Posted 10/12/11

Just stop it!

“Bullying is not taught here. It is not ours and we don’t want it here,” Principal Steve Pavone told the students and parents gathered for their assembly.

Helping to send the message home were the teachers of Park Terrace performing a rap song called “Hey, Bully.” At the end of the song, the teachers turned around to reveal a message across their backs. The message: Just Stop It!

“That is our theme for this year,” said Mr. Pavone. “This year and hopefully for life’” he explained. “Do the right thing, be nice to one another."

The anti-bullying message will be heard by students throughout the school year as part of the school's character education program. Gina Ciaccio, School Counselor, is heading up the initiative.

From an educator’s standpoint, bullying negatively affects the atmosphere of a school and disrupts the learning environment. Park Terrace teachers believe that bullying is not something they have to accept.

All forms of bullying are harmful to the bully, the victim, and to witnesses. The effects can last well into adulthood. Poor academic performance is just one symptom of being bullied, other symptoms can include: anxiety, loneliness, low self-esteem, depression, social withdrawal, alcohol and drug use, and even suicide, according to experts at education.com.

It takes the entire school community to create an inviting school where everyone feels they belong and are safe. Working together, administrators, teachers, school staff, parents, and students can help stop bullying in school.

Parents can play a key role in preventing and stopping bullying. Just by raising the topic, parents can find out if their children bully or are bullied by others. Most children do not bring up the topic with their parents on their own. There are many warning signs of bullying others or being bullied, but the best way to learn more is by talking with your child.

Warning signs of being bullied:

• Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings
• Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry
• Has unexplained injuries
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or feeling sick
• Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
• Has changes in eating habits
• Hurts themselves
• Are very hungry after school from not eating their lunch
• Runs away from home
• Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends
• Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers
• Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school
• Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home
• Talks about suicide
• Feels helpless
• Often feels like they are not good enough
• Blames themselves for their problems
• Suddenly has fewer friends
• Avoids certain places
• Acts differently than usual

Warning signs of bullying others:

• Becomes violent with others
• Gets into physical or verbal fights with others
• Gets sent to the principal’s office or detention a lot
• Has extra money or new belongings that cannot be explained
• Is quick to blame others
• Will not accept responsibility for their actions
• Has friends who bully others
• Needs to win or be best at everything

For more information on bullying, visit http://www.education.com/topic/school-bullying-teasing/.