Show Up: Prevent and Stop Bullying

Think about how you treat your friend and classmates. Everyone exchanges sharp words now and then, but if there's someone you tend to pick on, stop, even if you aren't doing what you would define as bullying. Make it your policy to be nice to other people, even if you don't like them very much.

  • Don't tease someone else unless you know them well enough to understand their sense of humor.
  • Don't spread rumors or gossip about other people – that's a form of bullying.
  • Don't purposely leave someone out or ignore them.
  • Never spread pictures or information about someone else on the internet without consent.
  • Walk away before you get so mad that you do or say something you regret.
  • Stand up for other people. If you see people being mean to or harming someone else, speak up and tell the perpetrator(s) to stop. If someone is being physically hurt, don’t hesitate to call the police.
  • Don’t join your friends in being mean to or picking on someone else. Tell them to stop and/or walk away.
  • Go to the person who was harmed and say something like, “I saw what happened and it’s not okay. I’m so sorry this happened to you.” Offer to help them get help.