Victimization vs. Bullying

A USA Today article features Espelage co-led, a group of researchers that worked for a year to produce a new primer on bullying. From their research, Espelage suggests that if schools want to do a more efficient job to end bullying they should stop using the term “bullying” in schools. The basis of the article summarizes that the word bullying is used loosely and has obscured the ability to focus on what is actually happening to children.

Parents Punished for their Children’s Offenses

A Wisconsin town is taking bullying into it’s own hands as an attempt to “crack down on harassment and emotional abuse among young people,” as it was stated in a Huffington Post article. This Wisconsin town will ticket and fine the parents of children who are repeatedly bullying others. They are referring to this step as the “parent-liability” approach. The parents will be fined $114 within 90 days of receiving a written notice regarding their child’s bullying.

New Age, New Bullies

Today’s new age world flooded with electronics, the Internet and social media has given bullies new channels to reach and harass their victims. Although in a Fox News article, it was stated that overall evidence shows that internet bullying is improving, there are still those occasions where it is in fact occurring. The article also made notice that cyber-bullying still remains a smaller threat than the old-fashioned kind which may come to a shock to some.

The Bird

Giving your bullies the bird is something that everyone envisions doing, but seldom ever happens. This was the idea behind Friend Movement’s latest anti-bullying campaign, “The New F Word.” Celebrities, athletes and activists have lent their faces as well as middle fingers to empower bullied individuals and inspire them to take action.

Scholarship Awarded

Mike Jeffries, Chairman and CEO of Abercrombie & Fitch announced that the company would offer a college scholarship to high school students who persevere in the face of bullying, starting in 2014. This action comes from the resurfacing of old comments made to Salon Media Group made by Jeffries back in 2006. In an interview, he was quoted as saying that the Abercrombie brand is exclusionary to those who are perceived as the “cool” kids in school. This excludes anyone who may be overweight, old, or too skinny.

Pay Up Parents

Monona, Wisconsin implemented an ordinance May 30, 2013 that will fine parents for their child’s bullying.  This will only be used in extreme circumstances when parents are uncooperative with officials or repeatedly ignore incidents by dismissing accusations of their child being a bully.

1D+OD Against Bullying

One Direction has teamed up with Office Depot in a battle against bullying.  The hottest band for tweens at the moment is selling products with their names and faces on them in Office Depot to raise funds for education programs in schools across America to put an end to bullying.