What is bullying?

We say a student is being bullied when another student or several other students:

**Repeatedly say hurtful and unpleasant things to him or her, make fun of him or her, use mean and hurtful nicknames , threaten or intimidate

**Completely overlook him or her or deliberately exclude him or her from the  group of friends repeatedly

**Repeatedly hit, kick, punch, pull hair, push, or lock him or her inside

**Repeatedly tell lies or spread false rumors about him or her or send mean or insulting notes, phone messages, texts,  emails  or web pages to try and get the other students to dislike him or her 

It's important to know that bullying is not friendly teasing and it's not an argument, disagreement, rough and tumble play, or a one-time fight.  Bullying happens over and over and the person who is being bullied usually has a hard time defending themselves.

*Students who act like bullies are not usually friends with the students they bully

*There are usually, but not always, two or three students who are acting like bullies against one student

*The student being bullied usually looks sad, depressed, humiliated, angry, despairing and may have been crying

*The student(s) acting like a bully often laughs at, smiles scornfully, looks serious and not friendly

*Students who act like bullies have a negative, aggressive desire to inflict injury or discomfort, to insult, to intimidate, and humiliate

*Students who act like bullies are usually bigger than the students they bully, BUT NOT ALWAYS

*Students who act like bullies need help from a caring adult

*Students who are bullied need help from a caring adult

Here are some pictures that may help you understand  a little better

This is not bullying because the boys are about the same size and both of the boys have serious, angry faces. This is a real fight.   The boy looking on in the background can help stop the fight by getting help from an adult.

This is what bullying looks like. The two boys are not the same size. The smaller boy is not able to  defend himself against the bigger boy! The boy being bullied looks scared. The boy who is acting like a bully looks serious and not friendly.

This is what bullying looks like.  The  boy standing is  bullying the boy sitting. He has a scornful smile on his face. The boy being bullied is holding his head down in shame. The two students looking on in the background can help stop the bullying by telling an adult.                              

This is what bullying looks like. The girl being bullied is smaller than the girl who is acting like a bully. She looks scared and sad.

This is what bullying looks like.  The three bigger boys are bullying the smaller boy in the middle. Their  faces look serious and not friendly. The boy being bullied looks scared! The students in the background can help stop the bullying by telling an adult.

This is what bullying looks like.  The boy being bullied on his school playground is not able to defend himself.  He is scared, hurt,  and crying. The faces of the boys who are acting like bullies look serious and not friendly. The other students on the playground can help stop the bullying by telling  an adult.

This is what bullying looks like.  The boy being bullied looks scared and humiliated.

This is not bullying.  All of the boys are about the same size and their faces are playful and friendly. This  is  rough and tumble playing.

If you are being bullied or you know someone who is  being bullied at school, on the way to or from school, you really need to tell your parents or another trusted adult so they can help stop the bullying!

Here are two links to helpful facts that you can print out on your computer:

What should I do if I’m bullied ?

What can I do to lend a hand to someone who is being bullied?

CLick here to learn about on-line safety

If you are afraid or unable to tell an adult for any reason and you would like us to help, please answer the questions below and when you are done, be sure to click on the SUBMIT button. 

When we get your information, you can be sure that we'll pass it on to the Principal of your school so he or she can help!  ***Remember,  this is an ANONYMOUS questionnaire so we cannot reply to any questions asked here.  If you have a question, please email so we can reply.