Social Media is the catalyst for cyberspace bullying, which is unfortunately on the rise. The nasty content online directed toward students has proven to have devastatingly negative consequences, at times leading to suicide by the receiver. Teachers and school officials must be aware of Social Media interactions among students and monitor them appropriately.

To begin the process of Eliminating, Nullifying, and Preventing cyberspace bullying, two (2) interventions must occur:

• First: Parents must monitor their student’s Internet activity, despite any resistance by the child or teen. Any suspicious activity must be addressed immediately, even if the activity turns out to be harmless and innocent. “It is better to be safe than sorry!”
  
  
• Second:  Students must be taught effective Self-Empowering Sustainable Training in the classroom and at home to eliminate and prevent cyberspace and other forms of bullying.
  
  
• This in-depth training entails changing the student’s MINDSET, whether that of the victim of the bully or the bully him/herself. If the mindset is effectively changed, it is likely the behavior will change to produce a more positive outcome as opposed to the negative one Bullying engenders.

DISCUSS THE FOLLOWING WITH STUDENTS:

• No matter how well-intended, we cannot prevent anyone from receiving Negative and Nasty WORDS directed toward them online or in person.

We can, however, be trained in ways to effectively respond to the bully’s negative and nasty WORDS, so the outcome is favorable for the receiver and not the bully.

• Discuss any events that occurred since their last BBGP training class involving a bullying situation or potential one, especially online.

ENSURE STUDENTS UNDERSTAND:  The following important anti-cyberspace bullying poetry lessons are specifically designed to teach effective WORDS to learn, say, and retain for offsetting, deflecting, and nullifying the effects of online bullying.

• The objective is to make a BULLY’S HATEFUL WORDS AND NASTY RUMORS ONLINE INEFFECTIVE.

• By learning and retaining these important WORDS & PHRASES, you may find yourself in a position one day to help a friend who may be having an ONLINE BULLYING PROBLEM.

• You are now beginning to understand effective ways to develop skills and POWERFUL WORDS to defeat the bully’s online inappropriate intent.

• You are learning to do this with EMPOWERING CONFIDENCE & CONVICTION.

The next three (3) poetic lessons are a continuation of your bullying training, focusing specifically on Cyberspace anti-bullying:

• Rumors On-Line
• You Hide in Front of a Computer 
• The Stranger on The Internet

WORDS CAN: Harm, Hurt, & Unfortunately and Sadly, Even Kill

WORDS CAN ALSO: Empower, Build Self-Confidence, Inspire, Motivate & Heal 

The WORDS in the Bullies Be Gone Project have been written to effectively accomplish the latter.

When confronted with a bullying situation, students MUST understand:

• Specific Words to say
  
• How to say them (Effectively with Conviction)
  
• When and when not to say them
  
• What actions to take after saying them
  
• When and how to take actions

By having confidence in and knowing how to effectively apply the points above:

• Online, you will be better positioned to fend off rumors effectively and successfully, as well as the negative effect such rumors can have on your self-confidence, self-esteem, and emotional well-being.  Emotional scars from bullying could linger far into adulthood.
   
• You will now begin strengthening and solidifying your self-confidence and mental toughness.  You will discover the importance of who you really are as a person.  No matter what anyone says to or about you, directly, or indirectly, you MUST understand maintaining and displaying your self-confidence should be first and foremost in your MIND.

Instruct students to read page 79 in their Student Workbook, which will reinforce much of what you just taught them.