Program Development &Program Development &

Policy TimelinePolicy Timeline

House Bill 669House Bill 669

1006.147 Florida Statutes requires districts 1006.147 Florida Statutes requires districts to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying and to adopt a policy prohibiting bullying and harassment of students and staff on school harassment of students and staff on school grounds, at school sponsored events and grounds, at school sponsored events and through school computer networks by through school computer networks by December 1, 2008December 1, 2008

Model PolicyModel Policy

The Bullying Policy – actually named the Johnston The Bullying Policy – actually named the Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act – had input of many Stand Up for All Students Act – had input of many stakeholders including the Florida Safe and Drug stakeholders including the Florida Safe and Drug Free Schools CoordinatorsFree Schools Coordinators

The FL DOE is required by the same Statute to The FL DOE is required by the same Statute to distribute a model policy to the districts by October distribute a model policy to the districts by October 1, 2008. They will be utilizing Broward School 1, 2008. They will be utilizing Broward School Board’s Policy as their Model Policy Board’s Policy as their Model Policy http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/sbbcpolicies/dohttp://www.broward.k12.fl.us/sbbcpolicies/docs/P5.9.pdfcs/P5.9.pdf

Monroe’s PolicyMonroe’s Policy

MCSB Policy may include more specific MCSB Policy may include more specific categories but not less than the FL DOE’s categories but not less than the FL DOE’s Model PolicyModel Policy

Funding for Safe Schools will be withheld if Funding for Safe Schools will be withheld if the policy is deemed to lack substantial the policy is deemed to lack substantial conformityconformity

The Bullying Policy will not replace the The Bullying Policy will not replace the already adopted Harassment Policyalready adopted Harassment Policy

TimelineTimelineAugustAugust – Work with School Health – Work with School Health Advisory Council to develop draft of Policy Advisory Council to develop draft of Policy using Broward’s as templateusing Broward’s as template

SeptemberSeptember – Seek input from Principals, – Seek input from Principals, Assistant Principals and other groups such Assistant Principals and other groups such as SAC(s) and student groups regarding as SAC(s) and student groups regarding the draft policy the draft policy

OctoberOctober – Survey students grades 4-8 to – Survey students grades 4-8 to get baseline data regarding feelings of get baseline data regarding feelings of harassment, bullying and overall safetyharassment, bullying and overall safety

Timeline (continued)Timeline (continued)

OctoberOctober - Bullying task force team will develop tool - Bullying task force team will develop tool box for schools to utilize when the policy goes into box for schools to utilize when the policy goes into effecteffectOctober 14October 14 – Bring policy to board workshop for – Bring policy to board workshop for input and discussioninput and discussionOctober 28October 28 – On the board agenda for approval – On the board agenda for approvalNovember/DecemberNovember/December – train staff – train staffJanuaryJanuary – Suggested grade-level meetings with – Suggested grade-level meetings with students regarding policy and expectationsstudents regarding policy and expectations

Tool Box MaterialsTool Box Materials

Training for the teachers – Training for the teachers – Verbal Judo Verbal Judo Training for the students – Training for the students – Silence HurtsSilence Hurts Supplemental materials for the classroom at Supplemental materials for the classroom at

each grade level including Character Ed. each grade level including Character Ed. material and a suggested reading listmaterial and a suggested reading list

Campaigns such as: Campaigns such as: Mix-It Up at LunchMix-It Up at Lunch and and Violence Prevention WeekViolence Prevention Week

Challenge Day and other MYCP eventsChallenge Day and other MYCP events

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Florida’s 2nd Annual Bullying Conference

Forms of BullyingForms of Bullying

Direct –Direct –o Verbal/Physical AggressionVerbal/Physical Aggressiono Proactive – goal directed, higher peer statusProactive – goal directed, higher peer statuso Reactive – less effective, no status changeReactive – less effective, no status changeIndirect –Indirect –o Relational – personal relationship to harmRelational – personal relationship to harmo Reputational – attempt to harm’s someone’s Reputational – attempt to harm’s someone’s

social statussocial status

Change in SocietyChange in Society

The internet now plays an important role in The internet now plays an important role in social interactions social interactions

12% of students say they spend more time 12% of students say they spend more time on the internet than with friendson the internet than with friends

30% of students say that email, chat rooms 30% of students say that email, chat rooms or instant messaging is the main way they or instant messaging is the main way they stay in contact with their friendsstay in contact with their friends

Danger ZoneDanger Zone

Cyber bullying is more anonymous, as a Cyber bullying is more anonymous, as a result can be more severeresult can be more severe

There is a parent-child communication gap: There is a parent-child communication gap: parents are unaware about youth cyber parents are unaware about youth cyber behaviorbehavior

Educators are put in the middle of issues in Educators are put in the middle of issues in which the controls do not begin or end under which the controls do not begin or end under a school’s jurisdictiona school’s jurisdiction

We Socialize Children to Bull:We Socialize Children to Bull: Dr. Jan Stanton, Ph.D, Training and Coaching Institute Director of Illinois Dr. Jan Stanton, Ph.D, Training and Coaching Institute Director of Illinois

Bullying has been a social ritualBullying has been a social ritual Gender Socialization Gender Socialization “As children grow and develop, “As children grow and develop,

the gender stereotypes they are exposed to at home are reinforced by the gender stereotypes they are exposed to at home are reinforced by other elements in their environment and are thus perpetuated other elements in their environment and are thus perpetuated throughout childhood and on into adolescence” martin, Wood & Little throughout childhood and on into adolescence” martin, Wood & Little 19901990

Family factors include: income, Family factors include: income, education, parenting styles, education, parenting styles, unemployment, and parent/child unemployment, and parent/child relationshiprelationship

The Roles of BullyingThe Roles of BullyingVictim, Bully, Bystander, Ally Victim, Bully, Bystander, Ally and Victim/Bullyand Victim/Bully

Each play a significant role in the Each play a significant role in the “normalization” of bullying and each must be “normalization” of bullying and each must be taught how to overcome this learned taught how to overcome this learned behavior while addressing the needs that behavior while addressing the needs that led to it in the first placeled to it in the first place

VictimsVictims

““Passive Victims” – anxious, insecure, Passive Victims” – anxious, insecure, appear to do nothing to invite attacks and appear to do nothing to invite attacks and fail to defend themselvesfail to defend themselves““Provocative Victims” – hot-tempered, Provocative Victims” – hot-tempered, restless, create tension by irritating and restless, create tension by irritating and teasing others and fight back or attempt to teasing others and fight back or attempt to when attackedwhen attacked““Bully/Victims” – bullies sometimes, victims, Bully/Victims” – bullies sometimes, victims, most difficult to assistmost difficult to assist

What Schools Can Do About ItWhat Schools Can Do About It

Administrators should provide staff:Administrators should provide staff: Clear definitions of what bullying is and is Clear definitions of what bullying is and is

notnot The skills to intervene when they see itThe skills to intervene when they see it Support in following the procedures when Support in following the procedures when

incidents occurincidents occur

What Schools Can Do About ItWhat Schools Can Do About It

Teachers can:Teachers can:• Provide attentive supervisionProvide attentive supervision

• Show respect for each studentShow respect for each student

• Break Myths, such as “Boys will be boys” Break Myths, such as “Boys will be boys” or Bullies come from “dysfunctional or Bullies come from “dysfunctional homes”homes”

What Schools Can Do About ItWhat Schools Can Do About ItThe Classroom/School environment should:The Classroom/School environment should:

• Have posted guidelines discouraging bullyingHave posted guidelines discouraging bullying• Avoid programs that isolate students socially Avoid programs that isolate students socially

or physically (such as suspension etc)or physically (such as suspension etc)• Articulate specific expectations for appropriate Articulate specific expectations for appropriate

social behaviorsocial behavior• Encourage collaborative learning versus Encourage collaborative learning versus

competitive learningcompetitive learning• Include friends who can be buffers for victims Include friends who can be buffers for victims

when groupingwhen grouping

Thank you to the following members of the Thank you to the following members of the Bullying Prevention Task Force Bullying Prevention Task Force

for their contributionsfor their contributions

Kevin FreemanKevin Freeman Patrick Godsell Patrick Godsell Liz LoganLiz Logan Amy RembiszAmy Rembisz Harry RussellHarry Russell Marla RussellMarla Russell