Bullying: It can be stopped Adopted from a presentation by Barbara H. Carlton Drug & 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 Bullying Sexual Harassment/Rape

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 SL 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 Act SL  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 another implied or stated threats exclusion from peer groups. Harassment actions that interfere with a student’s ability to participate/ benefit from an educational program or activity Retaliation is prohibited. ABSS Code of Conduct

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

Myths and Misconceptions about Bullying Myth: The size of a class or school is significant in predicting the frequency of bullying. Reality: Bullies appear in classrooms and schools of all sizes. The less monitoring by an adult, the higher the rate of bullying.

Myth: Aggressive behavior results from school-related failures and frustrations. Reality: Academic failures usually follow aggressive behavior, not the other way around.

Myth: Bullying is more likely to occur to and from school than at school. Reality: A major predictor of bullying is unsupervised, unmonitored time.

Myth: Children who are different are significantly more likely to be a bully’s prey. Reality: The attraction for a bully is the lack of power; a victim cannot or will not defend self, or is not defended by peers.

Myth: Students learn to be bullies at home, nothing can be done to counteract the influence of home. Reality: Even though bullying behaviors may be learned at home, children are adaptive. They can and will learn pro-social skills if given the opportunity.

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.

Don’t Support the One Bullying Others Don’t Support the One Bullying 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 bullying others 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

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

Coach Children Separately to Build New Behavior Patterns Bystander Either part of the problem or part of the solution Moving from Disengaged Onlooker to Possible Defender Inform & Involve parents Person being bullied 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

Final Notes about Bullying Handled differently from typical disciplinary matters Not normal peer conflict Don’t bring all parties together at one time Power differential Difficult to seek help from adults Bullied child might even deny any abuse has taken place