1. BULLYINGBULLYING
Violence in Our SchoolsViolence in Our Schools
Deputy Zach Benefield #946Deputy Zach Benefield #946
Carroll County Sheriff’s OfficeCarroll County Sheriff’s Office
770-830-5888770-830-5888
zach.benefield@carrollcountyschools.comzach.benefield@carrollcountyschools.com

2. IntroductionIntroduction
 In our society today, children have so muchIn our society today, children have so much
to deal with already, without needing to feel theto deal with already, without needing to feel the
extra pressure of being unsafe in their ownextra pressure of being unsafe in their own
school because ofschool because of bullyingbullying. It is up to adults,. It is up to adults,
parents, leaders, and hopefully role models, toparents, leaders, and hopefully role models, to
teach our children that each individual life isteach our children that each individual life is
important and worthy to be appreciated andimportant and worthy to be appreciated and
respected.respected. Every childEvery child deserves a healthy anddeserves a healthy and
happy life.happy life.

3. Goals:The goals for thisGoals:The goals for this
class are:class are:
 1. Establish a clear understanding of what1. Establish a clear understanding of what
bullying actually is.bullying actually is.
 2. Show the legal consequences of bullying.2. Show the legal consequences of bullying.
 3. Give a greater comprehension of why people bully.3. Give a greater comprehension of why people bully.
 4. Recognize characteristics that make people targets for4. Recognize characteristics that make people targets for
bullies.bullies.
 5. Grasp the importance of knowing how to stop bullying5. Grasp the importance of knowing how to stop bullying

4. What is Bullying?What is Bullying?
 Webster’s New World Dictionary defines bullyingWebster’s New World Dictionary defines bullying
as:as: The act of hurting or intimidating with harsh,The act of hurting or intimidating with harsh,
stern looks and talk, those who are weaker.stern looks and talk, those who are weaker.
 However, bullying can take on several forms:However, bullying can take on several forms:
 TeasingTeasing
 Name callingName calling
 Making threats (verbal or non-verbal)Making threats (verbal or non-verbal)
 Taking or damaging another person’s propertyTaking or damaging another person’s property
 Playing unkind jokes on someonePlaying unkind jokes on someone
 Making someone feel uncomfortable or scared (Sexual Harassment)Making someone feel uncomfortable or scared (Sexual Harassment)
 Deliberately ignoring someone or leaving them out of activitiesDeliberately ignoring someone or leaving them out of activities
 Spreading rumors, either verbal or writtenSpreading rumors, either verbal or written
 Forcing someone to hand over money or possessionsForcing someone to hand over money or possessions
 Making fun of or targeting someone because of their ethnicity, religion, economicMaking fun of or targeting someone because of their ethnicity, religion, economic
status, or physical imperfectionstatus, or physical imperfection

5. Legal Consequences of BullyingLegal Consequences of Bullying
 Bullying has become such a serious problem within ourBullying has become such a serious problem within our
school systems that legislators have enacted lawsschool systems that legislators have enacted laws
against it.against it.
 *O.C.G.A.20-2-751.4 states:*O.C.G.A.20-2-751.4 states:
 (a) As used in this Code section the term “bullying”(a) As used in this Code section the term “bullying”
means:means:
 (1.)Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another(1.)Any willful attempt or threat to inflict injury on another
person, when accompanied by an apparent presentperson, when accompanied by an apparent present
ability to do so;orability to do so;or
 (2.) Any intentional display of force such as would give(2.) Any intentional display of force such as would give
the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodilythe victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily
harmharm..

6. O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.4O.C.G.A. 20-2-751.4
continued……..continued……..
 (b) Each local board of education shall adopt policies(b) Each local board of education shall adopt policies
applicable to students in grades six through twelve, thatapplicable to students in grades six through twelve, that
prohibitprohibit bullying of a student and shall require suchbullying of a student and shall require such
prohibition to be included in the student code of conductprohibition to be included in the student code of conduct
for middle and high schools in the system.for middle and high schools in the system.
 (c) Any school system which is(c) Any school system which is not in compliancenot in compliance withwith
the requirements of this code section shall bethe requirements of this code section shall be ineligibleineligible
to receive state funding,to receive state funding, pursuant to Code Sections 20-pursuant to Code Sections 20-
2-161 and 20-2-260.2-161 and 20-2-260.
 We must be tough on bullies. Upon their third offense,We must be tough on bullies. Upon their third offense,
they must be removed from regular schools and sent tothey must be removed from regular schools and sent to
alternative educationalternative education..

7. Understanding the BullyUnderstanding the Bully
 To truly know why people bully, we have toTo truly know why people bully, we have to
consider several points:consider several points:
 A.A. What is going on in that person’s mind?What is going on in that person’s mind?
 1. Maybe they are scared of getting picked on,1. Maybe they are scared of getting picked on,
so they act first. (Chihuahua mentality)so they act first. (Chihuahua mentality)
 2. Maybe they feel like they do not fit in.2. Maybe they feel like they do not fit in.
 3. Maybe they do not like themselves very3. Maybe they do not like themselves very
much.much.
 4. Maybe they think it is okay to hurt others.4. Maybe they think it is okay to hurt others.

8. Understanding the BullyUnderstanding the Bully
continued………continued………
 B.B. What is going on in that person’s life?What is going on in that person’s life?
 1. Maybe they are bullied by someone at1. Maybe they are bullied by someone at
home.home.
 2. Maybe they are bullied by older kids.2. Maybe they are bullied by older kids.
 3. Maybe some event has caused bitterness,3. Maybe some event has caused bitterness,
pain, or anger that is released throughpain, or anger that is released through
bullying.bullying.
 C.C. Sometimes people bully for no reason at all.Sometimes people bully for no reason at all.
 1. They seek power and dominance over1. They seek power and dominance over
another person.another person.
 2. They bully to be “in control” or just because2. They bully to be “in control” or just because
““they can”.they can”.

9. Understanding the Victim ofUnderstanding the Victim of
BullyingBullying
 Why are some people “targets” for bullies?Why are some people “targets” for bullies?
 Research shows that 60% of all students areResearch shows that 60% of all students are
never involved in any kind of bullying incident.never involved in any kind of bullying incident.
 A. Victims are usually different in some way:A. Victims are usually different in some way:
 1. Height, too tall or too short1. Height, too tall or too short
 2. Weight, too heavy or too skinny2. Weight, too heavy or too skinny
 3.3. Ethnic backgroundEthnic background
 4. Religious beliefs4. Religious beliefs
 5. Economic status, rich or poor5. Economic status, rich or poor
 6. Physical differences or handicaps6. Physical differences or handicaps

10. Characteristics of Victims ofCharacteristics of Victims of
BullyingBullying
 1. Afraid to walk to/from school or to ride the1. Afraid to walk to/from school or to ride the
busbus
 2. Dread going to school to the point of illness2. Dread going to school to the point of illness
 3. School work may begin to decline3. School work may begin to decline
 4. May become withdrawn, distant or depressed4. May become withdrawn, distant or depressed
 5. May have nightmares5. May have nightmares
 6. May become bitter or angry6. May become bitter or angry
 7. May even begin to bully others7. May even begin to bully others
 8. May even attempt suicide (bullycide)8. May even attempt suicide (bullycide)

11. How Do We Combat Bullying?How Do We Combat Bullying?
 A.A. As a groupAs a group::
 1. Education programs1. Education programs
and assemblies.and assemblies.
 2. Student involvement,2. Student involvement,
taking pride in theirtaking pride in their
school and fellowschool and fellow
students.students.
 3. Tougher school3. Tougher school
discipline for bullying,discipline for bullying,
especially for repeatespecially for repeat
offenses.offenses.
 4. More stringent laws4. More stringent laws
against bullying to protectagainst bullying to protect
school children.school children.

12. How Do We Combat Bullying?How Do We Combat Bullying?
 B.B. As individualsAs individuals::
 1. Walk with1. Walk with pridepride,,
holding your head up.holding your head up.
 2. Have confidence in2. Have confidence in
yourself as a personyourself as a person
 3. Realize that you are3. Realize that you are
special.special.
 4.4. Get help immediately!Get help immediately!
 5.5. Talk to someone.Talk to someone.
 6. Try to have a sense of6. Try to have a sense of
humor, it takes bullies byhumor, it takes bullies by
surprise!surprise!

13. Bullying Has No Place in OurBullying Has No Place in Our
SchoolsSchools
 Each student should feelEach student should feel
safesafe when he or shewhen he or she
enters the doors ofenters the doors of
Georgia’s educationalGeorgia’s educational
facilities. Their focusfacilities. Their focus
should be on learning;should be on learning;
learning that can onlylearning that can only
take place in antake place in an
environment where thatenvironment where that
student feels protected,student feels protected,
appreciated, andappreciated, and
comfortable. Workingcomfortable. Working
togethertogether, we can wipe-out, we can wipe-out
bullying and its horriblebullying and its horrible
effects.effects.