1. Dr Ken Rigby Consultant
Vodcast Six:
Issues with parents and evaluating anti-bullying work
School Bullying
Dr Ken Rigby Consultant
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2. The concerns of parents
Increasingly parents have become concerned about the problem of bullying, especially when it involves their own child
Many want to be assured that the school is taking the matter seriously and there are effective procedures to deal with cases of bullying
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3. Proactive work with parents
As far as possible involve parents in the development of anti-bullying policy
Enable them to make a contribution – for example through answering questionnaires about bullying
Ensure that each parent has a copy of the school’s anti-bullying policy, and relevant information on bullying appears on the school’s website
Inform them through newsletters of relevant developments in the school, especially actions being taken to educate students about bullying
Invite parents to meetings to discuss issues of esteem, eg, problems associated with cyber bullying
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4. Involving parents in addressing bullying
Not all bullying need involve parents. With low level bullying the school is ‘in loco parentis.’
With serious cases of bullying normally parents need to be involved.
Parents of children suspected of bullying and parents whose children have been bullied raise different issues.
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5. Working with parents of children who have engaged in bullying
Contact the parents and arrange a meeting
View the matter as a problem over which close collaboration is needed
Avoid any suggestion that questions their child’s character
Explain how the school is handling the matter and seek the parent’s support
Emphasise that the school’s action is in accord with agreed school rules
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6. Working with parents whose child has been bullied
Recognise that the anger and (often) critical tone of the parent is understandable and avoid being counter-aggressive
Listen carefully – and supportively – and obtain as much information about the bullying as the parent can provide
Explain that the school will need time to investigate the matter further – but that the parent will be informed of what happens
Although the parent may insist upon a particular course of action, make it clear that the school will act in accordance with its publicised anti-bullying policy (as endorsed by the parent)
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7. Common mistakes
Suggesting that the parent of the victim discusses the matter with the parent of the bully. Usually disastrous.
Not contacting the parent of the victim to check on the outcomes of the intervention
Not recognising the possibility that the victim may have been provocative – and the bully’s parents may have some reasonable concerns.
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8. For parents wanting help
Recommend literature or courses that are helpful in promoting the kind of parenting that makes bullying less likely
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9. Evaluation
There are two matters that may concern a school wanting to evaluate its work to counter bullying:
(i) Whether the policy or program has led to a reduction in bullying
(ii) Whether actual interventions with cases of bullying have been effective
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10. Evaluating policies/programs
First seek to discover how well the policy or program was implemented
This means systematically asking questions of staff members
Decide whether the implementation was
(i) really thorough
(ii) only partly implemented
(iii) implemented hardly at all
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11. Assessing the nature and degree of change brought about by the policy/program
This can only be done validly by obtaining estimates of the prevalence of the bullying before and after the implementation and comparing the changes with that found in a control group
Often it is best to invite an external person or organisation with appropriate skills and objectivity, eg., a University looking for a project to evaluate
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12. Evaluating interventions with cases
For each case addressed, record its nature
eg. how severe; mode of bullying
eg. verbal, physical, indirect, cyber, some or all of these.
How prolonged?
Whether there was group involvement; age, gender, ethnicity
Describe the method or methods of intervention actually used
Rate the success of the outcome as :
(i) the bullying stopped
(ii) the bullying got less severe
(iii) there was no change
(iv) things got worse for the victim
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13. Evaluating interventions with cases continued
In rating the outcome, obtain data from interviews with the victim and with the bully or bullies, and then, if practicable, from bystanders, teachers and parents
Repeat the inquiry a month or so later to see whether the situation has altered
Make a recommendation as to the effectiveness of the intervention as carried out in relation to the kind of case and factors involved
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14. Questions
What level of collaboration exists at your school between parents and staff in preventing and addressing problems of bullying? Suggest ways it could be improved.
What do you think your school could do realistically to evaluate efforts to reduce bullying?
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