The number one fact about bullying is that it is real, and it’s not getting any better, in fact bullying is on the rise among children. Although bullying is not limited to any age or demographic, it poses a significant problem for schools and parents of children. An age which we typically think should be carefree and stress free can become a time of torment and anguish sometimes leading to serious actions, such as suicide. This torment is something that no parent should have to witness their child going through.

According to Peplar and Craig 1997 from Queens University Department of Psychology, “Bullying is the assertion of power through aggression. Its forms change with age: school playground bullying, sexual harassment, gang attacks, date violence, assault, marital violence, child abuse, workplace harassment and elder abuse”

Here are some other facts about bullying:

· For many children bullying is something they live with every day.

· Parents and teachers are often not aware it is happening or don’t recognize it.

· Bullying has serious immediate and long term psychological effects for those being bullied. They are more prone to adjustment disorders.

· Most bully victims will not report it to either parents or teachers for fear of retaliation from their tormentors.

· Children who are bullied are ashamed of it, and fear being ridiculed for not being able to handle it on their own. They concurrently feel that adults can do nothing to help them.

· Victims of repeated bullying report feelings of depression and loss of interest in activities. Suicidal ideation is not uncommon in victims of bullying as well as the bullies themselves. Research done by Kumak, Sourander and Gould, May 2010, published in the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry states “there is a positive correlation between bullying victims and suicide, with girls more strongly affected than boys”

· Victims most often are unable to stop the bullying without seeking help from an outsider.

· According to the National Education Association there are 160,000 children every day who miss school as a result of bullying. That is a 15% absentee rate and studies show both victims and the bullies are at risk for low grades, poor attitudes about school and poor functioning levels.

· In the American school system there are approximately 2.1 million bullies and 2.7 million victims.

· In any given playground bullying happens every 7 minutes and in the classroom every 25 minutes.

· In a study done by Leonard Eron, and Rowell Huesman, University of Michigan psychologists, they found children who bully in school have a 1 in 4 chance of having a criminal record by the time they reach 30 years of age. Olweus’ Bullying Prevention Program at Clemson University found that 60 % of boys in elementary school who bully others had criminal records by the time they were 24 years old.

The facts and data from various research and studies are staggering and disturbing and make it painfully obvious that intervention is critical. Parents, primary caregivers, teachers or anybody in a role for responsibility and care of children need to be aware of the signs and symptoms in both those being bullied and those who are doing the bullying. They must become proactive in finding solutions to the problem of bullying and protect those who can’t protect themselves.

I a faculty member of ______________________________ agree to join with others in my school and my community to stand united and take a firm stance against bullying in my school and in my community.

I ____________________________ believe that everyone, regardless of color, race, gender, popularity, athletic ability, intelligence, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, style of clothes, and physical looks, should have equal opportunities and rights to enjoy our schools, and do so while feeling safe.

Bullying consists of many things and include things such as; pushing, shoving, hitting, spitting on, pulling hair, kicking, calling names, making fun of, laughing at, and excluding someone from an activity. Bullying can never be justified, and is inexcusable in all circumstances. Being a bully cannot be contributed to “kids just being kids”, nor can it be contributed to “kids just teasing”. Bullying causes both physical and emotional pain to the victim. The victim is never the responsible person for being the target of a bullying attack.

By signing this pledge, I agree to:

1. I will aid our schools in the development of a clear and understandable policy in regards to bullying, and I will display these policies in a predominate place in my classroom, and around my school.

2. I will help train my fellow faculty members in the safe handling of bullying incidents.

3. I will help develop or adopt a curriculum that educates our community’s students about bullying.

4. I will teach my students about the forms of bullying that are less evident or obvious; things such as gossiping and exclusion.

5. I will discuss with students pro-active ways to combat bullying. (such as inviting a previously excluded student to join them for lunch)

6. I will help develop a support system for the students who are involved directly or indirectly with bullying. For example, peer to peer counseling or mediation.

7. I will help develop or adopt a support system for parents in order to inform them when their children are involved in incidents of bullying.

8. I will report all incidents of bullying that I see or am made aware of to an appropriate school faculty member or to local law enforcement.

9. I will strive to create a safe atmosphere where children will not be afraid to report incidents of bullying, nor will they feel that their reports will be ignored.

10.   I will be there to support our community’s students who have been or are currently being bullied by others.

11. I will make sure that when a bullying incident does occur, that all students involved have an equal opportunity to state their version of the incident.

12. I will help my school in the implementation of consequences for the offenders in incidents of bullying. For example, verbal warnings, removal from a classroom or even removal from school grounds, require a verbal or written apology to the victim and their families, a mandatory parent/teacher/administrator meeting, detention, or even expulsion for the repeat offender.

13. I will help in the monitoring of individual incidents of bullying, and be fully informed as to their progress.

I ________________________________ am fully aware, and I acknowledge that if I see or become aware of a bullying incident, and I do not report it to the appropriate authorities, than I am just as guilty of bullying as the bully themselves.

Signed by: ______________________________________

Print Name: _____________________________________

Date: _________________________