Preventing Bullying in Our Schools

1. Preventing Bullying in Our Schools Connie Hill West GA RESA chill@garesa.org

2. Bullyingis not . . . • A rite of passage that all children must experience or • An unavoidable part of childhood • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2l6RnWM2tU • 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 suicidal • three-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.

3. Virginia Tech • “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."

4. Pearl Mississippi • 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.

5. Columbine “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."

6. Alaska • 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.

7. Consider the Numbers… • 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

8. Simple Equations: Reduce bullying <positive school climate Positive school climate < academic achievement

9. Georgia Bullying Law • 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

10. Georgia 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

11. Defining Bullying Behavior • 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

12. 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

13. Prohibited Behaviors: • 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

14. 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

15. 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.

16. 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

17. Reporting Bullying 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.

18. 1. Investigate • No later than the next day • Interview perpetrator, victim, school personnel & witnesses • Video surveillance • Utilize school resource officers, counselors and other support staff • Focus on behavior • Interview bully and victim separately

19. 2.Notify • Must notify parents of both the accused and the victim. • If an injury is involved, must notify immediately.

20. 3. Discipline • 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

21. 4. Follow-Up • Implement a planned method to follow up with both parties especially the victim.

22. Best Practices in Bullying Prevention: • 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

23. 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

24. Olweus… 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

25. 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

26. Olweus classroom level…. 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

27. 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

28. Individual Level Intervention “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

29. For Administrators: • Increase supervision in all areas of school-especially in locations identified in survey • Increased consequences for bullying behavior • CLEAR message that bullying will not be tolerated

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

31. www.cyberbullying.org.nz