Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Typically, it is repeated over time. A child who is being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself.

Bullying can take many forms, such as hitting or punching (physical bullying); teasing or name calling (verbal bullying); intimidation using gestures or social exclusion (nonverbal bullying or emotional bullying); and sending insulting messages by e-mail (cyberbullying).

1. Reduce the incidence of bullying

2. Provide ways to report bullying

3. Inform people about frequency

4. Inform people about impact

5. Inform people about prevention

6. Foster an anti-bullying way of life in EPISD

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• Stresses of being bullied can interfere with student's engagement and learning in school.

• Children and youth who are bullied are more likely than other children to be depressed, lonely, anxious, have low self-esteem, feel unwell, and think about suicide.

• Students who are bullied may fear going to school, using the bathroom, and riding on the school bus.

• Bullying also has an impact on other students at school who are bystanders to bullying. Bullying creates a climate of fear and disrespect in schools and has a negative impact on student learning.

• Bullying can be a sign of other serious antisocial or violent behavior. Children and youth who frequently bully their peers are more likely than others to get into frequent fights, be injured in a fight, vandalize or steal property, drink alcohol, smoke, be truant from school, drop out of school, and carry a weapon.

• Studies show that between 15–25 percent of U.S. students are bullied with some frequency ("sometimes or more often") while 15-20 percent report that they bully others with some frequency.

• Approximately 30 percent of all children and youth in grades 6 through 10 have been bullied or have bullied other children "sometimes" or more often within a semester.

• Recent statistics show that although school violence has declined 4 percent during the past several years, the incidence of behaviors such as bullying has increased by 5 percent between 1999 and 2001.

• Research indicates that children with disabilities or special needs may be at a higher risk of being bullied than other children.

• By self-report, boys are more likely than girls to bully others.

• Girls frequently report being bullied by both boys and girls, but boys report that they are most often bullied only by other boys.

• Verbal bullying is the most frequent form of bullying experienced by both boys and girls.

• Boys are more likely to be physically bullied by their peers.

• Girls are more more likely to bully each other using social exclusion.

• Girls are more likely to report being targets of rumor spreading and sexual comments.

What is the Anonymous Alerts app?

The Anonymous Alerts anti-bullying and safety app reporting system helps combat bullying and other negative activity in schools by empowering students to speak up. Social and peer pressure are some of the hardest obstacles for students to overcome.

The system allows for 1-way or 2-way anonymous encrypted communications between submitters (students, parents or community members) and district administration and/or school staff. Users of the system have the option to remain anonymous or reveal their identity when submitting a report.

How does it work?

To use this revolutionary new app, students, parents or other school personnel can simply visit the click on the “Anonymous Alerts” button or text link to submit a report expressing their concern. Anonymous Alerts® mobile applications can be downloaded directly from the Apple, Google Play or the Chrome stores.

EPISD supplies students a simple username and password activation code, making the app remarkably easy to use and students select which school and contact the message should go to. In addition, informational posters explaining how to use the app will be displayed throughout schools and offices in the district.

To send reports from the Web/Internet go to Anonymous Alerts.

To send a report from your phone:

• Download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, or the Chrome store

• Start the App, enter login: elpasoisd and password: elpasoisd

• Send important reports to school officials

• Add a screenshot, photo or video of the incident

• In an emergency, always call 9-1-1!

Click below to download the app

Be supportive and gather information about the bullying. Never tell your child to ignore the bullying. What the child may "hear" is that you are going to ignore it. If the child were able to simply ignore it, he or she likely would not have told you about it. Often, trying to ignore ullying allows it to become more serious.

Don't blame the child who is being bullied. Don't assume that your child did something to provoke the bullying. Don't say, "What did you do to aggravate the other child?"

Listen carefully to what the child tells you about the bullying. Ask him or her to describe who was involved and how and where each bullying episode happened.

Learn as much as you can about the bullying tactics used, and when and where the bullying happened. Can the child name other children or adults who may have witnessed the bullying?

Empathize with the child. Tell him/her that bullying is wrong, not their fault, and that you are glad he or she had the courage to tell you about it. Ask the child what he or she thinks can be done to help. Assure him or her that you will think about what needs to be done and you will let him or her know what you are going to do.

Do not encourage physical retaliation ("Just hit them back") as a solution. Hitting another student is not likely to end the problem, and it could get your child suspended or expelled or escalate the situation.

Think about how YOU might feel if the bullying was happening to you. You and other kids can lend a hand, even when you aren't close friends with the kids who are bullied. Your school will be a better place if you help stop bullying. And making your school a better place is EVERYONE'S job!

Don't just stand there... SAY SOMETHING!

Kids who bully may think they're being funny or "cool." If you feel safe, tell the person to STOP the bullying behavior. Say you don't like it and that it isn't funny.

DON'T BULLY BACK! It won't help if you use mean names or actions, and it could make things worse.

Say kind words to the child who is being bullied, such as "I'm sorry about what happened," and "I don't like it!" Help them understand that it's not his or her fault. Be a friend. Invite that student to do things with you, such as sit together at lunch or work together on a project. EVERYONE NEEDS A FRIEND!

Tell the student who is being bullied to talk to someone about what happened. Offer to help by going along.

Pay attention to the other kids who see the bullying. Are any of them laughing or joining in with the bullying? If yes, these kids are part of the problem. Let those students know that they're not helping! DON'T be one of them!

Think about who you could tell in your school: Teacher, School counselor, Cafeteria or Playground Aid, School nurse, Principal, Bus driver, or Other adults you feel comfortable telling.

No matter where the bullying happens, you should talk to your parents about bullying that you see or know about. Ask them for their ideas about how to help.