1. 1 Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools Middle School Bullying Prevention Program

2. 2 Bullying... “A student is being bullied when he or she is exposed,repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students.”

3. 3 Bullying involves an imbalance in power or strength. The student who is bullied has difficulty defending himself/herself.

4. 4 Bullying Behavior Often part of a conduct- disordered behavior patternOften part of a conduct- disordered behavior pattern This pattern may continue into young adulthoodThis pattern may continue into young adulthood Olweus study: Bullies were 4 times as likely to have 3 or more criminal convictions by age 24Olweus study: Bullies were 4 times as likely to have 3 or more criminal convictions by age 24

5. 5 Why Focus on Bully/Victim Problems Because of: –Short and long-term effects on victims –Concern about students who bully –Impact on bystanders –School social climate –Legal concerns

6. 6 Concerns About Children Who Bully Children who bully are more likely to: –Get into frequent fights –Be injured in a fight –Steal, vandalize property –Drink alcohol, smoke –Be truant, drop out of school –Report poorer academic achievement –Perceive a negative climate at school –Carry a weapon

7. 7 Short-term Effects of Being Bullied Lower self-esteemLower self-esteem Depression & anxietyDepression & anxiety IllnessIllness AbsenteeismAbsenteeism Thoughts of suicideThoughts of suicide

8. 8 Lasting Effects of Being Bullied Lower self-esteemLower self-esteem Higher rates of depressionHigher rates of depression Higher rates of Post Traumatic StressHigher rates of Post Traumatic Stress

9. 9 Effects of Bullying on Bystanders Bystanders may feel: –Afraid –Powerless to change the situation –Guilty for not acting –Diminished empathy for victims over time

10. 10 Effects of Bullying on School Climate Interferes with student learning Creates a climate of fear and disrespect Students may perceive lack of control/caring

11. 11 Types of Bullying: Direct Bullying Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting…Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting… Taunting, hurtful teasing, degrading racial or sexual commentsTaunting, hurtful teasing, degrading racial or sexual comments Threatening, obscene gesturesThreatening, obscene gestures

12. 12 Indirect Bullying Getting another person to assault someoneGetting another person to assault someone Spreading rumorsSpreading rumors Deliberate exclusion from a group or activityDeliberate exclusion from a group or activity Cyber-bullyingCyber-bullying

13. 13 Relational Bullying Combines direct & indirect bullying strategies. Targets relationships and social status to cause harm to peers. BULLYING

14. 14 Health Consequences of Bullying Fekkes et al.(2003) Pediatrics, 144, 17-22 BulliedNot bullied Headache16%6% Sleep problems42%23% Abdominal pain17%9% Feeling tense20%9% Anxiety28%10% Feeling unhappy23%5% Depression scale moderate indication49%16% strong indication16%2%

15. 15 What Motivates Children Who Bully? Like to dominate others in a negative wayLike to dominate others in a negative way Gain satisfaction from inflicting injury and sufferingGain satisfaction from inflicting injury and suffering Receive “rewards” by bullying others (prestige,possessions)Receive “rewards” by bullying others (prestige,possessions)

16. 16 Gender plays a role Similarities:Similarities: –Both boys and girls engage in frequent verbal bullying. –Girls and boys are equally likely to engage in relational bullying. Differences:Differences: –Boys are bullied primarily by boys; girls are bullied by boys and girls. –Boys are more likely to be physically bullied. –Girls are more likely to be bullied through social exclusion, rumor-spreading, cyber bullying, and sexual comments.

17. 17 Reporting of Victimization Many children do not report bullying to school staff.Many children do not report bullying to school staff. Older students and boys are less likely than younger students and girls to report their victimization.Older students and boys are less likely than younger students and girls to report their victimization.

18. 18 Children Who Bully Can Change Bullying behaviors and victimization experiences are relatively stable over time if there is no intervention.Bullying behaviors and victimization experiences are relatively stable over time if there is no intervention. BUT, appropriate intervention can change behaviors.BUT, appropriate intervention can change behaviors.

19. 19 Olweus Bullying Program is… Universal (a school-wide effort)Universal (a school-wide effort) Systems-oriented AND individual- orientedSystems-oriented AND individual- oriented Preventive AND problem-solvingPreventive AND problem-solving Focused on changing norms and behaviorFocused on changing norms and behavior Research-basedResearch-based NOT time-limited: Requires systematic efforts over timeNOT time-limited: Requires systematic efforts over time

20. 20 Goals of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Reduce existing bully/victim problems among school childrenReduce existing bully/victim problems among school children Prevent the development of new bully/victim problemsPrevent the development of new bully/victim problems Improve peer relationsImprove peer relations Improve school climateImprove school climate

21. 21 Program Principles- Warmth & Positive InterestWarmth & Positive Interest Involvement from adultsInvolvement from adults Adults acting as authorities and positive role modelsAdults acting as authorities and positive role models Firm limitsFirm limits It is critical to develop a school environment characterized by:

22. 22 Overview of School-Wide Elements 1. Form Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee 2. Train committee and all school personnel 3. Develop school rules against bullying 5. Increase supervision 6. Use consistent positive and negative consequences 7. Teach monthly lessons on bullying 8. Involve parents

23. 23 3 Levels of Bullying Level 1 Lowest level of bullying that includes: Blaming, threatening gestures, insults, teasing, gossip, spreading rumors, excluding, minor pushing/shoving/tripping, taking items, booking, throwing items

24. 24 3 Levels of Bullying Level 2 Middle level of bullying that includes: Threatening physical harm, stealing personal property, biting/scratching, verbal threats, insulting ones ethnicity/ race/ gender/ family, embarrassing others, destruction of property, cyber bullying, invading ones privacy, extortion, repeating level 1

25. 25 3 Levels of Bullying Level 3 Highest level of bullying that includes: Repeated threats, repeated harassment, repeating level 2

26. 26 Consequences can include:  Verbal warning  Written reflection form  Phone call to parent  Referral to guidance  Detention  Saturday School  In-school suspension  Out-of-school suspension  Group counseling referral  Juvenile court referral

27. 27 Why Adults Don’t Always Intervene: Have difficulty recognizing bullyingHave difficulty recognizing bullying Fail to recognize the importance of interveningFail to recognize the importance of intervening Uncertain how best to interveneUncertain how best to intervene

28. 28 What the school will do: 1. On-the-spot interventions 2. Follow-up discussions with children who are bullied 3. Follow-up discussions with children who bully 4. Parental involvement 4. Consequences

29. 29 What Can Parents Do If Their Child Is Bullied? Help the child develop talents and positive attributesHelp the child develop talents and positive attributes Encourage the child to make contact with friendly student(s) in their classesEncourage the child to make contact with friendly student(s) in their classes Encourage the child to get to know peers in new situationsEncourage the child to get to know peers in new situations

30. 30 What Doesn’t Work? Ignoring the problem Blaming your child for provoking bullying Telling the child to “hit back” Calling the parents of the bully – unless there is a friendly relationship between parents

31. 31 Communicate directly to the child: –We know you have been involved in bullying –Bullying is a serious behavior –We will not tolerate any future bullying behavior What Can Parents Do If Their Child Bullies Others?

32. 32 Enforce family rulesEnforce family rules Reinforce positive and kind behaviorReinforce positive and kind behavior Spend more time with your childSpend more time with your child Monitor the child’s activitiesMonitor the child’s activities Build upon the child’s talentsBuild upon the child’s talents Help child find more appropriate behavior patternsHelp child find more appropriate behavior patterns Seek professional assistance, if necessarySeek professional assistance, if necessary What Can Parents Do If Their Child Bullies Others?

33. 33 What Doesn’t Work? Ignoring the problem Denying that their child could do such a thing as bullying Protecting the child from consequences Blaming the victim for your child’s problems

34. 34 Take-Home Message Stopping bullying takes a team effort.Stopping bullying takes a team effort. Approach the process in steps.Approach the process in steps. Change happens in small increments.Change happens in small increments.