Findings in a 2012 survey of 4,500 Irish 10-year-olds show that 12% (about three per class) say they were bullied “about weekly” International Association for Evaluation of Educational Achievement, led in Ireland by Dr Emer Eivers, Educational Research Centre, St Patrick’s College, Drumcondra - (Irish Examiner, 27/12/2012) To fulfil our “Duty of Care” towards our pupils a solution must be found to the problem of bullying before those involved leave primary school. ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign The Problem When this problem is not dealt with effectively at primary level it becomes even worse at second level where: About 30% of pupils are bullied in any half-term period. (Anti-Bullying Centre, Trinity College, Dublin, 2008). 55% of young people claim to have been bullied (UNICEF Report: Changing the Future, 2012)

What is bullying? It is any behaviour that is (a) deliberate, (b) hurtful and (c) repeated over time, e.g. Unwelcome glances, sniggering, name calling, making fun of... Slagging/teasing about characteristics, background, family... Spreading rumours or lies about someone Abusive telephone calls or text messages Putting unwelcome messages/pictures on Internet sites Isolation/exclusion from group activity Intimidation, verbal or through body language Forcing someone to do things they do not want to do Physical aggression - pushing, tripping, hitting, punching... Hiding, interfering with, taking or damaging property Extortion of money or property If any combination of these happens repeatedly to a pupil, whatever else you might call it, s/he is being bullied. ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign

Impact of Bullying: Feelings of insecurity, nervousness Damage to self-confidence, withdrawal Lowering of self-esteem, unhappiness with self Unexplained mood changes, mood swings Behaviour changes, uncharacteristic aggression Stress/distress, inability to cope, coming late to school, mitching Extreme anxiety/panic attacks, leaving the school, mitching Nervous breakdown, inability to function Depression requiring psychiatric intervention Self-Harm by various means including cutting Death by Suicide Bullied pupils feel hurt, humiliated and isolated and do not understand what is really happening to them or why. ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign

To bring a bullying situation to an end two things are needed: (a) Teachers need to know about the specific bullying situation (and about the nature and impact of bullying in general) (b) Teachers need to know what to do about the specific situation (to change the behaviour of the bullying child so the bullying stops) Implementing a new anti-bullying policy that is in line with the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools” 2013, (which must be developed this year and will be mandatory from next year) can empower you, your staff and your school fulfil both these needs! ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign Finding a Solution

What do the new DES Procedures require of schools to deal with this problem? The Anti-Bullying Campaign programme empowers schools to implement these new DES Procedures and to do so very efficiently. That all schools implement a policy that encapsulates the following principles: A school culture that welcomes difference and diversity, is inclusive, encourages reporting of bullying behaviour and promotes respect Effective leadership (from all in leadership roles including parents and pupils) School-wide approach – (Roles for Board, principal, all staff, parents, pupils) A shared understanding of what bullying is and its impact Implementation of education and prevention strategies (including awareness- raising measures) that - build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils and - explicitly address the issues of cyber-bullying and identity-based bullying including in particular, racism, [homophobic and transphobic bullying]. Effective supervision and monitoring of pupils(knowing for what to watch) Supports for staff (so they know about bullying and can deal with it) Consistent recording, investigation and follow up of bullying behaviour and On-going evaluation of the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign

The Anti-Bullying Campaign gives effect to this key principle, enabling schools to fully satisfy their “Duty of Care” in relation to awareness-raising about bullying among pupils. “Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools” 2013, under the heading “Key Principles of Best Practice,” states: 5.2.2The main aims of an anti-bullying policy are as follows: (iii) To raise awareness amongst the entire school community (including school management, teachers, pupils, parents, volunteers etc.) that bullying is unacceptable behaviour; 6.5.1Every school must document in its anti-bullying policy the specific education and prevention strategies that the school will implement Effective practice includes prevention and awareness raising measures across all aspects of bullying... In particular, such strategies need to build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils. ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign

Our Anti-Bullying Campaign gives effect to this key principle, enabling schools to fully satisfy their “Duty of Care” in relation to dealing with bullying situations among pupils. “Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools” 2013, under the heading “Key Principles of Best Practice,” states: 6.8.1A consistent and clear approach to dealing with bullying when it occurs is essential to effective practice... [using] established intervention strategies and ensuring consistent recording, investigation and follow up of bullying behaviour School authorities must ensure that the school has clear procedures for investigating and dealing with bullying must be consistent with the following approach: (i) The primary aim for the relevant teacher in investigating and dealing with bullying is to resolve any issues and to restore, as far as is practicable, the relationships of the parties involved (rather than to apportion blame). ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign

Anti-Bullying Campaign - Overall Summary In class bullying is secretive When teachers on yard duty change every day they cannot see the Repetition that indicates “Bullying” Bullying is repeated targeted hurtful behaviour reflecting a power imbalance between those involved Pupils see all this behaviour so we need them to report it SO Anti-Bullying Campaign - Strand 1 Raising Awareness /Understanding Pupils Now Recognise Bullying Pupils Now Reject Bullying BUT They don’t Recognise it they don’t Understand it so they don’t Report it AND Our “Reform, Not Blame” Response offers “win-win” resolution for everyone involved BUT Punishment is an Obstacle so they still don’t Report it SO Anti-Bullying Campaign - Strand 2 A “Reform, not Blame” Approach Pupils see this as Fair and Just Pupils Now Report the Bullying AND There is No Resolution AND The bullying continues, leading to misery, low self-esteem, depression, self harm...

Solution to Problem 3 6 Steps to “Reform, not Blame” In most cases this promise is faithfully honoured If it is broken a similar promise is countersigned by parents A second promise is almost never broken - a “win-win-win” outcome

Strand 2: Dealing with Incidents - Summary Code of Behaviour Ladder of Referral Correction Warning(s) Deputy Principal? Meeting(s) with parents Suspension Expulsion? Contact parents Minor Sanctions(s) Principal? The Anti-Bullying Campaign response offers a “win-win” resolution in almost all cases Phase 1: In return for honesty and keeping 1 st promise pupil gets confidentiality and no blame or sanction Almost all keep first or second promise and so avoid blame or sanction through ladder of referral Phase 2: In return for honesty and keeping 2 nd promise pupil gets no confidentiality but no blame or sanction Most keep first promise so by agreement parents & Principal do not need to know or act Awareness Raising Strand Ongoing Throughout School If Promise is broken parents/staff told but still no return to ladder of referral In a tiny number of cases second promise is broken - Return to Ladder of Referral Anti-Bullying Campaign

ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign Strand 1: Sample Awareness Raising exercises: In addition to SPHE - events like the following spread throughout the year: Exercise 2: Worksheet -“Types of Bullying” Exercise 4: Worksheet - “Snakes and Ladders” Exercise 9: “Words Hurt - Don’t Be a Part of it” a video clip that cleverly shows words really can hurt - Exercise 19: “The Price of Silence” - a short video clip on the role of bystanders in bullying situations - Exercise 6: Anti-Bullying Slogan Competition with a lot of intercom publicity before, during and after, using bordered sheets suitable for lamination

ippn Annual Conference Anti-Bullying Campaign All these exercises empower pupils to Recognise, Reject and Report bullying. This is crucial if the bullying is to be effectively dealt with.

Anti-Bullying Campaign - Costs What does it cost to implement this programme? “Awareness Raising” Strand: Exercises are self-explanatory for pupils - so teachers need no training to take them into class and ask pupils to do them - no cost Teachers can do these exercises with their own class groups or do them on a class-swap basis so no time is added to their working week - no cost Resources are free. Photocopying can be done by secretarial staff at request of Coordinator overseeing the programme - photocopying cost “Dealing with Incidents” Strand: The school needs an Anti-Bullying Coordinator who Organises regular pupil surveys (quick & easy) - small time-cost Interviews a few alleged perpetrators of bullying behaviour per week (30 min standardised interviews) - this could be a big time-cost... but this is offset by time savings for Teachers, Deputy Principal and Principal whose involvement in dealing with bullying is reduced accordingly Co-ordinator could be a Pastoral Care Post-Holder - covering any time-costs Implementing This Whole Programme is Virtually Cost Free!