Get Informed On Bullying – Articles, Poems, Books, And More

The more you know about bullying, the better you may be equipped to deal with it yourself, or as a witness in your classroom, work environment, with your children, friends or colleagues, etc. 

Following is a database of articles, posters, videos, movies and much more to inform and inspire you against bullying. The list is by no means exhaustive, but it does contain knowledge that can be useful for many different circumstances.

Bullying Articles And Books About Bullying

Bullying Guidelines Written By Bullies

How to deal with bullies and how to react are well-covered topics, but can remain a challenging one, as the dynamics of each situation are different. If advice to people who are being bullied were easy to follow and effective, why does so much bullying still go undetected, unreported and even sanctioned? One school in Lincoln, Nebraska, made a huge mistake by sending out advice to parents that sounded like a bully wrote it, and this article covers that story. 

This article points out the pitfalls of such an approach and makes noticeable points about bullying: "In a culture that glamorizes violence, selfishness, and victimization, bullying will always find a niche, particularly among young people. Bullies are visible in schools, politics, entertainment and traffic jams. As long as the bullies themselves write the guidelines for dealing with the bullying issue, the problem will never go away."

Bullying Under Attack

What makes this anthology of essays stand out, is that it offers an intimate look into the minds of all subjects in the bullying cycle - the person being bullied, the bystander and the bully. Written in the first person by and for teenagers, the essays go a long way to illuminate the 'Why?' and 'How?' of bullying and being bullied, with the aim to empower and liberate.

The Nocturnals

This series of books have animals as their main characters and are targeted toward a younger age group. The author Tracey Hecht says in an interview with the NY Post that the books are meant to be playful and funny, yet open the doors for communication and discussion about the topic of bullying. She says that children are likely to feel grateful for and open to talking about their own experiences when the context is safe.

Automatic Detection Of Cyberbullying In Social Media Text

Cyberbullying is rampant and growing, and fortunately, the IT industry seems to be taking responsibility too: "Successful prevention depends on the adequate detection of potentially harmful messages and the information overload on the Web requires intelligent systems to identify potential risks automatically." Hopefully, with this type of research, cyberbullies can be spotted by bots and algorithms in all languages to make the Web and all its permutations a safer space for all.

Bullying Videos And Movies About Bullying

Excellent resources for children of all ages are available on sites such as pacer.org, who founded PACER's National Bullying Prevention Center in 2006. It aims to lead social change, "so that bullying is no longer considered an accepted childhood rite of passage," and to this end, supplies numerous resources for teachers, parents, students, etc. to raise awareness about bullying in their communities.

Watch, for instance, this video made by student Jonah Maxwell, who moved with his family from Ireland to Chicago when he was still young. For years, he was the target and witness of bullying, but he managed to compost these experiences so effectively that he became an activist in raising awareness about the impact of bullying. 

Another place to find excellent resources, information and bullying videos is stopbullying.gov. It is a federal US government site managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Here, for instance, teachers and parents can find child-appropriate videos on bullying and how to correct bullying behavior.

Films have long been excellent teaching tools as conversation starters and awareness builders for all topics, including bullying. For an excellent and updated list of movies about bullies and bullying, visit this page: Films About Bullying.

Bullying Poems And Slam Poetry

Sometimes someone else's words can say what we find difficult to express. Poetry has always been a way of saying so much more than only what's heard or read. The following poems put the reader in the shoes of people who have been bullied, and verbalize unsettling, disturbing and difficult emotions. It offers a way for bullies and others to understand what people might be going through - so necessary in an oft desensitized world.

From the archives of Hampshire County Council's 2012 Anti-Bullying Poetry Competition for school goers, the following eloquent, poignant winners.

Bullying Hurts

By S. M., Year 4, Ranvilles Junior School,

You make me shout and always cry.
Why won't you please just tell me why.
You always think you're cool.
Don't you know, you're just a fool.
I know that you are jealous of me.
I wish that you'd leave me be.
Never before have I felt such pain.
I wonder if it's your middle name.
You think I'm weak, but I'm strong.
The things you do are truly wrong.
Today I'm going to tell someone.
Then your evil plan will be undone.

Bystander

By K. N., Year 8, Hounsdown Secondary School

I saw her in the morning
They threw her books in the dirt
But it's none of my business.

I saw her in the afternoon
Crying alone in the toilets
But it's none of my business.

I saw her walking home
They followed her, throwing insults
But it's none of my business.

I saw her every day
They did too, kept on and on and on
But it's none of my business.

I didn't see her today
She gave up, couldn't deal with it
She's gone
She's left school
She's happy now
It was my business.

Why?

By K. B., Year 3, Halterworth Primary School

Why do you hurt me?
What did I do?
Is it because I'm smaller than you?
I play the piano, but that can't be why.
Is it my singing? I do try.
Perhaps it's because of the way I look?
Or is it because I read a book?
When we were together, I used to smile
And weren't we the very best friends for a while?
I try to be brave, but sometimes I cry.
I say I'm okay - well, that's just a lie.
Mummy can see that friendship's gone bad.
We have a hug and a chat, and I don't feel so sad.

My Walk To School

A.W., St. Clare's Primary School, Harold's Cross.

Fist punch.
Foot crunch.
Hand hit.
Mouth spit.
Eye swells.
Can't see.
Please,
Please,
Let me be.

Rips my homework.
Steals my money.
Grabs my lunch.
Thinks it's funny

Sticks and stones may break my bones…

Sissy
Prissy
Four-eyes
Geek
Fatso
Stupid
Nerdy
Freak
…but names can really hurt.

Through the doors.
Up the stairs.
The face is bloody.
No one cares.

In the washroom.
Clean up the mess.
I'll be safe
Until … recess…

At the We Day, Seattle, 2017, Aija Mayrock performed this strong, rallying slam poem to an audience of thousands of students. Inspirational Aija is an author, actress, and activist. She started writing her bestselling The Survival Guide to Bullying at 16, based on years of bullying in her own life. Allegedly, she vowed to publish it to fortify the next generation against bullying, which is what she did at age 18.

ClickForTaz is a social media star who lives in Cardiff, Wales, UK. She became popular for her heart wrenching spoken-word poetry on YouTube, and now has millions of followers on several platforms. Listen to her here on bullying.

Slogans For Bullying Posters Or Bullying Graphics

Here are a few good slogans about bullying. Make your posters or memes with these and raise awareness. 

• Bullying is never OK. Don't keep quiet about it.

• Have courage - ask for help TODAY if you're being bullied.

• Cyberbullying is as bad as bullying in person! Don't allow it.

• If hurting others feels good, it doesn't mean it is good - for anyone. Don't wait. Get help now.

• Be an angel in someone's life and report bullying if you're the witness.

• Hate and violence breed hate and violence. Love and compassion breed love and compassion.

• It's simple - nothing good can come from bullying others.

• Don't be all talk and no action. Report bullying.

• It's time the torture stops, so SPEAK UP if you're being bullied. You're worth it.

• Your bullies are wrong; you are worthy and strong. Talk to someone today and report bullying behavior.

• It's never OK if someone makes you feel less than who you are with their behavior. Don't be a silent survivor of bullying.

Get Help With Bullying

Whether you are still the experiencing bullying, or if it's in the past - being bullied can be painful and even devastating. Start your life back together, and get help from an online therapist or counselor at BetterHelp; they are trained and qualified to deal with every situation.

Studies have shown that online therapy is just as effective as in-person therapy. Another study showed that online therapy can greatly reduce psychological distress among students. Online therapy is also more affordable and more convenient, and many people find it far more discreet as well.

Takeaway

While bullying is common, the movement against bullying is made up of many creative people who express their feelings and experiences by turning them into art, poetry, or even helpful foundations for others. You don’t need to accept bullying as a reality, and help is available.