Barcroft Bullying Prevention Program Scarlett Williams December 7, 2010

Bullying Behaviors Physically Hurting or Threatening to Hurt Someone Social Exclusion Insults Name-Calling Mean Gossip or Rumors Sexual Bullying Cyber Bullying

Bullying Imbalance of Power

Facts - Statistically Speaking 10% to 20% of school-age children are chronic targets of bullying. Teachers noticed and intervened in only 1 out of 25 episodes of bullying. Both girls and boys bully. Boys usually bully with physical aggression, girls with social alienation or humiliation. Bullies are not anxious, insecure children, but have positive (often unrealistic) self images that reflect a strong need to dominate.

Effects of Bullying on Children Children who are bullied tend to: Experience further rejection from peers. Have lower self esteem than other children. Feel more lonely, anxious, and insecure. Avoid and dislike school.

Effects of Bullying on Children As children who bully grow up, they tend to: Commit more crimes Commit more driving offenses Receive more court convictions Report higher incidents of alcoholism Experience more antisocial personality disorders Use more mental health systems And commit more spousal abuse Than their non-aggressive counter parts.

Barcroft Bullying Survey Grades 2-5 - 193 Students 2009-2010 2008-2009 Have you been called mean names, made fun of, or teased in a hurtful way in the last couple of months? Yes 43% 60% I have been left out of things on purpose, excluded from a group of friends, or completely ignored by other children Yes 36% 60% I was hit, kicked, shoved around. Yes 27% 39% I told an adult that I was being bullied at school. Yes 38% 38%

Bullying Survey Have you been bullied On the playground yes 65 56 In the hallway yes 37 27 In class with your teacher in the room yes 42 31 In the bathroom yes 14 20 In the lunch room yes 32 25 At the bus stop yes 12 11 Walking to/from school yes 13 6 On the bus yes 17 7 Other :_________________ yes 15 22

Barcroft Bullying Survey I called another student mean names, made fun of, or teased him or her in a hurtful way. Yes 15% 25% I kept him or her out of things on purpose, excluded him or her from my group of friends or completely ignored him or her. Yes 13% 17% I hit, kicked, and shove d him or her around. Yes 1% 14% I would help someone who was being called mean names, made fun of, or being teased? Yes 100% 99%

The Bullying Circle

Bullying Intervention Stop the bullying. Separate the students. To the student who has been bullied: Support in a way that allows him/her regain self control and “save face” To the Bully: Name the bullying behavior and refer to the school rules against bullying.

Bullying Intervention (cont’d) Impose immediate and appropriate consequences Let student know you will be watching to make sure there is no retaliation To the bystanders: Empower with information about how to act in the future Have counselor follow up with “coaching conversation” with Bully and Person being Bullied

Barcroft Rules Against Bullying We will not bully others. We will try to help students who are bullied. We will include students who are easily left out. When we know that someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school or at home.

Prevention/ Intervention Plan De-Bug system (Self Assertiveness Skills) Talk It Out (Self Soothing & Conflict Resolution Skills) Be Your Best (Social Skills on the Morning Broadcast) Class meetings

Prevention Plan Increased adult supervision Consequences for bullying Report bullying situations to counselor/administrator for follow up.

Barcroft Bullying Prevention When adults within a school are committed to preventing bullying behavior, requesting adult intervention will help in equalizing the power imbalance between bully and victim. When bullies are confronted with a united front of their peers who are supportive of the victim, the bully’s power is defused. Peer disapproval is very helpful in stopping the control one bully has over his/her peers.

The De-Bug System 2. Say “Stop It.” Calmly 3. Say “Stop It.” Firmly 1. Ignore 2. Say “Stop It.” Calmly 3. Say “Stop It.” Firmly 4. Walk Away 5. Tell an Adult * If you feel unsafe immediately tell an adult

and Cool Off Talk It Out

What is the problem? How can you solve the problem?

Help your Child to be Assertive Tell them to Stop Tell a friend Tell an adult Walk Away If other kids are nearby join them so you are not alone “I” message, “When you… I feel…. I want…”

Teach through conversation and example As soon as children begin to interact with others, we can begin to teach them not to be bullies and not to be bullied. Give them words for their feelings Limit and change their behavior Teach them better ways to express their feelings and wishes Children do not learn to solve these kinds of problems and get along by themselves. We need to teach them.

Examples "She's not my friend and she can't come to my party." "You don't have to be friends with her today, but it's not all right to make her feel bad by telling her she can't come to your party." “Sara isn’t cool enough to be in our group.” "It's not all right to treat other people this way. How do you think she feels being told she can't play with you?”

If your child bullies others Your first response will probably be defensive. Take a deep breathe and really listen. Bullying and aggressive behavior usually mask feelings of vulnerability. Look for what is going on in your child's interactions with others and what is going on internally, causing your child to behave that way.

Talking to your child about Bullying Bullying is not acceptable in our family or in society. Provide appropriate ways to express frustration and anger. Role-play, act out the new behaviors. Ask, “How can I help you with this? Who could you go to in school if you see yourself getting into this type of situation again? Specify the consequences if the aggression or bullying continue. The goal is to stop the behavior, understand your child's feelings, then teach and reward more appropriate behavior.