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Essay / Bullying Intervention Program for Grade 4 Students - 522
Bullying is defined as intentional and repeated behavior that physically or mentally harms a person. Bullies generally want to gain power over the person they are bullying (Besag, 1989). There are three types of bullying: physical, verbal, covert or social bullying, and cyberbullying (Ministry of Education and Early Childhood Development Building Respectful and Safe Schools, 2010). Among school-aged children, bullying can occur in places like the school building, on the Internet, and on the bus (definition of bullying). Bullying is less present in primary schools, such as in 4th grade, than in higher schools, but that does not mean that it does not occur. It is estimated that more than 3.2 million students are bullied each year (Do Something). Studies have shown that verbal abuse is the most common type of bullying among elementary school children (Bentley & Li, 1996). In addition, physical harassment develops and increases in primary school. Younger children are usually bullied by students in higher grades. Boys make up the majority of bullies in this age group. Most acts of bullying take place in a playground. If a child is bullied in elementary school, they have a much higher probability of being deviant later than if they had not been bullied (Kumpulainen & Rasanen, 2000). The goal of this anti-bullying intervention program for 4th grade students is to help children understand what bullying is and what to do when they witness acts of bullying and 'They are being bullied. We also hope that this program will reduce future instances of bullying. For a 60-minute program, an assembly would be organized and led by the principal, some teachers, preferably those who teach 4th grade students, and school counselors. The program would begin by asking children what they think bullying is. After some responses, the official definition will be shared and examples will be used to support this definition. A short video would then be shown addressing bullying from the children's point of view. Having a video with children talking about bullying would make it easier for 4th graders to relate and understand. This will take approximately 10 minutes. After the video, the program would discuss why some children are likely to be bullied, such as their visible differences and disabilities. Children will learn that they should view other people's differences in a positive way and celebrate them..