WHAT WITNESSES CAN DO ABOUT BULLYING?

Everyone in a school must work together to stop bullying, and that includes students who are neither bullies nor victims. Bullying is everybody's concern. In fact, the amount of bullying occurring in a school can actually be lessened depending on how students deal with it. You may be wondering who these other students are if they are not bullies or victims. They are the witnesses to bullying behavior, and may also be called "the caring majority," "bystanders," "helpers," or "onlookers."

Strategies to Prevent Bullying

Here are some specific strategies that you can use if you are a witness to any kind of bullying. Together, these strategies spell out the word "SAVE." This makes sense because a witness could think of themselves as a lifesaver to victims who are being bullied. Just like a lifesaver or life preserver can save someone who is in danger of drowning, a witness can help a victim who is in danger of "drowning" in the mean words and actions from a bully.

S- Speak up

• Unless you feel the bullying situation is very unsafe, speak up to the bully. You could tell them "Cut it out," "That's not nice," "We don't do that in our school," etc.
• If you don't feel comfortable standing up to the bully, direct your energy to the victim to make him or her feel better. (See "E" below)
• When speaking up, never bully the bully back. It will only make the situation worse and the bully may hurt you as well.
• You could also speak up to other bystanders if they are laughing and encouraging the bully. They also have a responsibility in stopping the bullying.

A- Adult Help

• Report the bullying to an adult, and do so immediately if the situation is very serious. Remember that unreported bullying will keep on happening.
• Trusted adults you could go to include a teacher, supervisory aide, principal, guidance counselor, bus driver, family member, coach, neighbor, etc.

V- Volunteer Solutions

• Ask the victim to go to another lunch table with you, away from the bully, or to move to another part of the playground away from the bully.
• Ask the victim to play with you and your friends.
• Ask the victim to sit with you on the bus.
• Ask the victim if they would like you to go talk to an adult with them in order to report the bullying.

E- End the Victim's Sadness

• Show empathy to the victim and tell him you understand how he or she feels.
• Listen to them if they want to talk about what happened or to share their feelings.
• Tell them, "I'm sorry that he/she did that to you."
• If it is true, tell them that bullying has also happened to you

By: Nursazella