National Bullying Prevention Month
October is National Bullying Prevention month.
School and the home are supposed to be a safe place for people across the country. However, this can be difficult when someone is experiencing bullying, whether it is physical, verbal, social, or online. This takes a toll not only on the individual’s academia (if at school) but also their mental health as well.
According to the Autism Society, students on the autism spectrum are 63% more likely to be bullied. Sometimes students on the spectrum may have a hard time recognizing social cues, being overstimulated from their environment, or socially cut off from their peers.
In light of National Bullying Prevention Month, we’ve put together some information for you.
Bullying Facts:
Effect on Student’s Learning
Students might refuse to go to school because they are scared they will continuously get bullied and not going to school is a better option. In the classroom, students might not be able to fully engage in the material because they cannot pay attention as their minds are wandering elsewhere.Bystanders Can Make a Statement
Bystanders have the ability to stand up for students that are getting bullied. Sadly, most bystanders sit on the sidelines as their peers are getting bullied and they do not intervene in bullying less than 20% of the time.Bullying is a Threat for Student Safety
Bullying might have been a rite of passage a long time ago, but not anymore. This can cause physical and emotional damage to the student.Bullying is for the Power and Control
Bullies want to get satisfaction through any means possible. If that means harassing, hurting, manipulating, emotionally and socially abusive they will do it. Children know when they are being mean and rude, but a bully does not care.
It is important to keep spreading awareness of bullying- whether there are different kinds, no type of bullying is lesser or worse than others. All bullying is bad, the more people realize that and stick up for others that cannot stick up for themselves, then hopefully the statistics will decrease rather than increase.