You sit in your classroom when you realize that two of the students in the class are throwing papers at you and you repeatedly tell them to stop but they refuse. Is this bullying?

Sadly, the situation describe above is too common between students and it is only natural for you to say that this is not bullying. Bully is defined as the following: “keeps doing or saying things to have power over another person.”

Someone may bully you by : calling them names, saying or writing nasty things about you, leaving you out of activities, not talking to you, threatening you, making you feel uncomfortable or scared, taking or damaging you things, hitting or kicking you, or making you do things that you don’t want to do.

Have any of these things ever happened to you? Have you done any of these things to someone else?

Why do some people bully?

Some people bully others as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough and in charge. Others just do it too simply to get attention or because they are jealous of the person they are bullying. The shoddier thing about it is that some bullies don’t even know how wrong their behavior is and how it makes the victim(s) feel.

Why is bullying harmful?

Some people think bullying is just part of growing up and a way for young people to learn to stick up for themselves. But bullying can make young people feel lonely, unhappy and frightened. It makes them feel unsafe and think there must be something wrong with them. They lose confidence and may not want to go to school any more. It may make them sick.

What can you do if you are being bullied?
Coping with bullying can be difficult, but remember, you are not the problem, and the bully is. You have a right to feel safe and secure.
And if you’re different in some way, be proud of it! Kia Kaha – stand strong. Spend time with your friends – bullies hardly ever pick on people if they’re with others in a group.

You’ve probably already tried ignoring the bully, telling them to stop and walking away whenever the bullying starts.
If someone is bullying you, you should always tell an adult you can trust. This isn’t telling tales. You have a right to be safe and adults can do things to get the bullying stopped.
Even if you think you’ve solved the problem on your own, tell an adult anyway, in case it happens again.
An adult you can trust might be a teacher, school principal, parent, someone from your family, or a friend’s parent. If you find it difficult to talk about being bullied, you might find it easier to write down what’s been happening to you and give it to an adult you trust.

What can you do if you see someone else being bullied?
If you see someone else being bullied you should always try to stop it. If you do nothing, you’re saying that bullying is okay with you.
It’s always best to treat others the way you would like to be treated.
You should show the bully that you think what they’re doing is stupid and mean. Help the person being bullied to tell an adult they can trust.

Are you a bully?
Have you ever bullied someone else? Think about why you did it and how you were feeling at the time. If you are sometimes a bully, try to find other ways to make yourself feel good.

Most bullies aren’t liked, even if it starts out that way. Remember, it’s best to treat others the way you would like to be treated.