School Bullying: Three Levels of Prevention / Intervention

1. School Bullying:Three Levels ofPrevention / Intervention Dr. Tommy Turner Dr. Nancy Fox Dr. Jerry Kiser ALCA, November 2006 Mobile, Alabama

2. DEFINITION Bullying - A student is being bullied or victimized when he/she is exposed repeatedly over time to negative actions on the part of one or more students.

3. Bullying - A special type of peer interaction in which a powerful classmate repeatedly intimidates, exploits, and/or victimizes a weaker classmate.

4. Bullying (Three Elements) 1. The bully exhibits behavior directed toward the victim that is designed to hurt, harm or damage the victim physically, emotionally, and/or socially. 2. This behavior occurs when there is an imbalance of power/authority between the bully and victim (physical size, social status). 3. Happens repeatedly over time.

5. STATISTICS 5-10% of students repeatedly bully peers 81% males / 72% females report being bullied at least once during their K-12 school years 35-45% of parents with school aged children reported feeling fear for their child’s safety when the child is at school

6. WHY PREVENTION / INTERVENTION? Norway 1982 Three boys commit suicide as a result of severe bullying by peers ______________________________________ Professor Dan Olweus responds to this tragedy by developing / implementing the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program in 1983.

7. UNITED STATES Examples that are similar to what happened in Norway

8. JAMES KEARBEY (KANSAS, 1985) Age 14 Killed 3 students, Principal Bullied, beaten by the students for several years. Arrested (Final disposition unknown)

9. NATHAN FARIS (MISSOURI, 1987) Age 12 Killed the classmate who teased him about being fat Shot / Killed himself

10. BARRY LOUKAITIS (WASHINGTON, 1996) Age 14 Killed 2 students, 1 teacher One of the students killed had teased him Life in prison (without parole)

11. MICHAEL CARNEAL (KENTUCKY, 1997) Age 14 Killed 3 students, wounded 5 Michael was small and pudgy, the frequent victim of bullying Life in prison (without parole)

12. LUKE WOODHAM (MISSISSIPPI, 1997) Age 16 Killed his mother; went to school and killed 2 students, wounded 7 Victim of bullying, stated he could not take it anymore. Life in prison “I killed because people like me are mistreated every day - and nobody does anything. I did this to show society “push us and we will push back.”

13. ERIC HARRIS / DYLAN KLEBOLD (COLORADO, 1999) Age 17 / 18 Columbine High School. Killed 12 students, 1 teacher, wounded 23 students Did not “fit in.” Influenced by videos / movies Killed themselves

14. BULLYING : FIVE SYSTEMS 1. INDIVIDUAL (STUDENT) Gender Intelligence Temperament / Personality Personal Values

15. 2. FAMILY Family Structure Size of Family Socio-Economic Status Parenting Style Attitude / Involvement Regarding Education Attitude / Involvement In Criminal Behavior

16. 3. SCHOOL Building (Old, New) Building Maintained Size of Classrooms Student – Teacher Ratio Qualified Teaching Personnel School / Classroom Rules Student Supervision

17. 4. COMMUNITY Urban, Rural Socio-Economic Status Level of Public Services Level of Crime

18. 5. CULTURE Television Films Music Books Video Games

19. Profiles Bully Victim Bully as Victim Bystander

20. What is a Bully?

21. Someone who deliberately intimidates, threatens, and/or hurts others repetitively over a period of time. Verbal, written or physical aggression Physical aggression Rumor spreading Teasing Practical jokes Exhortation Definition

22. Strong desire to hurt others Exercise an unjust use of power Seize a power imbalance Personally stronger (physically or socially) than the victim(s) Assemble a group that is stronger than the victim The Bully…

23. Extrovert Outgoing Aggressive Expressive Introvert Hide Control Conform Types of Bullies

24. Bully Profile… • Attention Seeker • Usually more popular • Less likely to empathize with victim • Less likely to understand others’ points of view

25. Self-important Often comes from a family that uses harsh discipline Often have parents that verbally abuse each other Wants revenge and it doesn’t matter from whom they get revenge Often jealous of others Gender – not just boys, girls bully too Bully Profile…

26. Enjoys control over others Establishes a power base by testing response of less powerful members of group; watches how they react when small things happen Waits to see if the victim will complain. If the victim doesn’t complain and the peer group allows the behavior, the bullying will continue Bully Profile…

27. Victim Profile • Passive Victim • Provocative Victim

28. Usually weaker and smaller than bullies, more helpless Less able to defend themselves May be different and stands out – appearance, dress, speech, gender, name, ability, etc. Vulnerable May lack social skills May be shy, lonely, or depressed May be anxious and insecure May be characterized as over-protected Often blame themselves and believe the bullying is their fault Yields easily to bullying Passive Victim

29. Fear – petrified Depression Zombie-like appearance Wildly-emotional appearance Escapes Seeks help Passive Victim Reactions

30. Provocative Victim • Usually difficult to recognize • Annoy others with teasing & irritating behaviors - don’t know when enough is enough • Fight back - but lose in the end • May have nasty habits • May be fidgety or nervous • May be easily aroused emotionally • Tend to make others feel they deserve it • May be disliked by adults

31. Provocative Victim Reactions • Fights back • Physically • Verbally • Acts cool • Distracts • Amuses or placates the bully

32. Bullied by others Turns the experience around and bullies someone weaker than themselves Common Parenting Characteristics Poor parental warmth Abusive and inconsistent discipline and monitoring Neglect View mothers a relatively powerless Bully – Victim Profile

33. Bystander Profile • Outsiders - Ignore the bully • Assistants - Support the bully • Reinforcers – Join in and also bully the victim • Defenders - Stick up for the victim • Gophers - Get help for the victim

34. What Can Be Done? • Three Levels Of Intervention: 1- At the school level 2- At the classroom level 3- At the individual level The bully The victim

35. “Zero Tolerance” policies Peer Mediation/Conflict resolution Group Treatment for Bullies Simple, Short-term solutions What DOESN’T Work

36. School Level Intervention/Prevention • Conduct a bullying survey (Stan Davis- http://www.stopbullyingnow.com) • In-Service education about behaviors, responses, resources • Increased supervision

37. School Level Intervention/Prevention • Coordination Group: administrator, grade level teachers, counselor, psychologist/nurse, parent/student representatives • Regular meetings with parents and school staff • Agenda item at PTO/PTA meetings

38. Classroom Level • Enlarged curriculum: anger management, conflict resolution, communication, cooperation, friendship, kindness, diversity • Class rules: brief & clear (Olweus)

39. Classroom (cont.) Rules (cont.) We will not bully other students. We will try to help students who are bullied. We will include students who might be left out.

40. Classroom (cont.) • Immediate consequences for aggressive behavior/ rewards for inclusive behavior • Weekly communication with students to clarify and reiterate/ to enlist them in prevention • Communication with parents

41. Serious private talks with bully/victim Serious talks with parents Role playing non-aggressive behaviors Role playing assertive behavior Individual Intervention

42. Comprehensive: system-group-individual Coordinated: School Adults, parents, students Clear: clear values/moral stand Continuing: Not reactionary Prevention/Intervention Summary