BlockParent will require all “paid” volunteers to complete a formal Bully Prevention and Response training course with accreditation and options to continue their learning.
All teachers and education support professionals think it’s "their job" to intervene when they witness bullying. But only 54 percent receive training on bullying prevention. Without such training, there’s no wonder why bullying is so prevalent. Most adults don't recognize some of the behaviors of bullying or the reactions of getting bullied and that bullying is often ineffectually addressed using the traditional discipline system of applying punishment.
So, who is to blame for the state of bullying?
No one is to blame, yet everyone is responsible. We can all work to prevent bullying, be it on a school or classroom wide basis, or even at home.
Effectively addressing a bullying problem requires a culture change.
A true culture change takes time, but a few key steps to help school staff get started are:
Practice What You Preach Don't use your status as school leaders as the lever for change; instead, "listen before talking and reflect before acting" to ensure the rest of the staff feels valued.
Assess the Extent of the Problem Survey students, staff and parents to find out how much and what type of bullying is going on, as well as where and when, to target prevention efforts.
Develop a School-wide Code of Conduct that reinforces school values and clearly defines unacceptable behavior and consequences. Empower bystanders -- teachers and especially students -- to help enforce it by training them to identify and respond to inappropriate behavior.
Increase Adult Supervision Most bullying happens when adults are not present, so make sure they are "visible and vigilant" in hallways, stairwells, cafeterias and locker rooms, as well as on buses on the way to and from school.
Conduct Bullying Prevention Activities such as all-school assemblies, communications campaigns or creative arts contests highlighting school values to bring the community together and reinforce the message that bullying is wrong.
Even when a school leader doesn't have a formal bullying prevention agenda, teachers can create safe, bully-free zones in their classrooms:
Know Your School and District Policies on Bullying Do your part to implement them effectively.
Treat Students and Others with Warmth and Respect Let students know that you are available to listen and help them.
Conduct Classroom Activities around Bullying Help your class identify bullying in books, TV shows and movies, and discuss the impact of that bullying and how it was/could be resolved. Hold class meetings in which students can talk about bullying and peer relations.
Discuss Bullying with Colleagues As a group, you will be better able to monitor the school environment. Discuss both bullying in general and concerns regarding specific students.
Take Immediate Action Failure to act provides tacit approval of the behavior and can cause it to spread.
Parents and guardians are among a school's best allies in bullying prevention:
Talk with and Listen to Your Children Everyday Ask questions about their school day, including experiences on the way to and from school, lunch, and recess. Ask about their peers. Children who feel comfortable talking to their parents about these matters before they are involved in bullying are more likely to get them involved after.
Spend time at School and Recess Schools can lack the resources to provide all students individualized attention during "free" time like recess. Volunteer to coordinate games and activities that encourage children to interact with peers aside from their best friends.
Be a Good Example When you get angry at waiters, other drivers or others, model effective communication techniques. As Education.com puts it, "Any time you speak to another person in a mean or abusive way, you're teaching your child that bullying is ok."
Create Healthy Anti-Bullying Habits Starting as young as possible, coach your children on both what not to do (push, tease, and be mean to others) as well as what to do (be kind, empathize, and take turns). Also coach your child on what to do if someone is mean to him or to another (get an adult, tell the bully to stop, walk away and ignore the bully).
Make Sure Your Child Understands Bullying Explicitly explain what it is and that it's not normal or tolerable for them to bully, be bullied, or stand by and watch other kids be bullied.
Students may not know what to do when they observe a classmate being bullied or experience such victimization themselves. Classroom discussions and school activities will help students develop a variety of appropriate actions that they can take when they witness or experience such victimization. For instance, depending on the situation and their own level of comfort, students can do the following:
What Students Can Do About Cyberbullying
What Students Can Do to Stop Bullying
Bullying is an enormous problem, and we must all do our part to impact it. We cannot rely on school board, city, county, state or federal entities alone. We must do our part in small, incremental, yet consistent steps and enforce our will.
Anyone can help kick start these approaches-- TODAY. If you are interested in joining the good fight to make our schools and neighborhoods safer, please register here.
