Preventing Bullying in Our Schools

Connie HillWest GA RESA

chill@garesa.org

A rite of passage that all children must experience or

An unavoidable part of childhood http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2l6RnWM

2tU

Bullying is not . . .

It is a serious behavior with serious consequences for the victims of bullying:•Loneliness•Low self-esteem•Depression•Low academic performance•Truancy•Some victims may feel homicidal and or suicidalthree-quarters of student shooters felt bullied, threatened, attacked or injured by others. In fact, several shooters reported experiencing long-term and severe bullying and harassment from their peers.

“You have vandalized my heart, raped my soul and torched my conscience," the 23-year old Virginia Tech gunman, Cho Seung-Hui declared before killing 33 people on campus, including himself. "You thought it was one pathetic boy's life you were extinguishing. Thanks to you, I die like Jesus Christ to inspire generations of the weak and the defenseless people."

Virginia Tech

Luke was picked on for as long as I can remember," explained a classmate of sixteen-year-old Luke Woodham, who killed his ex-girlfriend and her best friend and injured seven others in the 1997 school shooting in Pearl, Mississippi. "I do this on behalf of all kids who have been mistreated," Luke also declared.

Pearl Mississippi

“Your children who have ridiculed me, who have chosen not to accept me, who have treated me like I am not worth their time are dead...." railed Eric.

Classmates at Columbine High School described how the jocks teased Eric and Dylan. "Everyone would make fun of them" said Ben Oakley from the soccer team. And senior Dustin Thurmon, from the Columbine wrestling team repeated what many others expected: "They should have been able to take it."

Columbine

Evan Ramsey, who killed two students and injured two others in Alaska in 1997, had been picked on by popular football players, whom he targeted in his shooting after an argument with one of them.

Alaska

30% of youth in the U.S. are estimated to be involved either as a bully or a victim

Nationally in grades 6-10 13% reported bullying others. 11% report being the target of bullying.

GSHSII 09/10 statewide results: 16% reported being bullied in the past 30 days.

GSHSII statewide: 33% reported being picked on or teased at school.

GSHSII statewide: 25% reported that they do not feel safe at school

Consider the Numbers…

Reduce bullying < positive school climate

Positive school climate < academic achievement

Simple Equations:

1999 GA enacted legislation:

◦ Defined bullying◦ Required each school district to adopt policies that

prohibit bullying for grades 6-12◦ Prohibition be included in student code of conduct◦ Policies also required assigning students to an

alternative school for bullying after 3rd offense

Georgia Bullying Law

2010 GA expanded on legislation:

◦ Schools must notify parents of incidents of bullying behavior (both bully and victim)

◦ Requires each school district to adopt policies that prohibit bullying for all grades

◦ Schools districts must have age appropriate consequences and interventions available for all schools

◦ School districts use appropriate due process, disciplinary hearings, panels or tribunals to assign students to alternative schools

◦ Implementation of school bullying policy in place by August 1, 2011

Georgia Law…

School property, vehicles, events, software and computers

Willful attempt or threat to inflict injury when accompanied by an apparent ability to do so

Intentional display of force that would give the victim reason to fear or expect immediate bodily harm

Defining Bullying Behavior

Intentional written, verbal or physical act that intends to threaten, harass or intimidate◦ Has the effect of interfering with a student’s

education◦ So persistent or pervasive that it creates an

intimidating or threatening education environment or

◦ Disrupts the orderly operation of the school

Defining Bullying Behavior…

Unwanted teasing Threats, taunts, and intimidation through

words and/or gestures Physical violence and/or attacks Extortion Destruction of school or personal property Theft of money and/or personal possessions Sexual, religious or racial harassment Public humiliation Social exclusion, including incitement and or

coercion

Prohibited Behaviors:

Rumors or spreading of falsehoods Stalking Cyberstalking or engaging in conduct to

communicate or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of email, or electronic communication, directed at or about a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to the victim

Prohibited Behaviors

Cyberbullying or the willful, hostile and repeated harassment and intimidation of a person through the use of digital technologies, including but not limited to, email, blogs, social networking websites, chat rooms, texts, and instant messaging.

Prohibited Behaviors

Use of cameras or camera phones to take embarrassing photographs of students or school employees and posting them online

Sending abusive or threatening text messages or instant messages Using websites to circulate gossip and rumors to other students

Prohibited Behaviors

Bullying is an intentional and or emotional attack on a person’s well being and should not be tolerated at any level.

Immediate and reasonable actions should be taken upon receipt of a report of bullying.

Reporting Bullying Behaviors

No later than the next dayInterview perpetrator, victim, school

personnel & witnessesVideo surveillanceUtilize school resource officers, counselors

and other support staffFocus on behaviorInterview bully and victim separately

1. Investigate

Must notify parents of both the accused and the victim.

If an injury is involved, must notify immediately.

2.Notify

After confirming bullying has occurred, age-appropriate consequence should be given.

After the 3rd offense of bullying in 6-12th grades student will be assigned to an alternative school through appropriate due process.

Schools should clearly communicate to all parties that retaliation is strictly prohibited and will result in strong disciplinary action

3. Discipline

Implement a planned method to follow up with both parties especially the victim.

4. Follow-Up

Dan Olweus Norway

His definition: A student is being bullied or victimized when he or

she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other students.

Direct Bullying Indirect Bullying

Best Practices in Bullying Prevention:

Goal for Bullying Prevention:Create a Positive School Climate

Supportive adult involvement Positive adult role models Firm limits Consistent messages Non-corporal sanctions for bullying behavior

Step One: School Awareness Campaign

Survey to determine the extent of problem A workshop day to educate teachers,

administrators, all staff, parents, students, community and business partners

Appoint group to monitor, manage and evaluate

Discuss bullying issues regularly at PTO meetings

Olweus…

Step Two: Classroom Level

Post these Rules: 1. We will not bully others.

2. We will try to help students who are bullied. 3 . We will include students who might be left out.

Teacher uses immediate consequences for aggressive behavior

and immediate rewards for inclusive behavior

Olweus…

Possible Sanctions: Apologize Discuss the incident with teacher/counselor.

“The Serious Talk” Pay for damaged belongings Spend time in office or another classroom Forfeit recess or other privileges Notify parents with note or phone call

Olweus classroom level….

Classroom Meetings or Guidance Weekly meetings to discuss bullying.

Communicate again and again clear and consistent expectations

Engage students as “Helpful Bystanders”

Communicate with parents your classroom level prevention

Olweus classroom level….

“The Serious Talk” Name behavior Do not allow bully to blame others Refocus on behavior Stick to the facts: who, what, when, where, etc. Have the bully to reflect on how do you think

other person felt. Name that feeling. Assign consequence Discuss future consequences Parent notification

Individual Level Intervention

Increase supervision in all areas of school-especially in locations identified in survey

Increased consequences for bullying behavior

CLEAR message that

For Administrators:

bullying will not be tolerated

Steps for Dealing with Bullying at School Intervene immediately to stop bullying Immediately support the victim Talk to Bully and Victim separately

If more than one bully involved talk separately in quick succession

Expect Bully to minimize behavior Remind Bully of school rules & consequences and future

consequences Reassure victim that everything possible will be done to prevent

recurrence Reiterate school rules against bullying whenever possible Phone parents Involve parents in a plan of action Alert other staff members and teachers Remove Bully from classroom not victim

“The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander”by Barbara Coloroso

www.cyberbullying.org.nz