bullying prevention: creating a safe and enriching school climate adapted from ft. worth independent...
TRANSCRIPT
Bullying Prevention: Creating a Safe and Enriching School
Climate
Adapted from Ft. Worth Independent School District
Presentation Overview
•Overview of Bullying–Traditional and Cyber
•Impact on School–Environment–Legal
•Safe Students and Staff–Prevention and Intervention Strategies–Boundaries
Definition
• A student is bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed repeatedly, and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students.
Imbalance of Power
• Bullying is an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim where the bully uses his/her physical, intellectual, verbal, or social skills against the victim.
Bullying at School
Visible:• Fighting• Weapons• Gangs• Overt Bullying
Less Visible:• Put downs• Teasing/taunting• Exclusion• Rumors/Gossip• Cyber
Types of Bullying
• Physical/Gestures• Psychological• Harassment• Relational• Mobbing• Digital/Cyber
Bullying Episode Participants
• Victim• Bully• Bystanders• Bully/Victim• Homicidal Victim
Traditional vs. Cyber Bullying
•60% of victims were also bullied in “traditional” ways•55% of perpetrators bullied others in “traditional” ways
Source: Kowalski & Limber, 2008
Traditional Cyber
Definition
Cyber Bullying involves the use of electronic technologies to engage in
repeated and/or extensively disseminated acts of cruelty towards others.
Youth Online Research
• Young people face significantly greater risks from known peers-not online strangers
• Most parents are not fully involved with their child’s online activities-fear strategies aren’t effective
• The majority of teens are generally making good choices online
Online Risks
• Perception of invisibility-which can lead to a reduced fear of detection
• Lack of tangible feedback that actions have caused harm to self or others
• Materials in electronic form can be widely disseminated and permanently available
Forms of Cyberbullying
• Cyberstalking• Outing and Trickery• Flaming (text rage)• Exclusion/ Ostracism• Impersonation• Harassment (text wars)• Denigration (online slam books)• Happy Slapping
Cyberbullying can occur…
• Text Messages (flaming, text rage)
• Chat Rooms (Bash Boards)• Websites (online slam
books)• Social Networking• Sexting
Common Social Networking Sites
Teens use multiple social networking apps/tools!
• Twitter• Instagram• Snapchat• Tumblr• Vine• Facebook• Kik Messenger• Wanelo• Ooovoo• WhatsApp• Google+
• Yik Yak• Ask.fm• Omegle• Whisper
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/blog/15-sites-and-apps-kids-are-heading-to-beyond-facebook
Why does bullying continue?
• Adult beliefs• Adult excuses• Lack of enforcement• Lack of training• Ignorance
Students At Greatest Risk
• New to the area or school• Isolated /loners• Physically weaker or
unique characteristic • Anxious, insecure,
unhappy, and withdrawn
What actions can you take to support these students?
Impact of Bullying
• Academic• Emotional• Criminal• Bullycide• Homicide• Lawsuits
School Impact: School Climate and Safety
• Social Contagion–can weaken normal inhibitions against aggressions
• Decreased sense of self-responsibility• Gradual changes in view of victim
Student Free Speech 393 U.S. 503 (1969)
• Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District
– School officials can impose discipline if speech has or forseeablycould cause
violenceor other substantial disruption of school activities.
Prevention: Environmental
• Create safe and caring environment • Clear rules and expectations• Greeting• Buddy System• When supervising-supervise• Be observant
Prevention: Curriculum
• Bullying• Relational Aggression• Cyber Safety
Prevention: Training
• Student–Empathy–Cyber Safety–Legal Consequences
• Staff• Parents
Prevention: Student Training
• Help them stay safe–Understand the risks–Know how to prevent themselves from risk
and effectively respond-ask for help–Encourage resiliency and responsibility
• Encourage them to do the right thing–Make wise choices online–Respect rights and privacy of others–Do not harm others
• Encourage them to be responsible–Promote digital civility–Report concerns to an adult and help
others online
Prevention: Staff Training
• Understand who is at greatest risk• Know the signs/symptoms of bullying• Be approachable• Be observant• Supervise• Be relationship minded; engage students• Set up newcomer program• Other
Prevention: Parent Training
• Signs/symptoms of bullying• Develop relationship with school• Supervise both on and offline• Be observant• Communicate and be open minded• Help their child develop empathy and
strong social skills• Other
Intervention: Environmental
• Create environment that encourages reporting
• Recognize signs and behaviors• Intervene quickly• Name the behavior• Consistent consequences• Report/document
– Discipline Report– Bus Incident Report
Intervention: Staff Training
• Do not reply to emails, taunts or lies • Save all interactions for evidence• Do not forward sexting photos• In the case of email harassment, contact
the harasser's Internet Service Provider and make a complaint.
• Report incidences to your administrator along with copies of the materials that you have collected.
Staff / Student Interactions
As an educator, it is your responsibility to maintain a classroom atmosphere which is comfortable and conducive to learning for all students. Key Point: How do you remain friendly, respectful, and professional with students without violating the boundaries of professionalism?
What are boundaries?
• mutually understood, unspoken physical and emotional limits of the relationship between the individuals
• limits that allow a connection based on your student’s needs
• defines the space which clarifies “you” & “me.”
• preserves your purpose and mission
Things to think about…
• Over familiarity can often take place through:– School Computer
• Connecticut v. Julie Amero (1/07 convicted, 6/07 thrown out, 11/08 pled guilty)
– Texting – Social Networking Sites– Other
Are you staying safe?