1. How big a problem do you think bullying is?
   Bullying is a larger problem than many of us would like to think. It affects all schools and students in different ways. Many communities think that it is something that doesn’t happen in their towns. This is one of the biggest problems with bullying; not recognizing it only makes it worse. It is important for people to realize that it is a problem and we all need to work together to remove it from the hallways of our schools.
   
   There are many different types of bullying, making it difficult to pinpoint exact incidences of bullying and teach kids to identify occurrences accurately. Bullying can happen anytime, anywhere and does frequently happen in schools. People don’t recognize certain types of bullying, making it difficult to protect the students who are being bullied and discipline the students doing the bullying.
   
   
2. What do you want adults to know about bullying?
   Even though you may think that everything is fine in your child’s school environment, if you talk to them, you might be surprised at what you discover is going on in their school. Once you think something is wrong or discover something is wrong, DO SOMETHING. Your children look up to you.
   
   Make sure teachers, parents, and students can recognize bullying and can take steps to prevent and stop bullying. Adults need to know that bullying can traumatize students and they need to take an active role in helping them. Many students who are bullied feel they somehow are to blame or created the situations. Parents sometimes think their child needs to try harder to get along with other students.
   
   
3. What roles can youth play in helping to stop bullying?
   Younger students look up to older students. Even when they don’t think people are watching them, they are people-watching. Youth can do their part to stop bullying now, showing younger students that bullying is not OK by: setting an example of stepping in when younger students bully others. Simply saying “That is not how we treat other people in our school” could instill a sense of power in younger students to step in and change the acceptance of bullying as a right of passage.
   
   The SWARM
   Youth need to help each other out by knowing not to bully and how to help students when they are being bullied. One technique we taught as part of our bullying prevention project is called the “Swarm.” This technique can be used by students who witness bullying on the playground or in the hallways or anywhere. A group of students band together and “swarm” around the student who is being bullied to remove them from the influence of the bully. The group doesn’t say anything to the bully; they simply remove the bullied student from the situation. It requires students be able to identify bullying and have a willingness to step in and work together to stop the behavior from happening. Students who bully will generally not confront a group or continue to bully when members of their peer group stand up to them. The "swarm" removes the power from the student who is bullying and grants power to the group.
   
   
4. How have you used the materials from the Stop Bullying Now! Campaign?
   We utilized the characters from the webisodes while developing a PowerPoint, and handouts for the Stop Bullying Now! project in our elementary school. We identified characters as bullies or victims with red and white ribbons.
   
   According to the U.S. Department of Justice, one in four students are bullied by another student or students. We put red and white ribbons on all the lockers in the middle school. Every fourth ribbon was white indicating the number of students bullied at school. We also learned that one in five kids admit to bullying another student or students, so every fifth ribbon was black. Some students were both bullied and bullied others. Theses statistics were also used in the weekly bulletin that goes home with all elementary students for their parents.
   
   
5. What advice might you give to other youth who want to launch an effort to stop bullying in their schools or community? Where would you suggest they start?
   Take charge and get others involved. You will be surprised at the connections and resources other people may have that will help you with your effort. Start by contacting your FCCLA adviser or another adult, such as a teacher, that can help you spearhead the effort. It is important to have backing from the administration in your school; this will also help you make sure you are following all the guidelines of your school. Your school counselor is a great resource and there are project ideas available on the FCCLA Web site at fcclainc.org. Use the internet to research current information about bullying efforts across your state and the nation. Many youth organizations have information about bullying in schools and ideas for projects.
   
   
6. What are your favorite parts of the SBN! Web site?
   The webisode characters and descriptions with them are aimed towards Middle School level students. This was very useful when developing the materials for the presentation this gives the presenters a way to connect to their audience. The ability to print off the material you want that is in the newsletter format is an easy, effective way to get the information that can be used for the presentations. Having print materials ready for parents is also a plus. The animated Webisodes on the website and in the SBN! Video Toolkit DVD will work as great openers for discussing different questions about bullying students may have. The Webisodes can be used as lesson openers, using the information in the cartoons and referring to the characters in the cartoons rather than individuals in the school when discussing bullying may help younger students share information without fearing repercussions.
   
   The SBN! Web site makes it easy for anyone to conduct a SBN! Project and will help eliminate bullying across the country.
   
   
7. How many youth have you touched by your program?
   The program has been used in the 4th and 5th grades totaling over 80 students. The program this year is projected to reach over 140 students in the middle school. We are also working on a dating violence workshop for middle school students.
   

Previous "Ask the Experts"

Ask the Experts, June 2006
Ask the Experts, August 2006
Ask the Experts, October 2007
Ask the Experts, December 2007