Anti Bullying Professional Development 8/29/2012

Denise Roesly, Bullying Prevention Educator NC RESA

The idea behind The Respect Effect is that being a friend to a person in need

can be the greatest gift. Offering a kind word or gesture, or sharing concerns

with someone who may be able to offer further help can dramatically change a

person’s life. If you see someone provide such a kindness to another

person, pass it on!

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Negative behavior that is repeated, intentional, unwanted, and creates an

imbalance of power between the bully(peer or a group of peers) and

the target

Types of Bullying• VERBAL • Taunting, name

calling, mimicking, spreading rumors, gossiping, whispering, threatening, obscene gestures, indifference or exclusion, homophobic remarks

• Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting, hazing, vandalism, invasion of personal space or getting another person to carry out assault

• PHYSICAL

• SOCIAL • Ignoring, playing mean tricks to embarrass, ostracize, exclude or humiliate someone in any way.

• CYBERBULLYING

• Tormenting, threatening, harassing, humiliating, embarrassing or targeting another child, preteen or teen with the use of any electronic device (cell phones, handheld devices, computers, gaming devices, social media)

Bullying or Horseplay?

Myths/Facts about bullying• Myth: Students who bully have no friends

• FACT: Usually have high social status are seen as “cool” and are admired by peers and have high self esteem

Myths/Facts (cont.)• Myth: Being bullied builds character

• Fact: Bullying is not a “rite of passage”• Fact: Being bullied leads to increased

vulnerability(depression, anxiety, withdrawal)

Risk Factors

School Risk Factors

• Lack of supervision during breaks

• Staff have indifferent or accepting attitudes towards bullying

• Students have indifferent attitudes or accepting attitudes

Effects of Bullying on School Climate

• Students perceive lack of control/caring

• Creates a climate of fear and disrespect

• Interferes with student learning

Short-term Effects of Being Bullied

Lower self esteem Depression or anxiety Illness Absenteeism Thoughts of suicide

Lasting Effects of Being Bullied

Lower self-esteem Higher rates of depression Higher rates of Post Traumatic Stress

Psychache

• Psychache refers to the hurt, anguish, soreness, aching, psychological pain in the psyche, the mind. It is intrinsically psychological-the pain of excessively felt shame, or guilt, or humiliation, or loneliness, or fear, or angst, or dread of growing old or of dying badly, or whatever.

• Edwin Shneidman

Depression/Psychache

What to do?You get help for all other aches…ToothacheHeadacheWith psychache you don’t know how to treat it. You recognize that your sad if your dog dies, but people with psychache don’t realize why their sad or what to do about it.

ASK:How much do you hurt?Where do you hurt?LISTEN

CONFLICT

Conflict/BullyingNormal Conflict Bullying

Happens occassionally Happens repeatedly

Accidental Done on purpose

Not serious

Serious-threat of physical harm or emotional or psychological hurt

Equal emotion reaction

Strong emotional reaction on part of the victim

Not seeking power or attention Seeking power of control

Not trying to get somethingTrying to gain material things or power

Rremorseful-takes responsibility No remorse- blames victim

Effort to solve problem No effort to solve the problem

6 Steps to Problem Solving

1. Cool down2. State the problem3. Ask the other persons viewpoint4. Brainstorm win-win solutions5. Pick a solution and try it out6. How did it work?

TEACH STUDENTS TO DISAGREE RESPECTFULLY

Encourage Bystanders to:

• Include students who are excluded

• Not join in when others are being targeted

• Join together with other students to stand up for the target or report incidents to adults

What Works For Teachers

• Label student• Exclude student• Blame Family• Punish student• Assign restitution• Ask for apology

Doesn’t work Works

• Teach targeted social skills

• Reward social skills• Teach all • Individuals for non-

responsive behavior• Invest in positive

school wide culture

Teacher Strategies

• Be an attentive listener• Avoid derogatory comments• Encourage input from shy students• Encourage the use of “I” statements• Encourage students to express what they

think, feel, and believe• Summarize viewpoints

Teachers: Rules Against Bullying

• Children will not bully others.• Children will try to help people who are

bullied.• Children will include others in activities.• Children will tell an adult of someone is being

bullied.

Ground Rules for Discussion

• Raise hands to speak

• Everyone has the right to be heard

• Let others speak without interruption

• Disagree without being disagreeable

• Avoid names-focus on events

The Top 3 Ways Youth were Bullied in 2010 and 2012 remains the same

• Students who heard other get called mean names or “putdown”

• Students who have heard rumors or lies being spread about another student

• Students who saw a student get pushed, hit or punched

Bullying on School Property

MS 2010 MS 2012 HS 2010 HS 2012

30.3%

46.4%

19.3%

25.0%

% of Students who Reported they were Bullied on School Property

Suicide…

In the last year, the percentage of students who seriously considered attempting suicide:

• MS- 32% in 2010 20% in 2012

• HS- 17% in 2010 17% in 2012

In the last 12 months, the % of students who actually attempted suicide one or more times:

• MS- 10% in 2010 8% in 2012 (25 students)

• HS- 10% in 2010 10% in 2012 (34 students)

Suicide…

Michigan Law

(7) A school employee, school volunteer, pupil, or parent or guardian who promptly reports in good faith an act ofbullying to the appropriate school official designated in the school district’s or public school academy’s policy and whomakes this report in compliance with the procedures set forth in the policy is immune from a cause of action for damagesarising out of the reporting itself or any failure to remedy the reported incident. However, this immunity does not applyto a school official who is designated under subsection (5)(d), or who is responsible for remedying the bullying, whenacting in that capacity.

Documenting and Reporting

• Document everything:• Name(s) of person bullying• Target or Victim• Witness(es)• Date• Place• What type of bullying• Ask how often this has occurred?

CIVIL RIGHTS

Don’t confuse bullying with bias or harassment based on human differences. Name sexual and racial harassment for what it is.• Ethnic intimidation• Sexual orientation /gender harassment• Disabilities

*CIVIL RIGHTS DO NOT HAVE TO BE REPEATED OR INTENTIONAL

What have you done to be proactive in your school?

• Posters• Videos• Clubs• Dramas• ?????

Take Home Message

• Stopping bullying takes a team effort• Approach the process in steps• Change happens in small increments• We CAN stop bullying• The reward is:• A school climate where children are free to

learn.• Stopping bullying takes a team effort.