Making the World a Better Place - Touro College

Ellis, the CEO of STOMP Out Bullying. Dr.
Gardere sets the tone by offering a wider
psychological perspective on those who
bully. He asks, “If your child is a bully, does
that make them a bad person?”
The parents respond in concert, “No!”
Dr. Gardere then proffers the top reason
a child might be a bully: low self-esteem.
“Bullying is about feeling fear and anger and
having to take it out on someone else,” he
explains.
Aggressive behavior, he adds, starts at
home. “When kids bully,” he says, “it’s really
a cry for help.”
Following Dr. Gardere, Ellis offers tips on
how parents could speak with their children.
For example, instead of saying, “Are you
being bullied?” a more successful approach
might be to say, “Do you know anyone who
is being bullied? Do you see it?” Otherwise,
she says, “Kids clam up.”
This is an issue Ross knows well. Under
her leadership, STOMP Out Bullying
established a successful HelpChat line for
bullied youth in 2011 and raised the profile of
this pressing issue by rallying corporate
sponsors, as well as celebrity spokespeople,
including Krysten Moore, a former Miss Teen
New Jersey International and previously a
bullying victim.
In addition to the consciousness-raising
and school workshops, a team of
researchers at the Graduate School of
Psychology—led by Assistant Professor Leib
Litman, Ph.D.,—recently surveyed more
than 1,000 area parents online in a
groundbreaking study. The study was the
first of its kind to explore the link between
bullying and intergenerational health.
Parents were queried on their own histories
of having been bullied, whether physically or
emotionally, and also on chronic health
conditions currently experienced.
The researchers found that parents who
were physically bullied were seven times as
likely to have a chronic health condition, such
as hypertension, eating disorders and
anxiety and depression. Dr. Leitman says,
“This has helped us identify
individuals who could be atrisk
for long-term health
issues, and the empirical
research has also reinforced
the importance of the work
we’re already doing.”
The program also aims to
stop bullying before it starts.
Earlier this year, the Touro
team helped produce a video aimed at
teaching young children how to be
empathetic and also good friends, as a way
to build character. Dr. Maman says, “Our
students act as change agents.”
The program’s multi-faceted approach to
addressing bullying is one of the few that
involves all stakeholders: parents, teachers,
students, school personnel and community
leaders. Once the program has become
more established in New York City, Dr.
Maman says, the group hopes to export it
across the country.
Closing out the parent workshop,
Principal Barbara Darrigo impresses upon
parents the seriousness of the issue. “I want
to tell you how proud I am of you for coming
and for having the hard discussions with your
children.” As parents nod, she adds, “I know
it’s scary, but we have to do it. How else can
we help our children, our school and our
community grow?” n
Aggressive behavior,
Dr. Gardere adds, starts
at home. “When kids bully,”
he says, “it’s really a
cry for help.”
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