In the News - August 2009
Back to School II: Bullying on the syllabus
LITTLE ROCK - Bullying can happen to anyone at any age, but the most
concentrated cases are usually in the school years. With families readying their
children for back-to-school, some children may be dreading the first day more
than most.
"Bullying isn't just on the playgrounds anymore. It includes taunts in text
messages and Facebook and MySpace pages, not just physically or verbally," said
Dr. Wally Goddard, professor and family life specialist with the University of
Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service. "When we start thinking of bullying as
harassment rather than a childhood right-of-passage, we'll be better able to
address and put an end to it."
Here are some ways to detect when a child is being bullied and what action to
take.
First, if your child is afraid to go, avoids the bus, or asks you to change
the normal route to school, or says he or she is sick on school mornings, he or
she is most likely experiencing the first stages of bullying. If he or she
begins to lose things like lunch money, lunch boxes or clothes or returns home
with clothes torn or school supplies destroyed, the bullying has progressed.
"When your child has become withdrawn or has good grades that begin to drop,
it's crucial you address the situation," Goddard said. "If kids start to have
nightmares about school or talk about suicide, the bullying has gotten to such a
point that it is not manageable for them at all. Help must be sought to turn the
situation around."
Parents and adults in a child's life can help the child deal with and even
stop bullying, but it must be addressed as soon as possible. The first step is
to take seriously any of the warning signs your child may exhibit. Approach your
child about what you've noticed and listen to what they have to say about their
experiences at school.
Next, work with your child to develop a plan on how to address the bully and
bullying.
"This is an opportunity to teach your child how to face a problem and solve
it," Goddard said. "Talk with your child about the situation. Your child may be
able to avoid or ignore the bully. Or your child might use the buddy system to
make him a less likely target. Work with your child to identify adults who could
help."
If your child has faced the bully and the situation has not stopped or gets
worse, meet with the teacher and principal at the school. "There are good
reasons to meet with school personnel," Goddard said. "They truly may not know
anything is going on between the bully and your child, or other children may be
bullied by the same student, and your input will reinforce the school's approach
in dealing with it."
Don't forget to follow up with the teacher or principal to ensure the
situation is being addressed and monitored. Working together, the bullying will
stop and your child will feel safer as a result.
For more information about bullying, visit extension's Web site,
www.uaex.edu,
or contact your county extension agent.
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas
Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons
regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability,
marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an
Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
August 14, 2009
By Kelli Reep
For the Cooperative Extension Service
Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Extension Communications Specialist
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uaex.edu
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