CHAPTER II

TRANSVERSAL TOPIC
1- DEFINITION

There is no legal definition of bullying. But it is usually defined as repeated

behaviour which is intended to hurt someone either emotionally or physically,
and is often aimed at certain people because of their race, religion, gender or
sexual orientation or any other aspect such as appearance or disability.
Bullying can take many forms including:
Physical assault, teasing, making threats, name calling and cyber bullying.

2- REAL PROBLEM

For months, 12-year-old Mallory Grossman received the taunts in text

messages, Instagram posts and Snapchats.
She was a loser and had no friends, they told her. At one point, according to an
attorney for Mallory’s family, the girls even asked her, “Why don’t you kill
yourself?”
In the classrooms and hallways of her middle school in Rockaway Township,
N.J., a group of sixth grade girls continued to torment her, the family says. They
would tease Mallory, give her dirty looks and snub her, shooing her away from
their lunch table.
The taunts, her parents say, soon took a toll on the lively young cheerleader
and gymnast. At school, Mallory’s grades deteriorated. At home, she
complained of constant headaches and stomach pain. She begged to stay
home from school.
After the bullying began in October of last year, Mallory’s parents spoke to her
teachers, counselors and school administrators — along with the students’
parents — pleading with them to help put an end to the ugliness.
Then, on June 14, Mallory took her own life. The manner of death was not
disclosed.
3- SUMMARY

Long tolerated as a rite of passage into adulthood, bullying is now recognized

as a major and preventable public health problem. The consequences of
bullying—for those who are bullied, the perpetrators of bullying, and the
witnesses—include poor physical health, anxiety, depression, increased risk for
suicide, poor school performance, and future delinquent and aggressive
behavior. Despite ongoing efforts to address bullying at the law, policy, and
programmatic levels, there is still much to learn about the consequences of
bullying and the effectiveness of various responses. In 2016, the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine published a report entitled
Preventing Bullying Through Science, Policy and Practice, which examined the
evidence on bullying, its impact, and responses to date. This article summarizes
the report’s key findings and recommendations related to bullying prevention.

4- POSSIBLE SOLUTION

I. If you are being bullied: tell them to stop, get away from the situation,
and tell a trusted adult.
II. If you see someone being bullied, be an upstander: Tell the person to
stop, get a trusted adult, reach out and be friends.
III. With your children: Listen and support your children. Work with the
school to be sure your child is safe.

CONCLUSIONS
I. Bullying is a big problem in this world. Over 3.2 million people are
victims of bullying and that needs to stop. Bullying can only stop if
people voice their opinion about bullying, be nicer, set up a good home
environment, and be a good role model.
II. Bullying must stop. This will happen only when people hold their tongue,
be friendlier, become role models, and set up a good home
environment. People need to learn and practice empathy, so that one
day, there will be less broken people in this world.
III. Bullying is wrong. It's never ok. It's never cool. It never makes you look
good by doing it. You always have a choice. Be the person that is smart
enough and confident enough to be friends with everyone you meet. By
doing so, you're sending the message that you're self-assured enough
not to care what others may think.

REFERENCES
 Cornell, D., & Limber, S. P. (2015). Law and policy on the concept of
bullying at school. American Psychologist, 70, 333–343.
 https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/bullying-at-schools/
 https://www.bullying.co.uk/general-advice/what-is-bullying/
 http://questgarden.com/118/57/3/110206193450/conclusion.htm