The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

As school is back in, some kids dread walking the hallways or riding the bus. Bullying is a growing and serious problem among kids and teens. Years ago, the cliché "sticks and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you," couldn't be more wrong. Words can not only hurt you, they can emotionally scar you for a very long time. Stop BULLYING Now offers a vast amount of information to help educate parents, teachers, and kids about the affects of bullying. Let's start with the ten myths about bullying: 1. Bullying is the same thing as conflict. Wrong. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of power or strength. Often, bullying is repeated over time. Conflict involves antagonism among two or more people. Whereas any two people can have a conflict (or a disagreement or a fight), bullying only occurs where there is a power imbalance-where one child has a hard time defending himself or herself. Why is the difference between bullyin...

Last week the horrific story of the fifteen year old, Michael Brewer , who was doused in alcohol and set on fire by other teens! The story literally stunned our community. According to the Miami Herald , the doctors say he is making significant progress. The five teens are charged with aggravated battery in the attack earlier this month at a Broward County apartment complex. Authorities say they were retaliating in a quickly escalating dispute over a video game. Recently Michael Brewer's parents have sent a letter of thanks (via CBS News ) to everyone for their prayers, donations and support. Read here . Ross Ellis founded one of the leading organizations to help STOMPOUTBULLYING in combination with Love Our Children USA has offered some excellent advice and tips for parents, educators and everyone working with children today. 1. Bullying hurts and being a victim of any kind of bullying feels really bad. And it’s important for you to know two things: You’re NOT alone and It’s NOT ...

Bullying is part of your child’s life – find out how to reduce it in your neighborhood, at school, and online. Education.com and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) invite all parents to participate in a powerful and free web seminar that will reveal common myths surrounding bullying, the real facts, and actions parents can take to reduce bullying. The web seminar will be delivered by renowned bullying expert Dr. Shelly Hymel, PhD who will present a highly interactive session with plenty of time devoted to answering participants’ questions. Don’t miss this event – chances are your child is experiencing bullying. This is your chance to find out how you can help. When: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST

Bullying is part of your child’s life – find out how to reduce it in your neighborhood, at school, and online. Wednesday, February 25, 2009 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM PST The most recent data indicates that more than half of all school aged children are directly involved in bullying either as a bully or as a victim. Many more are affected by bullying as witnesses or accomplices. Bullying is an ‘equal opportunity’ issue affecting kids of all races, genders, and socio-economic statuses. While bullying is a serious and pervasive problem there is hope. By learning the truth about bullying and taking action as a family, parents can help keep their kids safer and happier in their neighborhood, at school, and online. Education.com and the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) invite all parents to participate in a powerful and free web seminar that will reveal common myths surrounding bullying, the real facts, and actions parents can take to reduce bullying. The web seminar will be deli...

I just read the most lovely and educational book called Grumble Bluff by Karen Bessey Pease . This tale tells of two young girls in that difficult and awkward stage of tweens - one is overweight and one has a horrific and painful situation she is living with. Both are bullied and teased relentlessly. Even reading how some kids are so mean made me feel so sad and angry on the inside. If you are a parent of a teen or tween - buy this book today - read it and have your child read it. You will feel warm inside at the end and then anxious for the second book. Kathy and Greta (characters) will become part of your family too - and what a great way to open lines of communication between you and your kids.

Palm Beach County School District passes new anti-bullying policy By Marc Freeman South Florida Sun-Sentinel November 9, 2008 School bullies tease, threaten, stalk, humiliate, steal and get physical. They spell all sorts of trouble for students and teachers. But their reign of campus terror is under assault. The Palm Beach County School Board on Wednesday tentatively adopted its first policy targeting bullying and harassment of all types, including cyberbullying, in accordance with a new state law. Among the requirements: prompt investigations of alleged incidents; penalties as serious as suspension and expulsion for making false accusations of bullying or retaliating against anyone reporting a genuine bullying incident; and immediate notice to the parents of the bullies and their victims. "It's a conscientiousness-raising policy for sure," said Rick Lewis, a coordinator in the School District's Safe Schools department. The anti-bullying measures are results of the Le...

Bullying continues to be a concern with parents and what their children can endure from other kids and now that school is here, it can start again. It is important to help your child understand that Bullying is not accepted and can potentially end up harming others not only emotionally - sometimes psychically. Here are some great tips for parents by Connect with Kids . “I kept trying to figure out ways to become better friends with them, like ways to fix myself so I could be better … like I wasn’t good enough… but then any time I changed anything … I changed my clothes, I learned that it wasn’t about my clothes because no matter what I did it was not good enough.” – Sarah Nadler, bullying victim Three out of four children say they’re bullied. One in ten say it happens everyday. Fourteen-year-old Alex Freed, who is tall and skinny with red hair and glasses, says it happened to him, “all day, from morning till the end; from 8 o’clock until 3 o’clock.” Alex’s bullying was not physical. In...

As school is opening throughout the country, it is time for parents to be prepared - not only helping their kids academically, but dealing with today's peer pressure which can include bullying and cyberbullying. Learn more. Dealing With Bullying Every day thousands of teens wake up afraid to go to school. Bullying is a problem that affects millions of students of all races and classes. Bullying has everyone worried, not just the kids on its receiving end. Yet because parents, teachers, and other adults don't always see it, they may not understand how extreme bullying can get. Bullying Is a Big Problem Bullying is when a person is picked on over and over again by an individual or group with more power, either in terms of physical strength or social standing. Two of the main reasons people are bullied are because of appearance and social status. Bullies pick on the people they think don't fit in, maybe because of how they look, how they act (for example, kids who are shy a...