Let the Dialogue Begin….Let the Dialogue Begin….

Emmilia HartneyUniversity of Phoenix2005

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education

The facts are………..The facts are………..

Nearly Nearly 1 in 6 children1 in 6 children in grades six in grades six through ten fall victim to bullying through ten fall victim to bullying each year. That is each year. That is 3.2 million3.2 million children children who are bullied every year and who are bullied every year and another another 3.2 million3.2 million who act as the who act as the bullies (ProPrincipal, 2003).bullies (ProPrincipal, 2003).

Problem DescriptionProblem Description

The problem is that students at St. The problem is that students at St. John the Baptist Middle School are John the Baptist Middle School are bullying their peers.bullying their peers.

Problem DocumentationProblem Documentation

2004-2005 7th. 8th. Grade Demerit Log

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Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. April

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Problem DocumentationProblem Documentation

2004-2005 6th. Grade Demerit Log

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Problem DocumentationProblem Documentation

Have you been bullied? May 2005

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Never 1-2 Times 3-5 Times 6 or More

Gender and Frequency

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Female

Setting: PopulationSetting: Population

St. John the Baptist Middle School St. John the Baptist Middle School was established in 1999was established in 1999

The school is located in the A wing of The school is located in the A wing of St. Juan Diego Catholic High School St. Juan Diego Catholic High School on the Skaggs Catholic Center on the Skaggs Catholic Center campuscampus

Current enrollment is 335 studentsCurrent enrollment is 335 students Number of faculty: 25Number of faculty: 25

Solution StrategySolution Strategy

Open the dialogue on the topic of Open the dialogue on the topic of bullyingbullying

Raise the awareness of the problemRaise the awareness of the problem Record and review survey informationRecord and review survey information Teach communication skillsTeach communication skills Monitor “hot spots” for bullying Monitor “hot spots” for bullying

incidentsincidents Model respect, responsibility and Model respect, responsibility and

reverencereverence

ResultsResults

Positive school climatePositive school climate Reduction in the number of bullying Reduction in the number of bullying

incidentsincidents Increase in the number of reported Increase in the number of reported

incidentsincidents Closer monitoring of “hot spots”Closer monitoring of “hot spots” Catholic learning environmentCatholic learning environment

Recommendations for ChangeRecommendations for Change

Require all new students to attend Require all new students to attend anti-bullying workshopsanti-bullying workshops

Provide teachers with ongoing Provide teachers with ongoing training in dealing with bullying training in dealing with bullying issuesissues

Model proactive behavior addressing Model proactive behavior addressing bullying incidents promptly and bullying incidents promptly and consistentlyconsistently

Let the Dialogue Begin…Let the Dialogue Begin…

What changes can we make in our What changes can we make in our own lives to model Christian own lives to model Christian behavior to our youth?behavior to our youth?

Fear paralyzes….Fear paralyzes….

Knowledge empowers!Knowledge empowers!

Christian ViewChristian View

• Christ teaches us to love one another• St. John’s teaches us to respect each other• Our parents model Christ-like behavior• We choose to behave as Christians

ReferencesReferences

ProPrincipal. (2003). Prevention ProPrincipal. (2003). Prevention programs programs

could stop half the bullying. Vol. 16.could stop half the bullying. Vol. 16.

Retrieved from EBSCO May 22, Retrieved from EBSCO May 22, 2005. 2005.