| Myths and facts |
|
|
|
There are a lot of different ideas about bullying flying around. This section is to help you to separate the myths that there are about bullying and provide you with the facts. One of the main facts to remember is that every child has the right not to be bullied - that includes you. Myth - Bullying is a normal part of growing up Bullying is not a normal part of growing up and it's not part of any character building process. Adults do not expect to be hit, tripped and poked or called names and threatened when they go to work. You have this same right to be free from bullying and to feel safe wherever you are. Bullying can make you feel depressed or lonely, it can affect your school work and make you dread going to school - this is not normal, you shouldn't have to feel like this. Myth - People bring bullying on themselves because of their behaviour No-one deserves to be bullied and no one makes someone bully them. You have the right to be yourself, to wear what you want, to form your own opinions and be who you want to be without fear of being targeted by bullies. Life would be dull if everyone was the same. Differences make life interesting and they should be respected. Myth - Only weak people are bullied Bullying is about perception - how someone is viewed by other people. People may be seen as being weak because they do not play a particular sport, they are shy, or they are the new person at a school. This does not mean that a person is weak, bullies tend to pick on people that they feel they may have power over. Myth - Bullying only takes place at school - teachers should deal with it Bullying can take place anywhere, both inside and outside of the school gates. This can include football practice, Girl Guides, Scouts, local youth club, parks and local transport. Yes teachers should and can deal with it but so should all other adults - your parents, youth leaders, bus drivers, local police and even you - everyone has a role to play in tackling bullying. Myth - There's nothing I can do to stop someone else being bullied You can play an important role in stopping bullying. Refuse to join in with any bullying behaviour - but remember that by doing nothing people might think that you agree with the bullying. So, keep safe but do something. Tell a trusted adult about the behaviour. Get involved with any anti-bullying schemes you know of, such as buddy schemes, peer counselling or helping raise awareness of bullying through poster campaigns and school assemblies. Myth - Bullying is only physical in nature Physical acts such as hitting, kicking and pushing is bullying but bullying can also take many different forms. This can include:
Myth - Telling will only make it worse - it's grassing and adults will just over react. There is a difference between telling on someone to get them into trouble and telling on someone to help other people. If you or someone else you know is being bullied, the best way to make it stop is to let an adult know what is happening. Pick an adult that you know and trust and if you are worried about them over-reacting explain your fears to them and why. The last thing that any adult will want to do is make the situation and bullying worse, so be open and honest about what you would like to happen. |