Bullying or Conflict?
What are two important characteristics that often distinguish bullying from an ordinary disagreement?
Repeated behavior and a power imbalance.
What does empathy mean?
Trying to understand or recognize another person's feelings and perspective.
What is a bystander?
Someone who witnesses a situation but does not directly intervene.
A classmate makes an unkind comment about another student's clothes. What is one respectful thing you could say or do?
“That's not cool,” change the subject, or check in with the student who was targeted.
What is cyberbullying?
Bullying behavior carried out through digital technology, such as messaging apps, social media, or online games.
Two friends disagree about the rules of a basketball game. Both argue, and both have a chance to explain their side. Is this automatically bullying?
No, it sounds more like a conflict.
A new student sits alone at lunch and barely speaks. Name one empathetic way to respond.
Invite them to sit with you, start a friendly conversation, or check in with them.
What is an upstander?
Someone who takes a safe, positive action to help address or prevent harm.
A student tells you they are being repeatedly targeted, but they beg you not to tell anyone. What should you do?
Listen, offer support, and help them connect with a trusted adult.
Someone posts an embarrassing photo of a classmate in a group chat, and everyone starts laughing. What is one thing you should avoid doing?
Do not forward, repost, or add hurtful comments to the photo.
A group of students repeatedly mocks one classmate's appearance. The classmate has asked them to stop, but they continue. What makes this more concerning than a simple disagreement?
It is repeated, hurtful behavior and may involve a power imbalance.
Your friend says, “It was just a joke. They need to stop being so sensitive.” What is one empathetic response you could give your friend?
“It might have been a joke to you, but it hurt them. We should take that seriously.”
You see classmates surrounding a student and making fun of them. You feel uncomfortable confronting the group. Name two ways you can still be an upstander.
Get a trusted adult and check in with the targeted student afterward.
Your friend repeatedly makes fun of the same student. When you tell your friend to stop, they say, “You're supposed to be on my side!” What is a strong response?
“I'm your friend, but I don't agree with treating someone that way.”
You receive a cruel message about a classmate. You did not create it. What can you do to help?
Do not share it; support the targeted student and report it to a trusted adult.
A student is targeted only once by a cruel comment, but the student is deeply upset. Does the fact that it happened once mean the school should ignore it?
No.
Someone who has been teased starts responding rudely to classmates. How can you show empathy without saying that their rude behavior is okay?
Acknowledge that they may be hurt or frustrated, check on them, and encourage them to respond safely and respectfully.
Why might several students witnessing bullying stay silent even when they know it is wrong?
They may fear becoming the next target, worry about peer pressure, or assume someone else will intervene.
You notice a student being targeted in the hallway. The group is getting louder, and you are worried someone might get hurt. What is the best first step?
Get a trusted adult or school staff member immediately and avoid putting yourself in danger.
Someone says, “It's not bullying if it happens online and not at school.” Is that true? Explain.
No.
Two students have an argument once. A week later, one student starts spreading rumors about the other and encourages friends to exclude them. Why might this situation now be considered bullying rather than just a disagreement?
The behavior has continued beyond the original disagreement and now involves targeting, spreading rumors, and encouraging exclusion. If there is also a power imbalance or the behavior is repeated or likely to be repeated, it may meet the definition of bullying.
A student laughs along when classmates make fun of them, but later tells a counselor that the jokes hurt their feelings. Why shouldn't others assume the student was okay with the jokes just because they laughed?
People may laugh when they feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, pressured, or want to fit in. Their outward reaction does not necessarily reflect how they feel.
You see a popular group repeatedly targeting a student. You know that speaking up publicly might cause the group to target you next. Explain how you can be an upstander without confronting the group directly.
Report the repeated behavior to a trusted adult, check in privately with the targeted student, offer to accompany them to get help, or safely document what happened for an adult.
A student who has been bullied begins making hurtful comments toward another classmate who had nothing to do with the situation. What are two things you can do to support the student who was bullied while also addressing the harm they are now causing?
Check in with and support the new student being targeted, and safely interrupt the hurtful behavior or seek adult help.
Encourage the student who was bullied to get support for what happened to them, while making it clear that hurting someone else is not okay.
Someone posts an embarrassing video of a classmate. You don't comment on it, but you watch it, laugh, and send it privately to one friend. Why could your actions still contribute to the harm, and what should you do instead?
Sharing the video privately spreads the content and increases the audience, even without a public comment. Instead, do not forward it, report it through an appropriate channel, and support the student who was targeted.