Bullying Prevention: Creating a Safe and Enriching School

Climate

Adapted from Ft. Worth Independent School District

Presentation Overview

•Overview of Bullying–Traditional and Cyber

•Impact on School–Environment–Legal

•Safe Students and Staff–Prevention and Intervention Strategies–Boundaries

Definition

• A student is bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed repeatedly, and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students.

Imbalance of Power

• Bullying is an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim where the bully uses his/her physical, intellectual, verbal, or social skills against the victim.

Bullying at School

Visible:• Fighting• Weapons• Gangs• Overt Bullying

Less Visible:• Put downs• Teasing/taunting• Exclusion• Rumors/Gossip• Cyber

Types of Bullying

• Physical/Gestures• Psychological• Harassment• Relational• Mobbing• Digital/Cyber

Bullying Episode Participants

• Victim• Bully• Bystanders• Bully/Victim• Homicidal Victim

Traditional vs. Cyber Bullying

•60% of victims were also bullied in “traditional” ways•55% of perpetrators bullied others in “traditional” ways

Source: Kowalski & Limber, 2008

Traditional Cyber

Definition

Cyber Bullying involves the use of electronic technologies to engage in

repeated and/or extensively disseminated acts of cruelty towards others.

Youth Online Research

• Young people face significantly greater risks from known peers-not online strangers

• Most parents are not fully involved with their child’s online activities-fear strategies aren’t effective

• The majority of teens are generally making good choices online

Online Risks

• Perception of invisibility-which can lead to a reduced fear of detection

• Lack of tangible feedback that actions have caused harm to self or others

• Materials in electronic form can be widely disseminated and permanently available

Forms of Cyberbullying

• Cyberstalking• Outing and Trickery• Flaming (text rage)• Exclusion/ Ostracism• Impersonation• Harassment (text wars)• Denigration (online slam books)• Happy Slapping

Cyberbullying can occur…

• Text Messages (flaming, text rage)

• Chat Rooms (Bash Boards)• Websites (online slam

books)• Social Networking• Sexting

Common Social Networking Sites

Teens use multiple social networking apps/tools!

• Twitter• Instagram• Snapchat• Tumblr• Vine• Facebook• Kik Messenger• Wanelo• Ooovoo• WhatsApp• Google+

• Yik Yak• Ask.fm• Omegle• Whisper

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/15-sites-and-apps-kids-are-heading-to-beyond-facebook

Why does bullying continue?

• Adult beliefs• Adult excuses• Lack of enforcement• Lack of training• Ignorance

Students At Greatest Risk

• New to the area or school• Isolated /loners• Physically weaker or

unique characteristic • Anxious, insecure,

unhappy, and withdrawn

What actions can you take to support these students?

Impact of Bullying

• Academic• Emotional• Criminal• Bullycide• Homicide• Lawsuits

School Impact: School Climate and Safety

• Social Contagion–can weaken normal inhibitions against aggressions

• Decreased sense of self-responsibility• Gradual changes in view of victim

Student Free Speech 393 U.S. 503 (1969)

• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District

– School officials can impose discipline if speech has or forseeablycould cause

violenceor other substantial disruption of school activities.

Prevention: Environmental

• Create safe and caring environment • Clear rules and expectations• Greeting• Buddy System• When supervising-supervise• Be observant

Prevention: Curriculum

• Bullying• Relational Aggression• Cyber Safety

Prevention: Training

• Student–Empathy–Cyber Safety–Legal Consequences

• Staff• Parents

Prevention: Student Training

• Help them stay safe–Understand the risks–Know how to prevent themselves from risk

and effectively respond-ask for help–Encourage resiliency and responsibility

• Encourage them to do the right thing–Make wise choices online–Respect rights and privacy of others–Do not harm others

• Encourage them to be responsible–Promote digital civility–Report concerns to an adult and help

others online

Prevention: Staff Training

• Understand who is at greatest risk• Know the signs/symptoms of bullying• Be approachable• Be observant• Supervise• Be relationship minded; engage students• Set up newcomer program• Other

Prevention: Parent Training

• Signs/symptoms of bullying• Develop relationship with school• Supervise both on and offline• Be observant• Communicate and be open minded• Help their child develop empathy and

strong social skills• Other

Intervention: Environmental

• Create environment that encourages reporting

• Recognize signs and behaviors• Intervene quickly• Name the behavior• Consistent consequences• Report/document

– Discipline Report– Bus Incident Report

Intervention: Staff Training

• Do not reply to emails, taunts or lies • Save all interactions for evidence• Do not forward sexting photos• In the case of email harassment, contact

the harasser's Internet Service Provider and make a complaint.

• Report incidences to your administrator along with copies of the materials that you have collected.

Staff / Student Interactions

As an educator, it is your responsibility to maintain a classroom atmosphere which is comfortable and conducive to learning for all students. Key Point: How do you remain friendly, respectful, and professional with students without violating the boundaries of professionalism?

What are boundaries?

• mutually understood, unspoken physical and emotional limits of the relationship between the individuals

• limits that allow a connection based on your student’s needs

• defines the space which clarifies “you” & “me.”

• preserves your purpose and mission

Things to think about…

• Over familiarity can often take place through:– School Computer

• Connecticut v. Julie Amero (1/07 convicted, 6/07 thrown out, 11/08 pled guilty)

– Texting – Social Networking Sites– Other

Are you staying safe?