What is Bullying?

Bullying is a dynamic of unhealthy interaction. It is a form of repeated aggression
used from a position of power. It can be physical, verbal, or social.

Why Do Kids Bully?

When kids bully, they feel important and powerful because, when they bully, they often get the attention of other students. Kids who bully may have never learned how to deal with conflict peacefully – they may come from families where everyone deals with each other by shouting, name calling or hurting each other physically.

Physical bullying includes hitting, shoving, stealing,
or damaging property.

Verbal bullying involves name-calling, mocking, sexual harassment, or racist or homophobic comments

Social bullying can be carried out
by excluding others from a group, or spreading gossip or rumours about them. These
rumours are often spread quickly through e-mail, cell phones, or text messages to
threaten, harass, or exclude.

When does teasing become bullying?

• Teasing • is equal and reciprocated • is fun and not hurtful • often occurs prior to aggression
• Aggression • is conflict • can be intentional or unintentional • can lead to BULLYING
• Bullying • a form of typically repeated, persistent, and aggressive behaviour • directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause fear

A Whole School Approach is the
most effective approach to preventing
bullying and

promoting

healthy

relationships.

It involves working directly with the children, youth, school staff, parents and the community.

Who Gets Bullied?

• Students who are not perceived as sufficiently masculine or feminine
• success in school, socio-economic factors, or a physical or intellectualexceptionality
• socio-economic factors, or a physical or intellectual exceptionality
• How people act, who they associate with, even the way they look or the clothes they wear can draw a bully’s attention
• students are often labeled as “too sensitive,” “passive,” “timid,” or “meek.”

ASD students may be at a particular disadvantage as they have trouble recognizing social cues, which makes them awkward around others. They also often engage in repetitive behaviours and tend to be hypersensitive to environmental stimuli, all of which makes kids with the disorder ripe targets for bullies

Providing safe classroom environments is an important part in reducing bullying. Students need to see and recognize that teachers and staff are in control and that they care about their students.

As teachers, we can...

• Demonstrate positive interest and involvement in your students.
• Educate the students about ASD, giving them insight into the disorder.
• Listen to parents and students who report bullying in your classroom.
• Protect students who are bullied with a safety plan (provide related social stories to help ASD students combat bullying.)

REFERENCES
Bitsika, V. & Sharpley, C.F. J Dev Phys Disabil (2014) 26: 747. doi:10.1007/s10882-014-9393-1

Ontario Ministry of Education. (2005). Shaping Safer Schools: A Bullying Prevention Action Plan.


PrevNet. (2016). http://www.prevnet.ca/sites/prevnet.ca/files/prevnet_facts_and_tools_for_sc...


Safe at School. (2015). Bullying Prevention, Equity and Inclusive Education and Parents: Partners in Prevention.
The Canadian Safe School Network. (2016)