James Burns, co-designer of the graduate course for teachers entitled "The Bully Proof Classroom," shares 10 things he believes will make a difference.

1. TEN STEPS TOTEN STEPS TO
HELP STOPHELP STOP
THETHE
BULLYINGBULLYING
EPIDEMICEPIDEMIC
NOW!NOW!
By James BurnsBy James Burns
Co-designer of the graduate courseCo-designer of the graduate course
“The Bully Proof Classroom”“The Bully Proof Classroom”
Available face to face in NJ, PA and MDAvailable face to face in NJ, PA and MD
and ONLINEand ONLINE
through the Regional Training Centerthrough the Regional Training Center
in partnership with TCNJ and Gratz College (PA, MD)in partnership with TCNJ and Gratz College (PA, MD)
www.theRTC.netwww.theRTC.net

2. STEP ONESTEP ONE
 Get trained on how to deal with thisGet trained on how to deal with this
epidemic. Most states require anti bullyingepidemic. Most states require anti bullying
programs now as part of teacher andprograms now as part of teacher and
administrative certification with ongoingadministrative certification with ongoing
professional development training.professional development training.

3. STEP TWOSTEP TWO
 DonDon’t deny that bullying exists. It is real.’t deny that bullying exists. It is real.
Don’t turn your back on even the slightestDon’t turn your back on even the slightest
unkind comments that are made from oneunkind comments that are made from one
student to another.student to another.

4. STEP THREESTEP THREE
 Identify students in your class or schoolIdentify students in your class or school
who may be at risk for being a bully or awho may be at risk for being a bully or a
victim. Make it a point to keep a sharp eyevictim. Make it a point to keep a sharp eye
on the bully in any unsupervised areas ofon the bully in any unsupervised areas of
the school. A bully is very covert and willthe school. A bully is very covert and will
do things when no one in authority isdo things when no one in authority is
watching.watching.

5. STEP FOURSTEP FOUR
 The bully is anti social. Once he has beenThe bully is anti social. Once he has been
identified remove him from any socialidentified remove him from any social
activities in your classroom or school toactivities in your classroom or school to
make him/her develop consequentialmake him/her develop consequential
thinkingthinking

6. STEP FIVESTEP FIVE
 Never deal with the bully or the parents ofNever deal with the bully or the parents of
the bully alone. Once the bully has beenthe bully alone. Once the bully has been
identified documentation is critical by moreidentified documentation is critical by more
than one teacher.than one teacher.

7. STEP SIXSTEP SIX
 Make respect and responsibility the twoMake respect and responsibility the two
character qualities that you work on incharacter qualities that you work on in
your classroom or school.your classroom or school.

8. STEP SEVENSTEP SEVEN
 DonDon’t be intimidated by the parents of a’t be intimidated by the parents of a
bully. They will defend the bully to the hilt.bully. They will defend the bully to the hilt.
Why? Because they are bullied at homeWhy? Because they are bullied at home
by this kid or maybe even their spouse.by this kid or maybe even their spouse.

9. STEP EIGHTSTEP EIGHT
 Do bullies have high self esteem? Yes,Do bullies have high self esteem? Yes,
when they have a victim in their sites thatwhen they have a victim in their sites that
they can bully. Without a victim, the bullythey can bully. Without a victim, the bully
has low self esteem.has low self esteem.

10. STEP NINESTEP NINE
 Assign mentors to at-risk students, bulliesAssign mentors to at-risk students, bullies
and victims. Each mentor should have aand victims. Each mentor should have a
manageable group of students both bulliesmanageable group of students both bullies
and victims that they work with individuallyand victims that they work with individually
and ultimately in a group to encourageand ultimately in a group to encourage
respectful and responsible behavior.respectful and responsible behavior.

11. STEP TENSTEP TEN
 Involve everyone! Top down: The schoolInvolve everyone! Top down: The school
board, superintendent, administration,board, superintendent, administration,
teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians,teachers, paraprofessionals, custodians,
and the police as well. Biased intimidationand the police as well. Biased intimidation
is now being recognized as a crime. Thisis now being recognized as a crime. This
behavior could be cause for expulsionbehavior could be cause for expulsion

12. Want to know more?Want to know more?
Contact The Regional Training CenterContact The Regional Training Center
www.theRTC.netwww.theRTC.net
800.433.4740800.433.4740