A Work in pairs. Read the text.

Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists

Why you might be bullied? It may be your height or lack of it, your color, your size, where you are
from, how you talk, who your family is, who your friends are, what you believe in. It could anything
that is perceived as different. But no matter what, it’s your fault.

Bullying happens to kids all around the world everyday. Though it can be physical like pushing and
shoving, stealing or breaking things. It could also be verbal like teasing and name calling. Or even
social like excluding people, stating rumors, using the internet or texting.

Being bullied is not fun! It’s serious! Some effects are obvious from the outside, because there is a
lot happening in the inside that we don’t get to see, like fear, stress and sadness. Fear can make
you afraid to go places. Sadness can make you stop acting like your true self. Maybe you don’t
wanna do the things you enjoyed doing anymore. Stress can effect your body. Your stomach might
feel like it’s in knots, and maybe you can’t sleep.

You can do something about it. NO, DON’T FIGHT BACK! “Return evil for evil to no one.” Here is
what you could do:

• Be prepared. Think beforehand what you wanna say,

• Act Confident

• You could use humor to defeat the situation.

• Think of ways you can protect yourself. “The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself“

• Avoid places where bully might happen, and be willing to walk away if it does.

• Don’t walk to school alone. Take a friend with you.

• Label your belongings. Don’t take money or expensive things with you to school.

• TELL AN ADULT! Shine a spotlight on their actions. You could talk to your parents, school offi-
cials, or a trusting adult. Even though you might feel like a tell tale or a crying baby. You should
NOT face it alone.

It’s not easy, but it can work. You can beat a bully without using your fists.

B Work in pairs. Answer the questions on your notebook.

1. Does bullying happen only in Brazil? Explain.
2. What is bullying and in what ways can it happen?
3. What are the affects of being bullied?
4. What you should not do if you are being bullied?
5. What can you do to stop being bullied?
6. Can you beat a bully without using violence?

To think about: What can I do if I see someone being bullied?

C Work in pairs. Read the text.
What if I’m Being Bullied?

Bullying is no trivial matter. A British study found that more than 40 percent of the youth suicides
reported in the national media appeared to involve bullying as a contributing factor.

WHAT IS BULLYING?
Bullying includes more than physical assaults. It can also involve the following.

Verbal attacks. “Girls can be brutal with their words,” says 20- year-old Celine. “I’ll never forget
the names they called me or the things they said. They made me feel worthless, unwanted, and
goodfor-nothing. I’d rather have been given a black eye.”

Social isolation. “My schoolmates started to avoid me,” says 18- year- old Haley. “They would
make it seem that there was no room at the lunch table so I couldn’t sit with them. For the whole
year, I cried and ate alone.”

Cyberbullying. “With just a few keystrokes on a computer,” says 14- year- old Daniel, “you can
ruin someone’s reputation — or even his life. It sounds like an overstatement, but it can happen!”
Cyberbullying also includes sending harmful photos or text messages using a cell phone.

WHY DO PEOPLE BULLY OTHERS?

These are some common reasons.

They themselves have been bullied. “I was so sick and tired of being mistreated by my peers
that I began to bully others just to fit in,” admits a young man named Antonio. “Later I looked back
and realized how wrong it was to do that!”

They have poor role models. “Many times young bullies treat other people . . . the way they
see their parents, older brothers and sisters, or other family members treat others,” writes Jay
McGraw in his book Life Strategies for Dealing With Bullies.

They act as if they are superior —and yet they’re insecure. “Kids who bully have an air of
superiority that is often a mask to cover up deep hurt and a feeling of inadequacy,” notes Barbara
Coloroso in her book The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander.

WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO BE A TARGET?

Loners. Some young people who lack social skills isolate themselves from others and become
easy marks for bullies. Youths who are perceived as being different. Some youths are targeted
by bullies because of their appearance, race, or religion or even because they have a disability
—anything the
bully can pick on.

Youths who lack self-confidence. Bullies can detect those who think negatively of themselves.
These are often the easiest targets, since they’re not likely to fight back.

WHAT CAN YOU DO IF YOU’RE BULLIED?

Don’t react. “Bullies want to know that they’ve succeeded in making you feel bad about yourself,”
says a young woman named Kylie. “If you don’t react, they lose interest.” The Bible says: “He that
is wise keeps it calm to the last.”
 Don’t retaliate. Revenge will add to the problem, not solve it. The Bible says: “Return evil for evil
to no one.”

Don’t walk into trouble. To the extent possible, avoid people and situations where bullying may
occur.

Try an unexpected response. “An answer, when mild, turns away rage.”

Walk away. “Silence shows that you are mature and that you are stronger than the person harassing
you,” says 19-year-old Nora. “It demonstrates self-control —something the bully doesn’t have.”

Work on your self-confidence. “Bullies notice when you aren’t relaxed,” says a girl named Rita,
“and they might use that to destroy whatever self- confidence you have.”

Tell someone. According to one survey, more than half of all victims who are bullied online don’t
report what’s going on, possibly because of shame (especially for boys) or fear of retaliation. But
remember, bullies thrive on secrecy. Speaking up can be the first step to ending the nightmare.
Tips from your peers.

TIPS FROM YOUR PEERS

Avoid places or situations that will make you an easy target for a bully. Remember, too, that
bullies are going through their own issues. When you know that, it takes some of the sting out
of their words.” —Antonio.

“Be confident in yourself. Don’t be afraid to stand up for what you believe. Many bullies back off
when they see that you aren’t giving them any power over you and that you aren’t afraid.” —
Jessica.

A TEACHER’S COMMENTS

“Bullying is a serious problem. Where I taught school, fights broke out right inside the classroom
—even among third graders! Some kids thrive on bullying because it makes them feel that
they’re popular and in control. “Often, victims hesitate to report bullying because they’re scared
that the bully will retaliate or that their classmates will view them as a snitch. They may also
be skeptical about whether anything will be done about the bullying. Still, I would urge anyone
who is being bullied to speak up. It’s the right thing to do, and it can prevent someone else from
being bullied.” —Jenilee, a former schoolteacher in the United States.

D Work in pairs. Mark T (true) or F (false).

1. Bullying has been around for thousands of years. ( )
2. Bullying is just harmless teasing. It’s not that serious. ( )
3. The best way to stop a bully is to fight back. ( )
4. If you’re being bullied, it’s your fault. ( )
5. Some people who are bullied become bullies. ( )
6. If you witness bullying, it’s best to ignore it. ( )
7. Beneath the boastful talk, bullies are often insecure. ( )
8. Bullies can change. ( )

JW.ORG