Ice breaker Please stand up if you … 1. Know someone who has been bullied 2. Know someone who was a bully 3.Have witnessed someone being bullied when you were a student 4. Have dealt with a bullying situation as a teacher

By the end of this presentation … Understand the negative effects bullying has on us all Understand that bullying is NOT a right of passage that everyone has to go through Why educators have a tough time preventing bullying from occurring Discuss what any effective anti bullying policy at our schools must do

Agenda 1. Ice Breaker 2. Reading : Responsibility of a good citizen 3. The Bullying Quiz 4. Take up Quiz 5. What every anti bullying policy should do 6. Reading: Rue

Bill 157 The latest government Safe Schools initiative is Bill 157 "Keeping our Kids Safe at School". It comes into effect on February 1, The purpose of this new legislation is to make schools safer by: requiring all school staff to report to principals when they become aware that students may have engaged in incidents for which they could be suspended or expelled; requiring the principal to inform the parents of students harmed as a result of an incident for which a student could be suspended or expelled; and requiring that school staff respond if they observe student behaviour likely to have a negative impact on the school climate. This response is to be carried out in accordance with Ministry and school board policy.

Definition: Bullying Intentional, repeated hurtful actions (including name calling, intimidation, and shunning) committed by one or more children against another. These acts are neither provoked nor welcomed by the victim and reflect a significant imbalance of power between victim and bully

1) In a bullying scenario there are 2 “roles”; the “victim” and the “bully” True or False? False

There are 3 roles … The victim The bully The spectators

Students with social inability often find themselves assuming one of these roles voluntarily or involuntarily Social Inability (Levine 256) Aggressive and disruptive Shy and withdrawn

All 3 players (bully, victim, spectator) suffer in these daily dramas! Please take a few minutes to complete Brainstorm 1 on page 3 of your hand out.

How bullies are negatively impacted by bullying At greater risk for dropping out of high school Develop tendencies towards violence and criminality in adolescence and adulthood One US study found that 60% of school bullies had criminal convictions by age 24

How spectators are negatively affected … Distracted from learning May be afraid of associating with the victim out of fear of becoming victims themselves Become intimidated May experience feelings of guilt and helplessness because of their reluctance to assist or intervene

How Victims are affected… Decreased Performance In School Truancy Dropping out Depression Social Anxiety Ad version to taking risks Anxiety

2) Bullying is prevalent in our schools True or False True

In a recent survey … 88% of students observed incidents of bullying or intimidation 76% report being victims 14% say bullying plays a major negative role in their lives

3) Many Educators are unaware of the scope and severity of the bullying that occurs at their school True or False True

Most incidents of bullying occur AWAY from adult supervision. The supervising adult is often unaware the bullying incident even occurred.

One Midwest school principal asked teachers and students if bullying was a problem in his building and if the incidents of bullying were dealt with appropriately

The results? The overwhelming majority of teachers reported they felt bullying was NOT a major problem and that these incidents were dealt with decisively and appropriately In contrast … the overwhelming majority of students surveyed felt that bullying was a SIGNIFICANT problem at the school and that the staff was INEFFECTUAL in dealing with the issue

4) Bullies are more accepted by their peers in their elementary school years than in their secondary school years True or False True

In elementary school The bully can gain status and even a degree of popularity amongst his peers His classmates may be somewhat entertained by his intimidation of less popular children

In Secondary School… Students recognize the inherent inequality and cruelty of bullying and will begin to ostracize the tormentor Difficult for bully to establish relationships with his victims and bystanders, and often becomes isolated and lonely

5) Bullies are cruel, malevolent, sadistic, ruthless people bent on the destruction and humiliation of others True or False False

Often they are merely insecure kids from good families whose need for social acceptance temporarily overcomes their moral code and social obligations

An effective anti bullying program must teach… Please take a few moments to jot down some ideas on Brainstorm 2 on the bottom of page 3 of your handout.

The Bully must be taught… The negative harmful impact their behavior had on another person Others are likely to reject you later in life if you continue to bully others

The bystanders must be taught… True heroism rests in helping unpopular kids; anyone can hurt them (Levine 259) It is safe to report incidents of bullying to a supervision adult Supervising adults will take action and hold bullies accountable for their actions

Victim must be taught … They did nothing wrong It is ok to be different It is important to build self confidence Teachers and other adults will help you if you are being bullied

Examples of effective anti bullying program Announcing that if a teacher came across a fight between 2 students ALL students present (including bystanders) would be suspended. A confidential reporting strategy wherein ANY member of the school community can anonymously inform the admin of patterns or incidents of bullying. If a person wishes to make a report about bullying that is occurring on or off school grounds he can leave an anonymous message in a designated box

Thank you!