Basic HTML Version
SPRING
2011
maskmatters.org
71
T
he most recognized form of
bullying in elementary school is
physical violence—such as hitting,
punching, pushing or taking
another student’s belongings. However, as
prevalent as physical violence is, verbal
bullying is more common and can be even
more damaging as its physical counterpart.
Verbal bullying comes in many forms, including taunting, threatening or
making fun of a student’s gender, religion, appearance, socioeconomic
status or mannerisms. This type of bullying tends to spread quickly among
students, who “follow” without thinking of the harm or consequences of
what they’re doing.
Verbal bullying can also lead to social alienation, which happens when a
student is excluded from the group or the rest of the class and made to feel
inferior or different from everyone
else. The bully’s unspoken message
is that for others to avoid becoming
his/her next target, the bystander
should ignore their conscience and
join in the isolate-the-victim game.
According to recent studies,
elementary school bullying is most
commonly perpetrated by boys, who
look for opportunities to take part
in physical bullying when teachers
and adults aren’t present or paying
close enough attention, such as on
the playground, in bathrooms, or in
crowded hallways. They’re also most likely to pick on younger children.
Bullying that occurs among girls mainly involves social exclusion. Girls
gang up against a victim as way of exerting control.
Verbal bullying can also lead
to social alienation, which
happens when a student is
excluded from the group or
the rest of the class and made
to feel inferior or different
from everyone else.
WHAT BULLYING
LOOKS LIKE
• Name calling or yelling
• Making faces, rolling eyes
• Scribbling on someone’s work
• Trips or knocks books out of the
victim’s arms
• Pushing, shoving and hitting
• Threatening comments
• Leaving a friend out of a situation,
isolation
• Whispering behind someone’s back
• Gossip
• Making up false rumors about the
victim
CONVERSATION
STARTERS
• Do you know of anyone who has been
bullied? How do you think it must
feel?
• I can remember being bullied in
school. Have you had to deal with a
situation like that?
• My friend, who is also a parent, told
me that his third grader was bullied.
• What would you do if someone
pushed you?
• How would you feel if no one sat with
you at lunch? What would you do?
• What would you do if all your friends
were leaving a friend out?
• Did you know that just standing next
to the victim can stop the bully?
What You Can Do
• Help your child develop social skills.
Encourage them to be friends with
people of different backgrounds.
• Build empathy in your kids. If you see
examples of people being bullied, talk
with your children about how these
people might feel.
• Role play with your child about bullies.
Come up with words and actions they
can use if they’re ever in that situation.