As every student knows, bullying is an all too common problem in America's schools. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be tough for teachers, school administrators, and other adults to spot the issue before it escalates. To make it a little easier, Joel Penton, one of the nation's leading anti-bullying speakers, has put together the following guide to spotting the signs.
Anti-Bullying Speakers - Signs That a Young Person is Being Bullied
For a young person, there are few things worse than being picked on and harassed at school. Some telltale signs that may indicate that a student in your school is being bullied include:
• Losing their friends or choosing to deliberately avoid social situations
• Carrying out self-destructive acts such as self-harm, running away from home, or drinking alcohol
• Developing unexplainable bruises and other injuries
• Developing noticeable changes in eating habits - skipping meals or eating in excess
• Struggling in class, achieving unusually poor test scores, or generally losing interest in their school work
• Losing their clothing, electronics, books, or other belongings
• Developing noticeable sleep issues - falling asleep in class or looking fatigued during the day
Seeing a student in your care deal with a bullying problem is never easy. However, as most anti-bullying speakers will tell you if you can spot the signs early, you can take action to help them deal with their problem before it evolves into anything more serious.
Anti-Bullying Speakers - Signs That a Young Person is Bullying Someone Else
Unfortunately, if you are a school employee, it is not enough to simply keep an eye out for students who may be being bullied. You must also remain vigilant for signs that one of the students in your care is bullying another individual. Some of the tell-tale signs of this issue include:
• Being sent to the principal's office or being placed in detention regularly
• Blaming other people for their problems or mistakes
• Failing to accept responsibility for their actions
• Being overly concerned about their reputation or popularity
• Becoming increasingly aggressive or argumentative
• Becoming friends with others who have a history of bullying or violent behavior
• Being seen to have unexplained extra cash or belongings which were previously owned by another student
By watching out for signs that bullying might be happening, you can take steps to investigate and then stamp out the issue. Some schools prefer to deal with violence and harassment problems in-house - doling out punishments and taking corrective action as needed.
However, many principals and school administrators find that hiring anti-bullying speakers like Joel Penton can be a much more effective way of dealing with the issue. His combination of honesty, integrity, and positivity can help students understand how to be kinder and more empathetic to each other.
If you would like to learn more about how Joel can help you reduce your school's bullying problem, please do not hesitate to give us a call or shoot a quick email using our contact form. Once you have the information you need, we can even work with you to set up an assembly your students will never forget.
