Bullying has long been tolerated as a rite of passage among children and adolescents. There is an implication that individuals who are bullied must have "asked for" this type of treatment, or deserved it. Sometimes, even the child who is bullied begins to internalize this idea. For many years, there has been a general acceptance and collective shrug when it comes to a child or adolescent with greater social capital or power pushing around a child perceived as subordinate. But bullying is not developmentally appropriate; it should not be considered a normal part of the typical social grouping that occurs throughout a child's life. Although bullying behavior endures through generations, the milieu is changing. Historically, bulling has occurred at school, the physical setting in which most of childhood is centered and the primary source for peer group formation. In recent years, however, the physical setting is not the only place bullying is occurring. Technology allows for an entirely new type of digital electronic aggression, cyberbullying, which takes place through chat rooms, instant messaging, social media, and other forms of digital electronic communication. Composition of peer groups, shifting demographics, changing societal norms, and modern technology are contextual factors that must be considered to understand and effectively react to bullying in the United States. Youth are embedded in multiple contexts and each of these contexts interacts with individual characteristics of youth in ways that either exacerbate or attenuate the association between these individual characteristics and bullying perpetration or victimization. Recognizing that bullying behavior is a major public health problem that demands the concerted and coordinated time and attention of parents, educators and school administrators, health care providers, policy makers, families, and others concerned with the care of children, this report evaluates the state of the science on biological and psychosocial consequences of peer victimization and the risk and protective factors that either increase or decrease peer victimization behavior and consequences.

Results from numerous surveys indicate that many students do not feel safe in school. This condition exacts an academic as well as a psychological toll because, as the authors remind us, children must feel safe in order to learn. The authors of Preventing Bullying and School Violence contend that inadequate attention has been given to the role of mental health professionals in preventing bullying and school violence. They propose a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach, one that draws upon the skills of the educational, health care, and mental health communities in identifying risk, choosing appropriate interventions, and implementing targeted wellness programs. The authors see bullying as a process, not a problem originating with a single troubled person. Accordingly, they believe that bullying behaviors can be effectively addressed only by targeting the broader social context -- the coercive power and group dynamics that breed and maintain bullying and violent behavior in the school setting. The book is designed to help clinicians, school counselors, and administrators create a safe climate for their students and to respond thoughtfully, but swiftly, when threats arise. The authors offer many practical guidelines for achieving these goals, addressing The critical importance of establishing a strong connection between the family, the school, and the community in creating a healthy academic environment Strategies for working effectively with the complex social bureaucracies that often characterize the entities (such as school boards and governmental agencies) that intervene in cases involving violent children, with an emphasis on developing skills in managing both small and large groups Ways to define and recognize at-risk children who require special attention as a result of having mental illness and/or learning disability Innovative community interventions, such as therapeutic mentoring and home-based therapy, in addition to information on local, state, and federal programs designed to support antiviolence programs in the schools Techniques for promoting wellness among the student population -- not just physical wellness, but also the positive attitudes and coping skills that are the hallmarks of mental health. Preventing Bullying and School Violence aims to empower mental health professionals to work confidently and effectively in educational settings to reduce the distress, enhance the psychological well-being, and secure the safety of all schoolchildren.

`Written from the whole-school perspective on bullying prevention, Chris Lee′s book, Preventing Bullying in Schools: A Guide for Teachers and Other Professionals offers a series of activities and discussion points aimed at increasing awareness about bullying and informing school policy and practices. This practical guidebook is aimed primarily for teachers and others working in schools as well as students of education`- Education Review `This is an easily readable book with many interesting and useful ideas and activities; a "must read" for anyone planning staff training on bullying′ - Emotional Behavioural Difficulties `The author provides practical advice on how to counter and prevent bullying in schools, suggesting exercises that will promote change. The book would make excellent INSET provision. It includes both classroom-based and staffroom -based activities and is a succinct reference for busy professionals′ - Leadership Links (NAHT) `What is admirable about this book is the way it takes a difficult and sometimes intangible issue and shows systematic strategies for dealing with it... This is a welcome book, a skilful mix of practical advice placed in a broader perspective of defining bullying carefully and exploring existing good practice′ Geoff Barton, Times Educational Supplement `The book is written in a clear and succinct and meaningful manner and it is vital that his book be in every classroom throughout the UK and most importantly that it is read, understood and followed!′ - Dr L F Lowenstein, Educational, Clinical and Forenscic Psychological Consultant `The entire book makes an excellent INSET provision... it should be on all headteachers′, senior staff and pastoral leaders′ shelves′ - David Hall, Assistant Headteacher `Preventing Bullying in Schools is signally important reading for anyone directly or indirectly involved with the creation of a violence-free learning environment for children′ - Midwest Book Review and Internet Bookwatch ′Easy to use, informative, and very practical′ - Debate Designed to offer teachers, student teachers, teaching assistants and other educational professionals advice on how to counter and prevent bullying in schools, this book suggests classroom-based and staffroom-based activities that will help promote change. Tried and tested strategies are put forward based on the author′s school-based research and regular work in schools, training staff who deal with incidents of bullying. Included is advice on: } understanding the terminology } anti-bullying strategies } writing a whole-school policy } generating whole-school responsibility and involvement } useful contacts and organizations. The book shows what can be done to tackle an area of great concern to pupils, teachers and parents and makes powerful and realistic suggestions for ways forward. Chris Lee is a former teacher who now lectures and undertakes research at the University of Plymouth where he runs courses for teachers and teaching assistants.

The Bullying Prevention Handbook addresses bully-victim problems at school, and can be used as a comprehensive tool for understanding, preventing, and reducing bullying. It focuses primarily on middle and high school, but offers valuable advice and resources for elementary-school educators as well. It contains advice for working with bullies and their victims using a multifaceted approach that includes education, counseling, mediation, and efforts to foster an attitude of respect and caring in the school at large.

The cool, crisp days of autumn are finally here! Kids around the neighborhood are excited to swing, slide, and climb at their favorite playground. That is, until Bently shows up. He is ready to pull some hair, blacken some eyes, and break some bones. The sound of his footsteps, thump, thump, thump, sends children scattering in all directions for a spot to hide. No one is safe. Until one day, a brave boy named Harvey finds the courage to stand up to Bently. Little Harvey wants to make a big change in how his friends are being treated. What will Bently do? Will Bently show an apologetic heart? Will Harvey and his friends be able to forgive?

Sam is concerned about keeping things orderly and “cool” at school. She thinks people need to have a tough skin in order to fit in and withstand others’ meanness and lack of cooperation. Sam teases her free-spirited classmate Luisa and enlists a friend, Jayla, to help. But when Sam is confronted by a concerned teacher about her bullying, and Jayla turns on Sam and befriends Luisa, Sam begins to show some heart and rethink her treatment of others. The Weird! Series These three books tell the story of an ongoing case of bullying from three third graders’ perspectives. Luisa describes being targeted by bullying in Weird! Jayla shares her experience as a bystander to bullying in Dare! And in Tough!, Sam speaks from the point of view of someone initiating bullying. Kids will easily relate to Luisa, Jayla, and Sam, as each girl has her own unique experience, eventually learning how to face her challenges with the help of friends, peers, and caring adults. Part of the Bully Free Kids™ line.

Grounded in research and extensive experience in schools, this engaging book describes practical ways to combat bullying at the school, class, and individual levels. Step-by-step strategies are presented for developing school- and districtwide policies, coordinating team-based prevention efforts, and implementing targeted interventions with students at risk. Special topics include how to involve teachers, parents, and peers in making schools safer; ways to address the root causes of bullying and victimization; the growing problem of online or cyberbullying; and approaches to evaluating intervention effectiveness. In a convenient large-size format, the book features helpful reproducibles, concrete examples, and questions for reflection and discussion. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.

Offers techniques for parents to stop bullying by not falling into the trap of blame and punishment and instead focusing on recognizing the signs of bullying, understanding the forms, deciphering myths, and learning prevention and intervention methods.

How to Stop Bullying and Social Aggression is a research-based resource for K6 classrooms offering fun, interactive lessons and activities that simplify the instruction of skills critical to students' safety and well-being, promote healthy social-emotional development, and improve academic achievement. In clear, jargon-free language, the authors provide teachers, administrators, and counselors with strategies for engaging bullies, victims, and bystanders at their own level and include step-by-step explanations for every activity. This user-friendly resource also features: Sidebars, sample scripts, and icons that highlight important information Suggestions for enhancing lessons A supply list of commonly found classroom items within each lesson for quick and easy implementation This book also helps school districts meet the curriculum requirements of recently enacted bullying laws by fostering positive youth development around issues of respect, conflict resolution, and interpersonal relationships.

This fully revised edition sets out what we know about bullying and harassment in schools, and combines this with proven practical and effective resources to prevent, address and deal with bullying and harassment. The author provides a guide for the development, implementation and evaluation of effective anti-bullying philosophies, policies and programmes. He sets out guidelines for creating and clarifying school policy and practice to provide a strong foundation for the establishment of a whole-school approach to bullying. The author shows how to support a culture of problem-solving that is soundly based on research but also draws on the knowledge and experience of teaching and administrative staff, students and the wider community in developing and implementing anti-bullying programmes. This book is a useful resource for all schools, from those just starting to consider setting up an anti-bullying initiative, to those with well-established programmes that wish to consider anti-bullying best practice. New material in this edition includes: - What we know and can do about cyberbullying - Teaching the very young and children aged 5-12 about bullying - Confronting issues through collaborative and restorative justice techniques - Social Action Drama This book is a key resource for teachers, administrators, counsellors, therapists, psychologists, teacher trainers, students and parents. Keith Sullivan is a widely published author and professor of Education at the National University of Ireland, Galway.