Bullying Awareness and Prevention In the School Environment. Training for Staff and Faculty. Scott Titchener, Social Work Intern Jackie Paz, Social Work Intern Azusa Pacific University

Anaheim Union High School District Mission Statement The Anaheim Union High School District, a partnership of students, parents, staff, and community, will provide each student with a high quality educational program in a safe, motivating learning environment that promotes: – High academic achievement based on a strong foundation of knowledge and skills, – Development of habits and attitudes for a lifetime of learning, – Exploration and preparation in a broad range of career and interest areas, and – Commitment to responsible citizenship.

School Bullying Bullying is a nationwide problem, affecting thousands of school-aged children each year. School bullying persists even with “Zero Tolerance” programs enacted by the district. 1 out of every 4 students in the United States are bullied with some frequency. – In 2009, the number was as high as almost 1 in 3 Bullying forms an “abusive relationship” where normal conflict resolution methods are ineffective. – Silence is a bully’s best friend.

Major Forms of Bullying Verbal Bullying Physical Bullying Emotional/ Psychological Bullying Cyber Bullying LGBTQ/ Racial Bullying

Verbal Bullying Verbal bullying is the most common form of bullying reported in the United States. Verbal bullying is most common due to the ease of “getting away with it.” It is easier for a bully to make a statement in passing and get away than it is to hit a victim and get away.

Verbal Bullying Verbal Bullying can take the forms of: – Taunting; name-calling; racial, ethnic, religious slurs; comments about sexual orientation; Threats; Coercion; Spreading rumors “Sticks and stones can break our bones, but words can hurt even more.”

Physical Bullying Physical bullying can take the common forms of fighting, pushing, hitting, tripping, pranks… While the most overt form of bullying, physical bullying is less common than verbal bullying because personnel are trained to look for physical aggression.

Emotional/ Psychological Bullying Emotional/ Psychological bullying can be the hardest form of bullying to detect. Common forms include: exclusion, neglect, comments or actions meant to influence another’s way of thinking. Emotional/ Psychological impacts can result from all forms of bullying behaviors and is not exclusive to any one single type of bullying.

Cyber Bullying – Cyber bullying has resulted in many high profile suicides among teens in the past few years. – 93% of American teens use the internet, 2/3 of those use the internet daily, 73% of teens use social networks. – 75% of American teens own cell phones, 2/3 of those use text messaging frequently. 26% of teens say they have been cyber bullied at least once.

LGBTQ Populations The use of derogatory terms in conversation has become commonplace. Using these terms in normal conversation changes the impact of the words, but does not erase the implications. LGBTQ students face more adversity than other students and have fewer social defenses to protect them. For every LGBTQ youth that is bullied, 4 straight students perceived to be gay or lesbian are bullied.

Consequences of Bullying 60% of those characterized as bullies in grades 6-9 had at least 1 criminal conviction by age 24. As many as 7% of America’s 8 th graders stay home at least once a month because of conflicts with bullies. According to 2009 figures, there were close to 4 million 13 year olds in the United states. Assuming all were in the 8 th grade, 7% equals 280,000 students missing school at least once a month directly due to bullying issues.

Warning Signs Frightened of walking to or from school. Change from usual route to school Avoiding the school bus Begging to be driven to school Unwilling to go to school (school phobia) Truancy Feeling ill in the mornings Decrease in school performance Having had clothes or books destroyed Suddenly “missing” possessions or money Asking for or stealing money (to pay bullies) Beginning to bully siblings or other children Increasingly withdrawn Stammering Poor confidence Anxious/ nervous symptoms Decreased eating Crying self to sleep Nightmares Attempting/ threatening suicide Refusing to say what is wrong Unexplained bruises/ scratches/ cuts Becoming aggressive or unreasonable Providing improbable excuses to explain any of the above. What to look for in students who may be the victims of bullying :

What can we do to help? If bullying is not addressed, it condones the act of bullying, and bullying acts will escalate as a result. Bullying requires secrecy for the bully to keep power over the bullied. Schools must promote an environment that allows victims of bullying to come forward and report behaviors without fear of reprisal. Silence is a bully’s best friend.

What can we do to help? ALL reports of bullying behaviors MUST be taken seriously and investigated. All instances of bullying should be treated the same, regardless of who is reporting the incident or the type of incident being reported.

Zero Tolerance “Zero Tolerance” programs focus on punishing the offenders. “Zero Tolerance” programs within school settings do not work to eliminate acts of bullying. Instead, they move the bullying acts off campus, where victims have less protection. “Zero tolerance” programs focus on eliminating acts of bullying from the school campus through mandatory punitive measures issued to the bully.

Zero Indifference Zero Indifference programs have shown better results than zero tolerance. Zero Indifference addresses the roots of the incidents instead of issuing swift punishment. Zero Indifference requires all school teachers, staff, administrators, etc., to actively intervene in observed and reported cases of bullying in order to form a safe school environment. Zero Indifference focuses on conflict resolution in an open environment. Zero Indifference advocates understanding over punishment.

Support Tools Bullying.org- a user-collaborated project to support victims and prevent bullying StopBullyingNow.com- research-based strategies to stop bullying in schools TALK (8255)- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. 24/7, toll-free emergency counseling and intervention services Olweus.org- School-based bullying prevention program that emphasizes ‘zero indifference’ model.

QUESTIONS?

References Bullying Prevention. Safe and Responsive Schools Project. Bullying Resource Packet. Center for School Mental Health Assistance Malamud, M Rash of suicides puts spotlight on bullying. NASW NEWS. Washington, DC. 56(2).