Time and the right conditions not only preserve but bring about something of beauty – Marie Clancy.
Have you ever considered what bullying is, and what bullying is not?
In Ireland, the Department of Education’s definition of bullying is “Unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical, conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time.”
Therefore there are 3 important flags to watch out for in defining behaviour as bullying behaviour, namely…
1. There must be INTENT (DELIBERATE)
2. There must be an IMBALANCE OF POWER
3. It must be REPEATED OVER TIME
However there is an exception in that it is deemed a cyber-bullying offence, if a child is bullied just once, via an open social media platform; where hurtful information or images can be reshared.
I hope you found this post helpful and that you feel confident in defining what bullying is and what bullying is not.
Hi... failte (Irish for welcome! and pronounced fall-thhha).
I'm a newbie to blogging, here just over a year, but what a great year it has been!
I've turned the corner to 50 recently and two things become more relevant...time and experiences!
Material possessions are less important! Using time wisely and truly experiencing each day holds a new significance for me!
If you wish..., a little of the back story...
I''m blessed to be married to a kind and loving man for 28 years, we have two children now 19 and 21.
As I approached 40 and searching for something more, whilst holding down my then part-time legal secretarial work, I trained as a voluntary adult literacy tutor, with the hope of helping adults improve their literacy skills and have a second, and better experience of learning!
However, little did I think that wanting to help others improve their lives would see my own life improve beyond measure also!
You see for years I found it difficult to know what to do as I watched our two children suffer at the hands of bullies. Their struggle began to change when I returned to education! Through education I slowly gained valuable knowledge, I grew in confidence and self-esteme and it had a ripple effect!
By 2014, aged 47 I had completed a Higher Certificate in Literacy Development and a B.A. in Adult Education. I love my work as an adult educator, particularly when adults trust me enough to let down their defences and 'let me in'. Then I can help them by getting to know what makes them 'tic' and what 'lights their fire!'.
As an added bonus along the way I've realised that I also have a love of writing and that writing is cathartic (providing psychological relief through written expression of built up emotions), both for my students and myself. This blog enables me to pursue that new-found interest and I've really enjoying reading your blogs, sharing comments, getting to know so many people and gaining new perspectives. I also like to share any little 'gems' of learning I've gathered along the way!
Thanks for sharing your stories and for helping me realise that it is all possible...and that together we write a truly better story!
Much love,
Marie x
Thanks for sharing this information Marie. It’s helpful to know what falls under the category or bullying. As you said, having a simple definition leaves no doubt as to whether a behavior is bullying or not. Hope you’re doing well sweet friend. Blessings to you!
That’s interesting that the definition applies only to repeated acts, Marie. I think the impact can be negative even if just happening one time. Bullying is terrible, I remember being verbally taunted as a girl by a particular girl 😦 Thanks for educating others on this issue. xx
Thank you Christy for visiting and sharing your thoughts on this post. I totally agree that even one bullying event is enough to cause lasting emotional and psychological damage. I imagine it would be very difficult to prove and deal with every single incidence of bullying but I’m glad that even a single cyber bullying incident is treated as bullying. Bullying silences its victims. I want to break that silence and give a voice to victims! Le grà, Marie xx
It is wide open to abuse and people are keyboard bullies, picking on innocent victims and trying to gain likes and followers to feed their low self esteem and unconscious or sometimes conscious weaknesses. I can’t understand why schools don’t set strong boundaries and stick to them, such as no phones allowed during school hours. Au revoir Brenda et merci beaucoup! Xx
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October 19, 2019 at 8:37 pm
great to clarify the definition … and we need to stay aware of the viral capacity of cyber bullying!
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October 19, 2019 at 9:38 pm
Thanks Kate, a simple definition means there can be no doubt in confirming if any negative behaviour is or is not bullying.
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October 19, 2019 at 10:36 pm
well said Marie!
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October 21, 2019 at 3:58 pm
Thanks for sharing this information Marie. It’s helpful to know what falls under the category or bullying. As you said, having a simple definition leaves no doubt as to whether a behavior is bullying or not. Hope you’re doing well sweet friend. Blessings to you!
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October 22, 2019 at 9:17 pm
Thanks Terri, it’s good to know you find it helpful, hopefully others will too. We are all good thanks. Many blessings in return!
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October 21, 2019 at 4:12 pm
Its so true that a hurtful post even done once by the author is considered bullying because it can be shared and reposted many times..
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October 22, 2019 at 9:19 pm
Thanks Mich! Social media in the wrong hands is a deadly weapon and not easy to stop or repair the damage.
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October 25, 2019 at 5:01 pm
That’s interesting that the definition applies only to repeated acts, Marie. I think the impact can be negative even if just happening one time. Bullying is terrible, I remember being verbally taunted as a girl by a particular girl 😦 Thanks for educating others on this issue. xx
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October 25, 2019 at 6:09 pm
Thank you Christy for visiting and sharing your thoughts on this post. I totally agree that even one bullying event is enough to cause lasting emotional and psychological damage. I imagine it would be very difficult to prove and deal with every single incidence of bullying but I’m glad that even a single cyber bullying incident is treated as bullying. Bullying silences its victims. I want to break that silence and give a voice to victims! Le grà, Marie xx
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October 26, 2019 at 10:34 pm
Social media as a platform for bullying is a horrible thing. It makes me angry and very sad.
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October 27, 2019 at 12:17 pm
It is wide open to abuse and people are keyboard bullies, picking on innocent victims and trying to gain likes and followers to feed their low self esteem and unconscious or sometimes conscious weaknesses. I can’t understand why schools don’t set strong boundaries and stick to them, such as no phones allowed during school hours. Au revoir Brenda et merci beaucoup! Xx
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