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!

As school begins for some and approaches for others, I would like to take moment to address some issues that may have been filed away in an effort to enjoy the summer.  While students file into classrooms and pick up where they left off with their friends and classmates; there are other, more ominous relationships that will continue as well, the relationship between the bully and the bullied.  In the interest of making sure that we know what is going on with our children, we should understand the signs and symptoms of being bullied, along with strategies for intervention.

If a child is being bullied, they may not necessarily come right out and say so. It may be up to us as adults to read between the lines and figure out when a child is having an issue. This is also when knowing your child becomes essential. There is no laundry list of behaviors that I can give you that will symbolize that a child is being bullied; however there are some behaviors that may suggest there is a problem. However prior knowledge of the child’s disposition is always helpful. For example, one of the symptoms of bullying is a child becoming shy and with-drawn; if this is a part of the child’s personality already, it is probably nothing; if this demeanor is new, then it is probably a red flag. Below you will find a list of behaviors that may be associated with bullying; please use them wisely and take the child’s personality into account when applying them.

-child has become shy and withdrawn

-child no longer wants to attend school

-child has become fixated and begin to come home talking about one child’s treatment of them constantly.

-child may no longer enjoy things that they once enjoyed.

-sudden change in grades and/or school attendance.If you notice that your child is exhibiting these behaviors, please talk to the child and try to ascertain what may be going on. If you determine that further intervention is needed please seek help, and do not try to tackle the problem alone.