The below mentioned speaks for itself and needs no explanation as to why this petition has commenced, to why there needs to be a preventative bully action plan implemented and to why we NEED YOUR SIGNATURE!
What is bullying?
Bullying is a dynamic of unhealthy interaction. It is a form of repeated aggression used from a position of power. It can be physical, verbal, or social.
Bullying may be a relationship problem. Students who bully are learning to use power and aggression to control and distress others. Students who are repeatedly bullied are trapped in an abusive relationship. As a relationship problem, bullying requires relationship solutions. To exert power, bullies may use an advantage in size, strength, age, or intelligence; an advantage in social status or peer group solidarity; or knowledge of another%u2019s vulnerability.
Bullying can be direct or indirect. Physical bullying includes hitting, shoving, stealing, or damaging property. Verbal bullying involves name-calling, mocking, sexual harassment, or racist or homophobic comments. Social bullying can be carried out by excluding others from a group, or spreading gossip or rumours about them. These rumours are often spread quickly through e-mail, cell phones, or text messages to threaten, harass, or exclude.
Victims of bullying often deal with social anxiety and loneliness, withdrawal, physical ailments such as headaches or stomach aches, low self esteem, school absenteeism, diminished academic performance, phobias, depression, aggressive behaviour. In the most extreme cases, the result is suicide. Students who drop out to escape bullying suffer the long-term personal and socio-economic consequences of an interrupted education.
Bullies who learn to use aggression as a form of power may develop other significant problems including moral disengagement, delinquency, substance abuse, adult criminality, and suicide. They may perpetuate bullying behaviour in their relationships by using sexual harassment, dating aggression and other forms of victimization to support unhealthy power structures.
Think of this..In an Adult world it is called harassment but in a child world it is labelled as bullying. I do not see the difference in the meaning as both are still unwarranted behaviour with the same outcome. Do you see a difference?
Please support us with signing this petition. We thank you in advance.
Dear Minister
RE: A petition has commenced on February 1, 2010 towards you and for action.
We the undersigned have become aware that Newfoundland & Labrador has not yet implemented a Bully Prevention Action Plan. Ontario and Alberta are the only two provinces so far that have this plan in effect. Do you not think it is time you came aboard to be the 3rd province in Canada to implement this plan? At this time we ask that you review and take this petition into consideration, as we do have a bully preventive action plan in our possession, and available to you for your ease of reference. We cannot change what has incurred in the past, but we certainly can make a difference moving forward in the future. All it takes is educating people about Bullying. You are the one person in such a position to do so, and with the power to put this forth.
