Speak Up – Stop Bullying Flash Mob Dance Steps

KISS FM 96.9 is teaming up with Safe Schools Healthy Students in the Speak Up - Stop Bullying campaign. Bullying and Cyberbullying are ongoing issues affecting many students each day. While some think it's harmless, it leads to self esteem issues and sometimes even suicide.

Here at KISS FM we are completely supportive of Safe Schools Healthy Student's efforts to 'Speak Up & Stop Bullying". We are launching a Flash Mob Campaign in which people can learn the dance steps and participate in these flash mobs all over town.

Speak Up Amarillo is a group of students and community members organized through Safe Schools Healthy Students and Family Support Services. The purpose of Speak Up Amarillo is to bring awareness to the whole community in regards to the issues of bullying. Bullying is an issue that needs to be addressed publicly especially with the increasing use of technology and what is now referenced as "cyberbullying." In fact, 1 in 4 students are a victim of bullying, as many as 160, 000 students stay home on any given day to avoid being bullied, 35% of kids have been threatened online and nearly 1 in 5 have had it happen more than once. If you or your student has been or is being a victim of bullying contact the school to gain further help and/or the Family Support Services office for outside help.

Here Are The Dance Steps Slowed Down For You To Learn

Cyberbullying Facts

1.      Nearly 42% of kids have been bullied online and almost one in four have had it happen more than once.

2.      Among this percentage, being ignored and disrespected were the most common forms of cyber bullying.

3.      Nine out of ten middle school students have had their feelings hurt online.

4.      About 75% have visited a Web site bashing another student.

5.      Four out of ten middle school students have had their password(s) stolen and changed by a bully who then locked them out of their own account or sent communications posing as them.

6.      About 21% of kids have received mean or threatening e-mails.

7.      The psychological and emotional outcomes of cyber bullying are similar to real-life bullying outcomes, except for the reality that with cyber bullying there is often no escape. School ends at 3 p.m., while the Internet is available all the time.

8.      The primary cyber bullying location where victimizing occurs, at 56%, is in chat rooms.

9.      Girls are about twice as likely as boys to be victims and perpetrators of cyber bullying.

10.  About 58% of kids admit someone has said mean or hurtful things to them online. More than four out of ten say it has happened more than once.

More Bullying Facts and Statistics

11.   1 in 7 Students in Grades K-12 is either a bully or a victim of bullying.

12.   56% of students have personally witnessed some type of bullying at school.

13.   15% of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school.

14.   90% of 4th through 8th graders report being victims of bullying (These are the years that bullying tends to peak.)

Bullying can take many forms but it usually includes the following types of behavior:

• Physical – hitting, kicking, pinching, punching, scratching, spitting or any other form of physical attack. Damage to or taking someone else’s belongings may also constitute as physical bullying.

• Verbal – name calling, insulting, making racist, sexist or homophobic jokes, remarks or teasing, using sexually suggestive or abusive language, offensive remarks

• Indirect – spreading nasty stories about someone, exclusion from social groups, being made the subject of malicious rumours, sending abusive mail, and email and text messages (cyber bullying).

• Cyber Bullying - any type of bullying that is carried out by electronic medium. There are 7 types including:

1. Text message bullying

2. Picture/video clip bullying via mobile phone cameras

3. Phone call bullying via mobile phones

4. E-mail bullying

5. Chat-room bullying

6. Bullying through instant messaging (IM)

7. Bullying via websites