Bullying:It can be stopped

Adopted from a presentation by Barbara H. CarltonDrug & Violence Prevention Specialist Western M.S.

and Turrentine M.S.

Bullying =when one or more people repeatedly harm, harass, intimidate, or exclude others.

Bullying is unfair and one sided.

Olweus

*Imbalance of power*Perpetrator blames the target *Target blames self for abuse

Domestic/Spouse Abuse

BullyingSexual

Harassment/Rape

• Handled differently from typical disciplinary matters

• Not normal peer conflict

• Power differential• Difficult to seek

help from adults• Bullied child might

even deny any abuse has taken place

Circle of bullying

H. Person who is

being bullied

A. Student who bullies

B. Followers/henchmen

C. Supporters

D. Passive Supporters

E. Disengaged Onlookers

F. Possible Defenders

G. Defenders

School Violence Prevention Act SL09-212 State Board of Education policy HRS-A-007

By December 31, 2009

LEAs shall adopt a policy prohibiting bullying or harassing behavior

Defined as: Gestures, written, electronic, or verbal

communications Physical act or threatening communication

-places a student or school employee in actual or REASONABLE fear of harm to self or property or

- creates or is certain to create a hostile environment

- interferes with student’s education performance, opportunity, or benefit.

Legal

School Violence Prevention ActSL09-212

Bullying or harassing behavior includes:Acts reasonably perceived as being motivated by

Race Color Religion National origin Gender Socioeconomic Status Academic Status Gender Identity Physical Appearance Sexual Orientation Mental, Physical, Developmental or Sensory

Disability or Association with a Person who has or is

PERCEIVED to have one or any of the above characteristics

School Violence Prevention Policy Guidelines

STATEMENT PROHIBITING BULLYING OR HARASSING BEHAVIOR

EXPECTED BEHAVIOR FOR EACH STUDENT AND SCHOOL EMPLOYEE

CONSEQUENCES AND APPROPRIATE REMEDIAL ACTION

ANONYMOUS REPORTING PROCEDURES

PROCEDURE FOR PROMPT INVESTIGATION OF REPORTS

STATEMENTS THAT PROHIBITS REPRISAL OR RETALIATION FOR REPORTING

STATEMENT ON HOW POLICY IS TO BE DISSEMINATED & PUBLICIZED INCLUDING APPLICATION AT SCHOOL-SPONSORED EVENTS

School Violence Prevention Policy Guidelines

By March 1, 2010 Provide training on the local policy to

school employees and volunteers who have contact with students

Develop and implement strategies for promoting school environments that are free from bullying or harassing behavior

Rule 10: Bullying and Harassment

Students shall not engage in bullying or harassment of other students.

Bullying repeated intimidation of others - real or threatened

physical, verbal, written, electronically transmitted or emotional abuse

attacks on the property of anotherimplied or stated threatsexclusion from peer groups.

Harassmentactions that interfere with a student’s ability to participate/ benefit from

an educational program or activity

Retaliation is prohibited. ABSS Code of Conduct 2012-13

60% of people who were considered

bullies in grade 6-9 are convicted

of at least one crime by the

time they turn 24.

“A human being who lives day-to-day having to continuously ‘energize his shields’ for protection, has little remaining energy to direct toward positive endeavors, such as schoolwork, meaningful classroom participation or healthy peer-adult interaction.” -Rico Racosky

What can we do?

A bystander is anyone who is aware that bullying is happening.

You are either part of the problem or part of the solution.

0

20

40

60

80

100

83

2 2 2 3

Don’tSupport the One Bullyin

g Others

Choose not to repeat gossip

Support the one being bullied

in private

Tell an adult

Talk to the

person bullying others

privately

Support the one being bullied in front of the one

doing the

bullying

Confront the one

who is bullyin

g others

Range of Bystander Actions

Coach Bystanders with these steps:1. Encourage students to help the bullied child by walking with

them to class.2. Invite the bullied student to get involved with other students.3. Model confidence and talk about what it looks and feels like.

Become friends

with the one

being bullied

Low Risk/Low Courage High Risk/High

Courage

Empathy(skill not a feeling)

v.

Sympathy(feeling of pity)

Help students increase others’ importance/value. Provide opportunities to discover similar

experiences and ways they are alike.

PRIDE 2013

Classroom

Gym

Cafeteria

School e

ventsHalls

Playground/O

utside

Bathro

om

Parking Lot

School B

us0

20

40

60

80

10088.6

83.6 82.8 81.6 78.6 76.2 74.3 71.7 70.5

Where do students feel safest?

Coach Children Separately to Build New Behavior Patterns

Byst

ande

r• Either part of

the problem or part of the solution

• Moving from Disengaged Onlooker to Possible Defender

• Inform & Involve parents

Target

• Affirm feelings• Ask questions

and assess safety issues

• Generate solutions and create a plan with the student

• Assess what has and has not worked

• Inform & Involve parents

• Follow-up Bully

• Identify the problem

• Ask questions and gather information

• Inform & Involve parents

• Apply consequences

• Generate solutions and create a plan with the student

• Follow-up

10 strategies for effective bullying prevention

1. Focus on School Environment2. Assess bullying in your school3. Gain support from staff and

parents4. Establish a bullying prevention

team5. Train staff in bullying

prevention and to understand the difference between normal peer conflict and bullying

6. Clearly establish, communicate & enforce school rules & policies related to bullying.

7. Increase adult supervision in the “hot spots” for bullying

8. Gain commitment to intervene consistently & appropriately in bullying situations

9. Gain commitment for focus time; class time on bullying prevention

10. Don’t quit…continue the efforts over time.

Students who feel connected are less likely to…bully or harass others.use alcohol and illegal drugs.engage in violent or deviant behavior.get pregnant.experience emotional distress.

engage and be success in school AND life!

ReferencesCartoon Network, The Bully Effect, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9d1_ZKlLR98

Dateline NBC “My Kid Would Never…Bully” Video Links Now Available; http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3032600/#41928090, web search 7/17/2013

Edstrom, L. V., Hirschstein, M. K., Frey, K. S., Snell, J. L., and MacKenzie, E. P. (2004). "Classroom Level Influences in School-Based Bullying Prevention: Key Program Components and Implications for Instruction." In K. S. Frey (Chair), Policy to Action: Bullying Prevention in the Real World. Symposium conducted at the annual meeting of the Society for Prevention Research, Quebec City, PQ, Canada

Fried, S., & Fried, P., Bullies & Victims: Helping Your Child Through the Schoolyard Battlefield. (1996). New York, NY: M. Evans & Co.

Hirsch, L., Bully, http://www.thebullyproject.com/ - Bully is a 2011 documentary film about bullying in U.S. schools. Directed by Lee Hirsch, the film follows the lives of five students who face bullying on a daily basis.