Sep 26, 2007 5:54 pm US/Eastern
Banishing Bullies Course To Aid Parents
Banishing Bullies Course: Thurs. Sept. 21
7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Baptist Hospital Auditorium
(786) 596-3812 For More Info
DL
PALMETTO BAY (CBS4) ―
Nobody likes a bully and being bullied can leave long-term scars on a child. Now, some local schools are taking steps to fight back.
Both physical and psychological bullying can have a long-lasting effect which is why many schools are taking a proactive approach as reports of incidents increase.
The most alarming fact: bullying is now affecting children in elementary school more than ever before.
Fourth graders at Westminster Christian Academy practice conflict resolution.
According to assistant principal Marilyn Amundson, it's one way this Palmetto Bay school is dealing with bullying in our society.
"I think we're all as an educational group trying to be more proactive in not backing away teaching children not to have a victim mentality and to learn how to respect one another speak respectfully and resolve conflict peacefully," said Amundson.
Tony Bartoli knows all too well the affects of bullying. As a child growing up with cerebral palsy, he was physically and mentally harassed by schoolmates.
"It started in the 4th grade and continued all the way to 9th grade," said Bartoli.
Now Bartoli talks to students encouraging them to stand up for themselves and others.
According to statistics from the Bureau of Justice, six out of ten teens witness bullying once a day. A recent study of student between third and sixth grades revealed 90 percent of them reported being bullied.
"Now we're seeing more bullying in elementary school in younger and younger kids because again they're learning these things sooner they're exposed to so many more venues that show bullying," said Trish Ramsay, with the Melissa Institute for Violence Prevention and Treatment in South Miami.
Ramsay says there are two main types of bullying. "The direct is the one that everyone thinks of as bullying the physical the hitting the pushing. It is the indirect bullying, the psychological bullying, the isolation, the exclusion, the gossiping, and the rumors. And now that's all moved into cyberspace which is tremendously anonymous."
Ramsay teaches a course on bullying for parents who want to teach their children how to handle bullying.
She suggests they encourage children to tell a teacher or adult about these incidents.
Ramsey also says kids can use humor to handle bullies or simply tell them to stop. And Ramsay urges children to never fight back.
"I would probably try to stop it or get a teacher or somebody who was around to tell." said Rene Lassonde.
"I would try to help them or tell the other person to stop," said Luis Miller.
That's music to Bartoli's ears whose message is clear. "My hope and my prayer is that many of you will stand up on the bullying issue," said Bartoli.
To find out more about the course on bullying call
(786) 596-3812.The Banishing Bullies course is being held Thursday September 27th between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. in the auditorium at Baptist Hospital.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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