Test Your Knowledge:Bullying and Harassment,Is it just a problem in other schools?

Olweus Survey Results Review, November 2016

Overview

Every spring McMurray students participate in the “Olweus Survey” which asks students about their experiences with bullying and harassment in our school..

It gives us a good idea of how safe (or unsafe) and included (or excluded) and respected (or disrespected) our students feel day to day at McMurray.

Let’s review before testing your knowledge!

Here are some national statistics on bullying:

What kind of behavior are we talking about?

How could this happen in our school?

WHO are we talking about here?

What exactly is “Dehumanization”?

The “Targets” of bullying behavior feel ISOLATED, which allows the problem to continue.

Disempowerment?

When students make “jokes” about bullying and mock the

serious impact it has, they are attempting to disempower

others to take a stand.

Bystanders are actually the most socially powerful group in our

school, when they take a stand.

Imagine giving up on being respected...

The impact of bullying behavior that goes unchecked:

Now it’s time to test your knowledge!

What are the 3 elements of bullying behavior?

Causes harm (physical, social, or emotional)

Unfair match / imbalance of powerRepeated over time

What are the 4 conditions that allow bullying

behavior to take place?

IsolationDehumanizationDisempowermentInevitability

(Good news: every student can help create a school where these conditions are not tolerated!)

What % of McMurray students reported last spring that they were bullied 2-3 times a month or more?

Hint: there is some good news here, the % is down from what students reported in the previous year’s survey!

Answer: 7% reported being bullied 2-3 times a month or more.

The previous year 14% reported this level of bullying.

Do the math, 7% is 28 students who experience this level of bullying. We need to do better, nobody deserves this treatment!

What % of students reported not experiencing

bullying?

74%

What if this powerful 74% who had not been bullied showed empathy for and took a stand against those who are experiencing harassment and bullying?

What would our look and feel like then?

What % of our students reported actively participating in bullying behavior?

How big and powerful of a group is this? Is it the majority of our students?

14%That’s 56 students in our school who acknowledged they actively took part in bullying behaviors.

We are all learning, changing, growing up and seeking ways to feel powerful and important.

What if the 74% helped send a message to the 14% that they would be way more cool and likable if they respected everyone in our school?

What are the top three areas in our school where bullying behavior is most

likely to take place?

1. Outside Areas2. Hallways

3. In the Classroom

(When the teacher is present….the more subtle forms of bullying tend to happen such as exclusion, quiet name

calling, gossip, sarcasm and teasing.)

What % of students said they were teased because

of their race or color?

9%

And this is a BIG problem for our school. Explain why.

What is the #1 reason students engage in bullying behavior?

They are seeking personal power.

The wrong way!

What are the 2 most effective ways to decrease

bullying behavior?

1. Take a stand: say “stop” or “enough” or “that’s actually NOT funny.” Anything besides looking on without intervening.

2. Students who with the bullying behaviors are held accountable for their actions. Yes, this means it needs to be reported so that the adults can be aware and intervene.

A special note about Cyber Bullying

Your online social networks should be meant to bring people together in a healthy and positive way. When they get destructive, what should you do?

First of all, avoid social networking sites that encourage anonymity, gossip and cruel behavior. Don’t let your “Fear of Missing Out” drive you to follow and be a bystander on sites where bullying behavior is taking place.

If you encounter bullying behavior toward yourself or someone else on social media: report it immediately to the site, report it to a trusted adult & block communication and /or stop participating in that social media group or site.

Remember there has to be an audience for cyberbullying to persist. Don’t be the audience, take a positive stand and shut it down.