BULLYING

WHAT YOU CAN DO

Maybe you're not being bullied but you know someone who is. Have you ever stood around when someone was being bullied but you weren't sure what, if anything, you could do? Maybe you figured that nothing you could do would make a difference. Think again.

• Refuse to join in. Don't laugh at mean jokes or crowd around someone who is being harassed.
• Correct classmates. If you hear an untrue rumor, correct the people who spread it and ask them to stop repeating it.
• Try to be a friend to the person being bullied. That person needs to know that people will be supportive through this difficult time.
• Keep an eye on bullied kids. When bullying becomes too much to bear, victims may choose destructive behaviors themselves to avoid the bully and the situation. If you see any of these signs, tell a parent, teacher, counselor, coach, or any other adult who is close to the situation.
• Don't question the victims. Kids get picked on through no fault of their own. Be careful not to unintentionally make a victim feel as though he or she did something to encourage the bullying.
• Let a teacher or other adult know what's happening . Adult intervention can stop bullying before it escalates into violence.
• Don't fight the bully yourself. It may not be safe to fight back, and you do not want to be labeled as a bully! Tell an adult instead.

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