DETECTING AND DETERRING BULLYING AMONG STUDENTS

WHO ARE GIFTED

Jesse LunsfordNovember 2015

Objectives:

• Identify students who are gifted• Effects of bullying on students who are gifted• Myths of bullying among students who are

gifted • Solutions

Defining giftedness

While many states have differing definitions of what it means to be gifted, the federal definition is often adopted.

[S]tudents, children, or youth who give evidence of high achievement capability in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields, and who need services or activities not ordinarily provided by the school in order to fully develop those capabilities. (U.S.D.O.E. Title IX (20 U.S.C. 7801 et seq.)

Additionally, many states are expanding their definitions to include high achievement, giftedness in performing and visual arts, leadership ability, and motivation.

Who makes up this category?Across the country, the statistics show a close but higher number of females identified as gifted. Students that are gifted may be of any race or ethnicity however when broken down into those categories there is a much more significant discrepancy than by gender, as noted below:

• Asian/Pacific Islander 13.1 %• White 8 %• American Indian/Alaska Native 5.2 %• Hispanic 4.2 %• Black 3.6 %

When identifying students that are gifted, it is necessary to remember that they may be twice exceptional meaning they have an unrelated disability that can cause complications in defining their educational needs.

Defining bullyingAccording to StopBullying.gov, a federal government website managed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, bullying is defined as:

“…unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.”

The behavior is also aggressive, repeated, and involves an imbalance of power between those involved.

Myths regarding students who are gifted

• They can deal with it on their own.

• He can’t be gifted if he is making bad grades.

• All gifted students are happy.

• They are not gifted if they have a disability.

Myths regarding students who are gifted (cont.)

• They make everyone else smarter.

• Their families always value their giftedness.

• Their talents guarantee their success in life so

they should be happy.

• They want to be socially isolated.

Should we worry?

The good news: • Bullying is reportedly on the decline.• Awareness is on the rise.

The bad news:• Bullying still exists and doesn’t stop at the end of the

school day. • Suicides related to bullying occur among students of

all ages.

Effects of bullying on students who are gifted

“All children are affected by bullying, but gifted children differ from other children in significant ways” – Jean Sunde, Professor of Educational Studies, Purdue’s College of Education

Certain tendencies and characteristics of gifted students lead them to deal with bullying in specific ways as the source of the bullying was likely related to their intelligence or gifts.

Signs of bullying

A student who is gifted and being bullied may:

• Exhibit less interest in school

• Hide their giftedness

• Attempt to solve the issue themselves

Signs of bullying (cont.)

Students who are gifted may :

• Be increasingly perfectionistic

• Try to determine the cause

• Internalize the issue

Sings of bullying (cont.)

Unfortunately, students who are gifted may also:

• Lash out violently

• Become the bully

• Resort to suicide

What can be done

Create a safe place:

• Be vigilant when watching areas such as

classrooms, lunchrooms, hallways, bus lines.

• Train teachers, administrators, bus drivers,

and all other staff to spot bullying.

What can be done (cont.)

Become a “trusted adult”

• Respond immediately

• Inform the child of your actions

• Follow through with your promise

What can be done (cont.)

Know your responsibility:

• Federal law

• State laws

• District policy (Zero Tolerance?)

What can be done (cont.)

Involve parents and students school wide.

• Parent Teacher Association meetings

• Informational Bullying Presentations

• School safety Committees

References• Price, P. (2015). Gifted, Bullied, Resilient: A Brief Guide for Smart Families.

Olympia, WA: GHF Press• Turnbull, Ann P., (2015) Exceptional Lives: special education in today’s

schools. • Title IX - General Provisions. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from

http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/leg/esea02/pg107.html • Jason, P. (2015, November 23). Fort Collins mourns deaths of two PSD

students. The Coloradan.• Myths about Gifted Students. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from

http://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources/myths-about-gifted-students

• Study: Gifted children especially vulnerable to effects of bullying. (n.d.). Retrieved November 29, 2015, from http://www.purdue.edu/uns/html4ever/2006/060406.Peterson.bullies.html