time and my oldest sons friend stopped it that time.

Another child damaged my youngest sons umbrella while shoving it into the door trying to get into our home. His step parent made him apologize and work off the cost of the umbrella. So each parent and or step parent has different views on a how to deal or not deal with the problem.

When a teenager was being obviously assaulted on my street a couple of weeks ago, the adults kept on driving and did nothing.... We live in a quiet neighbourhood, not the norm for this type of bullying to happen at all.
Some dont want to get involved, but if it was their child they would hope someone would step up. Well, you would think so anyhow.

In that scenario I would have called the police from my home that way no one would have known who made the call. I think that is another worry people have when it comes to doing something.

Just stopping the car right beside them can diffuse the situation.
I dont think I would wait for the police...but that is my choice. Intervening quickly is best before it accelerates and someone gets more damaged.
You do have to consider your safety, but your voice and presence is enough most times.

Meh...
Tasing seems to work wonders.

With teenagers I would worry about them being armed with something. The police are pretty good about coming. My area is low tolerance so someone usually calls.

I don't believe in tasing small children. Some of their parents on the other hand ....

He is fooling around. Rockgnome would not do that, despite his protests that he would....

First, I have to start by saying there is no such thing as "bullying" unless you are talking about someone five years of age or younger (that includes those who may be twelve physically but mentally are only 5).

Bullying is a "relatively" newer term in regards to the behavior of children old enough to know better and teenagers. Some common actions that get labeled as bullying are:


1: Punching a kid or beating them up
* This is not bullying, it is assault. Appropriate response start at
physical intervention and go up through calling the police and filing
charges (yes, the school CAN press charges against the aggressor, even if
the victims parents don't want them to, because it happened on school
property.

2: Tripping a kid as he walks past
* Again, this is assault, not bullying; see response above

3: Pinching, Poking, pulling, shoving...
* again, assault; see above

4: Calling names, Insulting, using racial slurs....
* This is not bullying, it is harassment and verbal assault, could also
include stalking. Appropriate responses are the same as above.

5: Taking a kids lunch money under threat of harm
* This is not bullying it is extortion and should ALWAYS involve the police
as part of the intervention

6. Hiding the kids clothes when they are in the gym shower
* Sexual Assault. Involve the police every single time

My point is that every single thing that gets labeled as bullying (because the aggressor is a minor) is in fact not bullying, but an actual crime that would see an adult in jail or prison. With this being the case, we need to stop the double standards and if the minor is old enough and mentally capable of understanding right from wrong, then it should be the very same result that would happen to you or me if we did it.

THAT is the only way we are going to get a handle on "bullying"