NEA's Bully Free: It Starts With Me
Educators Take a Stand to Stop Bullying
No Name-Calling Week Spotlights How Words Can Hurt
The burly student who gets into fist-fights and shoves kids into lockers may be the staple image of the school bully, but often bullies target their victims in much subtler ways – by name calling.
NEA Sends Letter to Congress in Support of Student Non-Discrimination Act
On Thursday, December 15, the National Education Association sent a letter to Congress in support of the Student Non-Discrimination Act. This legislation would help ensure that every student, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, has a safe place to learn.
School Psychologist Stops Bullies with Peer Group
The Peer Helping Network isn’t full of high academic achievers or the most popular kids in the school, but is instead a diverse group of kids — some of whom have definitely seen the inside of the assistant principal’s office — who are committed to making their school a better, safer and more accepting place.
School Bus Drivers Put the Brakes on Bullying
Bullying happens in stairwells and cafeterias, in the classroom and on the playground, but it also takes place beyond school grounds as buses pull away from the curb.
Challenging the Norms
Bullied as a child for choosing figure skating over hockey, this education professor and NEA Bully Free pledge taker reminds us that bullying sometimes initiates difficult conversations.
Bullied But Not Broken
When a teacher was suspended for disciplining a student in his class who made anti-gay remarks, 14-year-old Graeme Taylor decided to do something about it.
NEA's Bully Free Pledge Taker Vincent Pompei
This high school counselor makes his office and his school a safe place for all students.
Stepping Up to Stop Bullying
These educators show how one caring adult can make a difference in the life of a bullied child, from NEA Today magazine.
Take The Pledge
I agree to be identified as a caring adult who pledges to help bullied students. I will listen carefully to all students who seek my help and act on their behalf to put an immediate stop to the bullying. I will work with other caring adults to create a safe learning environment for all the students in my school.
One Caring Adult Can Make a Difference
One caring adult can keep a bullied student from dropping out of school. One caring adult may save a bullied student’s life. NEA's Bully Free: It Starts With Me campaign, is asking you to be that caring adult. Just take the pledge — to listen to bullied students who approach you and take action to stop the bullying. In return, NEA will provide you with free resources to help you support these students.
Recommended Reading
- Take the Stop Bullying Comic Challenge!
Use these FREE comic-based activities to give your students a creative and engaging way to share their strategies for speaking up and putting a stop to bullying. - Sesame Street Launches Anti-Bullying Campaign with New Episode
In "The Good Birds Club," Big Bird is bullied by another bird in the neighborhood. The show empowers children by providing strategies for dealing with bullying, and encourages them to seek the help of a trusted adult. - Bullying: Are You The One? NEA Vice-President Lily Eskelsen asks: Are you the one? When students have one person who says to them, "I believe you. You don't deserve this. I'm going to try and stop this," it changes their world.
- Findings from the National Education Association's Nationwide Study of Bullying This first-of-its-kind, large-scale research study by NEA and Johns Hopkins University examines different school staff members' perspectives on bullying and bullying prevention efforts.
- Alternatives to Zero Tolerance Policies: In bullying incidences, research shows that zero tolerance policies don’t work. This resource offers alternative approaches.
Stop Bullying Now!
This Campaign Youth in Action video highlights kids standing up to bullying in their schools and communities around the country.
RESEARCH AND TOOLS
Clerical Services/Administrative ESPs Bullying Prevention (PDF)Administrative staff hear bullying reports from students as well as parents, and are in a good position to intervene.
Food Services ESPs and Bullying Prevention (PDF)
School cafeterias a common location for bullying, and it is an area ripe for bullying prevention and intervention, where staff can curb bullying and promote a positive school climate.
Paraeducators and Student-to-Student Bullying (PDF)
How paraeducators (teaching assistants, teacher aides, paraprofessionals, paras), who are often more likely than teachers to be in a position to witness bullying and intervene in bullying situations, can deal with bullying situations.
Bus Drivers and Bullying Prevention (PDF)
Practical tips about what bus drivers can do to prevent or intervene in bullying situations.
A Bullying Is a Social Justice Issue
In our ever more diverse society, race and ethnicity rank among the major reasons a student is bullied.
Bullying Prevention: School Support Staff Are Essential
While some bullying occurs in the classroom, the most common places are on the school bus, in the hallways, in the stairwells, in the lunchroom, and on the playground.
Get students thinking critically about bullying – through comics
A free classroom resource that puts students center stage and gives them a creative way to share their perspectives on how best to deal with bullying.
Marla Schreffler
I’m helping put an end to bullying at my school with the Peer Helping Network, a diverse group of kids who are committed to making their school a better, safer and more accepting place.
Shaun Johnson
I was bullied as a child for choosing figure skating over hockey, and today I realize that sometimes bullying prevention initiates difficult conversations.
Vincent Pompei
I was bullied badly when I was a student, starting all the way back in elementary school.
Video
Message to Educators: Take the Bully-free Pledge
Dennis Van Roekel urges educators to be the one caring adult who makes a difference to a bullied child.
Video
NEA President on MSNBC
Dennis Van Roekel tells a national audience about NEA’s Bully Free: It Starts with Me campaign.
