a cartoon of boys bullying another boy in a cafeteria

Illustrations by Jui Talukder

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Should You Stand Up to Bullying?

As You Read, Think About: Why is it important to support a kid who is being bullied?

At recess, a group of sixth-graders is picking on the new kid in your class. You look around the schoolyard. Some kids are ignoring the situation. Others are filming it or taking pictures. What are YOU doing? 

Unfortunately, scenes like this one are not uncommon. In a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, more than 25 percent of middle school students reported that they had been bullied at school. 

Judy French works for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The organization works to end bullying. She says it’s important to try to help kids who are pushed around, left out, or gossiped about.

“If it were happening to you, wouldn’t you want someone to help?” French asks. 

Supporting someone who is being bullied isn’t always easy, though.  

“But even in difficult situations, there are things we can do to make things better,” French says. 

Read on as French weighs in about how to handle two bullying situations.

It's recess. A group of sixth-graders is picking on the new kid in your class. You look around the schoolyard. Some kids are ignoring the situation. Others are filming it or taking pictures. What are YOU doing? 

Unfortunately, scenes like this one are not uncommon. This is according to a recent study conducted by the U.S. Department of Education. More than 25 percent of middle school students reported that they had been bullied at school. 

Judy French works for PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center. The organization works to end bullying. She says it’s important to try to help kids who are pushed around, left out, or gossiped about.

“If it were happening to you, wouldn’t you want someone to help?” French asks.

Supporting someone who is being bullied isn’t always easy, though.  

“But even in difficult situations, there are things we can do to make things better,” French says. 

Read on as French weighs in about how to handle two bullying situations.

Show Support

At lunchtime, your friends won’t let Devon sit at your table, even though there’s an empty seat. They make fun of his jacket and tell him he smells weird.

It's lunchtime. Your friends won't let Devon sit at your table. But there’s an empty seat. They make fun of his jacket. They also tell him he smells weird.

Bullying can take many forms. Making fun of someone and excluding them can hurt just as much as physical bullying. 

Standing up to kids who bully others takes courage. But these kids are your friends. And since the situation doesn’t seem dangerous, you should support Devon.

One way to do that is to ask Devon to go sit at another table with you. That will let your friends know you think their behavior is wrong. More importantly, it will let Devon know that he has someone in his corner and is not alone.

You can also tell your friends directly that what they are doing is wrong. But wait until after lunch. French says confronting them in front of everyone may make the situation worse or cause them to turn on you. 

“Having that talk out of the public eye is always safer,” she explains.

Bullying can take many forms. These include making fun of someone and excluding them. Each can hurt just as much as physical bullying. 

Standing up to kids who bully others takes courage. But these kids are your friends. The situation doesn’t seem dangerous, so you should support Devon.

One way to do that is to ask Devon to go sit at another table with you. That will let your friends know you think their behavior is wrong. More importantly, it will let Devon know that he has someone in his corner. He won't feel alone.

You can also tell your friends directly that what they are doing is wrong. But wait until after lunch. French says confronting them in front of everyone may make the situation worse. It could also cause them to turn on you. 

“Having that talk out of the public eye is always safer,” she explains.

Get Help

Abby is the most popular student in school. As Maria walks by, Abby trips her. As Abby’s friends laugh at Maria, other kids start filming. And Maria looks totally embarrassed.

Abby is the most popular student in school. As Maria walks by, Abby trips her. Abby’s friends laugh at Maria. Other kids start filming. And Maria looks totally embarrassed.

Standing up for kids who are bullied is the right thing to do, but it’s not always safe.

“If someone is hurting another kid, find a trusted adult right away,” French advises. 

In this case, that’s the best way to support Maria. French points out that telling an adult isn’t snitching, which is done just to get someone in trouble. When it comes to bullying, telling is protecting someone from getting hurt.

Standing up to Abby on your own could put you in danger. She holds the power. Being in power doesn’t always mean being big or strong. The person in power could be older than you, more popular, or have other kids with them who gang up on the target.

Plus, by leaving to get help, you’re taking away Abby’s audience. Some kids who bully are encouraged by others laughing or posting photos or videos online. Just don’t walk away assuming someone else is going to get help.

Standing up for kids who are bullied is the right thing to do. But it’s not always safe.

“If someone is hurting another kid, find a trusted adult right away,” French advises. 

In this case, that’s the best way to support Maria. French points out that telling an adult isn’t snitching. Snitching is done just to get someone in trouble. When it comes to bullying, telling is protecting someone from getting hurt.

Standing up to Abby on your own could put you in danger. She holds the power. Being in power doesn’t always mean being big or strong. The person in power could be older than you. They could be more popular. Or they could have other kids with them who might gang up on the target.

By leaving to get help, you are taking away Abby’s audience. Some kids who bully are encouraged by others who laugh. They may also be motivated by kids posting photos or videos online. Just don’t walk away assuming someone else is going to get help.

What Is Bullying?

  • Bullying isn’t accidental. It’s done to purposely hurt someone.
  • Bullying isn’t accidental. It’s done to purposely hurt someone.
  • Bullying doesn’t happen only once. It is usually repeated over a period of time. 
  • Bullying doesn’t happen only once. It is usually repeated over a period of time. 
  • It’s important to know that bullying and disagreeing are not the same thing. Disagreeing is when two people express their opinions and no one feels unsafe. Everyone disagrees sometimes! 
  • It’s important to know that bullying and disagreeing are not the same thing. Disagreeing is when two people express their opinions and no one feels unsafe. Everyone disagrees sometimes! 

1. Based on the article, why is Judy French qualified to weigh in about bullying situations?

2. What are two ways you could stand up to bullying when someone is being excluded and made fun of, according to the article?

3. In the scenario about Abby and Maria, why does the author say it is best to tell an adult what is happening?

1. Based on the article, why is Judy French qualified to weigh in about bullying situations?

2. What are two ways you could stand up to bullying when someone is being excluded and made fun of, according to the article?

3. In the scenario about Abby and Maria, why does the author say it is best to tell an adult what is happening?

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