Bullying Upstander | The Office of School Safety

Tips and statements to address bullying:

Do not call names.
Describe the behavior you are seeing.
Label the behavior you are seeing.
Tell the person who is bullying how it makes you feel.
Tell the person who is bullying how it makes the victim feel.
Tell an adult if you feel threatened!

Strategy 1: Intervene Directly (Using Your Voice)

Call Out the Action

What you’re doing is bullying. Stop it!
Hey! Knock it off! That is bullying!
I don't see the fun in making another kid feel bad. Let's do something else.

Challenge the Motive

Does it make you feel good to pick on others?
That is sad. You seem to enjoy causing other people to suffer.
Why do you only do this kind of thing when no adults are around?

Expose the Weakness

What you are doing is called bullying. Please stop it!
Bullying another kid just because... is not cool.
Bullying for any reason is wrong. Knock it off!

Strategy 2: Call In the Crowd (Bystander Action)

Define the Silence

When we watch and stay silent, they think it’s okay. It is not.
When we do nothing, we are supporting the bullying behavior.
Let’s not laugh. Laughing only encourages bullying.

Suggest Group Action

Let’s just all walk away when they start bullying.
If enough of us tell them we don't like this, they might stop.
If enough of us tell them we won't hang out if they bully like this, they might stop.

Set the Boundary

If they don't stop, let’s go get help from an adult right now.
Let’s go talk with the teacher about this behavior.
Turn to a friend: Come with me—we need to say something.

Strategy 3: Offer Immediate Support (Connecting with the Target)

Validate and Apologize

I am so sorry this is happening to you. You don't deserve this.
You don't deserve to be bullied. No one does.
Kids who bully are just being mean.

Break the Isolation

You are not alone. What can I do to be supportive to you?
Can we play together/eat together/do something together?
Let’s just walk away when he/she treats you this way.

Future Focus

Something about you that I admire is...
Who can we talk to if it happens again?
Let's just ignore them. That would only make it worse if you fought back.