TOP TEN TIPS FOR HANDLING
SCHOOL BULLYING

1. TELL AN ADULT -  If you're being verbally abused for any reason it is important that you tell an adult about it. Let your teacher, school counsellor, principal, or parents know. Bullying in any form is unacceptable at school and can lead to more aggresive assaults later. It's the adults responsibility to create and provide a safe environment for you.
2. SEEK FREINDS SUPPORT - Stay in the company of your friends or ask them to help you to counter or limit the effects of the bully. Most bullies enjoy the power and influence they have over their victims. If you can limit that by having friends stand with you, they may no longer see you as a fun target anymore.
3. JOIN A CLUB OR GROUP - The more friends you have, the more support you have. Consider joining a school club or group to increase your circle of friends and create a larger base of support to help you counter or limit the effects of the bully.
4. JOIN OR CREATE - If your school has an anti-bullying club or a tolerance club, join it and relate your problem to the club member to garner their advice and support. If no such club exists, approach your parents and teacher to create on. If you're part of the solution, you are no longer just a victim.
5. AVOID THE TROUBLE SPOTS - If possible, avoid the places, situations, or times that the bully likes to engage you. Try walking with friends, taking a different route, or walking with other adults or older students if possible. If this is not possible, tell your teachers or counsellors where, when, how the bullying occurs so that they have a better chance of witnessing it themselves and then acting upon it independently.
6. RISE ABOVE IT - Provided you are not being physically abused, try to rise above the comments actions of the bully. They garner their enjoyment and power from your reaction and discomfort. If you can take that away from them - even if you're only pretending for a while- they may get tired of trying to upset you and look for a new target.
7. TRY HUMOR TO DEFUSE IT - Sometimes using humor against verbal bullying will defuse it. Never try to abuse the bully back using humor or any other comments, but try to make them laugh with you. Laughter reduces stress and agression in everyone, including bullies.
8. KEEP A DIARY - If you're being bullied, keep a diary of what is said, when, where, and by whom. This can help you to keep the incidents accurate and in perspective, and it can also help  you to engage adults, counsellors, and principals to assist you in actively resolving the problem.
9. SUPPORT OTHER VICTIMS - Stand up for anyone else who is a victim of bullying. Stand next to them in silent support, verbally negate the bullies words if you feel safe and comfortable doing so. Tell the bully their action is unacceptable if you feel safe and comfortable doing so.
10. GET TRAINED - Find a local non-profit or martial arts organization that provides self-defense or school bullying defense training. Consider taking martial arts to help develop your self-confidence, self-esteem, and sense of security in the face of a bully.

A FEW THINGS NOT TO DO IF YOU'RE
BEING BULLIED AT SCHOOL

Don't blame yourself - it's NEVER your fault

Don't become verbally abusive back

NEVER become physical, unless you believe
your life or physicial safety in danger

NEVER feel as though your "grassing" when you
report bullying - that threat is just another way
the bullies intimidate people

NEVER avoid school, clubs, or activities because
as a result of bullying. Act to resolve it

NEVER, EVER consider hurting yourself or
hurting others as a result of bullying.

SOME RESOURCE WEBSITES TO CHECK OUT

Check out the following websites for information and support on bullying, why people bully, how to counter bullying at your school, teacher support materials and so on.  If you know of a link we don't have here, please let us know and we'll be happy to add it.

www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov
www.bullying.org

Matthew Shepard is recognized as our associations honorary founding member. In his memory we hope that providing the programs and information we do may prevent a similar tradgedy from occurring.

www.matthewshepard.org