Often times people believe that bullies do what they do because they are bad people. That is rarely the case, bullies sometimes have been victims themselves and lack the coping skills necessary to deal with their issues in a health fashion.  Comedians Key and Peele examine this philosophy in a humorous fashion.

It is bullying awareness month! So I would like to take this opportunity to shed some light on the signs and symptoms of bullying.  In addition, I would like to take a moment to talk about the pathology of a bully. As educators, we know our students, this make us the first line of defense with regard to bullying. Keep your eyes open and be aware, as you may save a child from the atrocities of bullying one day.  Below is a list of things that you can do in your classroom to combat bullying.

• Be aware, sometimes your eyes and ears can make a difference.
• Make sure that you report anything that deem as suspicious. It may seem trivial to you, but it is better to be cautious.
• No incident is "too small" to be reported.
• Be as accurate in your detailing as possible, that may make all of the difference in the world.
• Do not be afraid to call home, parents should be our allies, and remember, they cannot assist if they are unaware.
• Hall and door duty are very important, most bullying occurs in common areas during points in time when students are not supervised. Your presence is important.

In addition, people often paint pictures of bullies as cold, heartless, people. That is not often true, if you were to study the pathology of a bully, there is often times a student there that is crying out for help. So when you report an incident, in addition to getting help for the victim, you are also getting help for the bully as well.  
                                        

Greetings Allies! As you all know, the new school year is upon us; and Bullies Stink is excited to get back into the schools and having courageous conversation. But what we wanted to do today, is make sure that you know that Bullies Stink is finalizing our calendar so we can continue to bring you quality anti-bullying programming with a culturally inclusive message.  So, as promised, this is what we have been up to!

-Carolyn Strong, founder of Bullies Stink! will be the guest blogger for the we are gifted too blog; stay tuned for details!
-Bullies Stink radio will be returning to the airwaves just in time for bullying awareness month! Make sure that you tune in; thanks to the email, text and social media feedback; we have been able to tailor the show just for you...way to go Allies!
-We are in the final stages of finalizing our calendar for the 2013-2014 school! But in the meantime, you can catch Carolyn presenting at the Illinois Principals Association annual conference in Peoria, IL on October 22, 2013.
-We have some amazing things to update you about regarding our summer activities; and Carolyn has exciting news that she cannot wait to share with you!

                                                   Until next time, keep courageously conversing!