Let the Dialogue Begin…. Emmilia Hartney University of Phoenix 2005 In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education

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

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

Problem Documentation

Setting: Population St. John the Baptist Middle School was established in 1999 St. John the Baptist Middle School was established in 1999 The school is located in the A wing of St. Juan Diego Catholic High School on the Skaggs Catholic Center campus The school is located in the A wing of St. Juan Diego Catholic High School on the Skaggs Catholic Center campus Current enrollment is 335 students Current enrollment is 335 students Number of faculty: 25 Number of faculty: 25

Solution Strategy Open the dialogue on the topic of bullying Open the dialogue on the topic of bullying Raise the awareness of the problem Raise the awareness of the problem Record and review survey information Record and review survey information Teach communication skills Teach communication skills Monitor “hot spots” for bullying incidents Monitor “hot spots” for bullying incidents Model respect, responsibility and reverence Model respect, responsibility and reverence

Results Positive school climate Positive school climate Reduction in the number of bullying incidents Reduction in the number of bullying incidents Increase in the number of reported incidents Increase in the number of reported incidents Closer monitoring of “hot spots” Closer monitoring of “hot spots” Catholic learning environment Catholic learning environment

Recommendations for Change Require all new students to attend anti- bullying workshops Require all new students to attend anti- bullying workshops Provide teachers with ongoing training in dealing with bullying issues Provide teachers with ongoing training in dealing with bullying issues Model proactive behavior addressing bullying incidents promptly and consistently Model proactive behavior addressing bullying incidents promptly and consistently

Let the Dialogue Begin… What changes can we make in our own lives to model Christian behavior to our youth? Fear paralyzes…. Knowledge empowers!

Christian 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

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