Improving School Climate To Support Student Achievement: BULLYING

1. Improving School Climate To Support Student Achievement: BULLYING

2. A Statistical Perspective • Every day in the U.S. 160,000 public school students stay home out of fear of being “picked on” • 2,222 full school buses of children • Between 5% and 30% of students engage in “bullying” behavior in the school context • Between 5% and 30% of adults engage in “bullying” behavior in the school context • As children become adults…the same behaviors persist

3. A TOXIC School Concept: A True Conversation Closer • No school wants to have any of it • No parent/guardian will admit their child is one • No child will own up to being one • Everyone avoids these terms except the Target’s family

4. If Only It Was This Easy!

5. Lessons Learned • Over seven years worth of CT data…trends are clear • Bullying knows no demographic boundaries • Bullying takes ALL forms without patterns • Bullying affects all grade levels • Very slight increase in the middle school years • Bullying overwhelmingly involves children with special needs (IEPs & 504 Plans) • Children who are “different” • The family perceptions about what is happening to the child is in a separate universe fromwhat is objectively happening at school

6. “Bullying” In a small group, sort the provided cards into 3 groups: “Is the behavior listed “bullying”?  Yes, No or Maybe Place the cards on your table so it is easy to observe which cards are under which heading. Large Group Gallery Walk

7. Define Bullying In a small group, decide which of the provided definitions of “bullying” is the best (in your opinion).

8. Bullying Defined • 49 States have Bullying Laws and define bullying • There are 49 different definitions of bullying • Even the “experts” don’t agree on what bullying is

9. Solving “Bullying” by Passing State Anti-Bullying Laws Missouri’s Law only pertains to “Cyber-Bullying” CT and WY: Only two that combine Bullying and School Climate legislation

10. The Reason for Legislation Honor the “Spirit” (intent) of the law, not merely the “Letter” of the law to create truly physically, emotionally and intellectually safe and positive learning environmentsfor every single school community member, student and adult alike.

11. “Bullying” is about Abuses of Power • One person’s “bullying” is another’s… • “Kids will be kids” • “They were only joking around” • “Oh, they’re really friends” • “It’s not bad enough yet” • They’re just roughhousing” • “That is just teasing” • And, so many more…..

12. “Meanness” Replace the card titled “Bullying” with the new card provided titled “Meanness”. Now sort the cards into the same 3 piles: “Is the behavior listed “meanness”?  Yes, No or Maybe

13. The World Of Inappropriate Behavior Protected Class Harassment Bullying Mean Spirited Behavior Criminal Behavior

14. Video Segment: Ball Passes

15. ‘BULLY’ and ‘BULLYING’ are OUT!!!“Mean” Is A Better Term/Concept • No one knows what “bullying” looks, feels and sounds like • We miss what is right under our noses • Everyone knows what “mean” looks, feels and sounds like • If “mean” is the standard, we are much more likely to help make it safer If it’s mean…Intervene!!!

16. A Familiar Nursery Rhyme: Unfortunate Myth…And Reality “Sticks and stones can break your bones, but names will never hurt you.” “Sticks and stones will break my bones…And Words CAN Hurt Forever.” Words DO hurt

17. The Nature Of Teasing • Good Teasing • Where everyone involved feels respected • Only appropriate when everyone is included • “audience” won’t understand • Unintentional Bad Teasing • Where the teaser doesn’t intend to hurt the other’s feelings • Intentional Bad Teasing • Where the teasing is used to put the person down and/or silence the target • Vehicle of social climbing

18. Dangerous “Weapons” In School: Direct Negative Impact on Learning • Words! The silent and most devastating weapons used by school community members • Putdowns and slurs • Degrading language heard daily by 90% of school community • Girls/women • Gay/lesbian/bi-sexual/transgender individuals • Students with special needs • Racial groups / students of color • Religious groups • Weight

19. Sarcasm: “The Tearing of Flesh”

20. Where Students See, Hear & Learn Hurtful Language…The Culture • From family members and additional mentors • Coaches • Leaders • From popular culture • Media • Idols/celebrities • From other young people • Role modeling is a powerful influence • Capacity to escalate • From words… • To threats… • To physical assaults

21. Solutions Through Conventional Wisdom: Not Working • Peer Mediation / Conflict Resolution • Simple “Advice” Interventions with Targets; telling them to: • Build confidence • Walk away • Be more assertive • Build self-esteem • Simple “Advice” Interventions with those who are Mean • Counsel to explain and chastise (“you know better!”) • Discipline without educational intervention • Ignore the Majority of the Middle: the Bystanders • Feel “stuck” and powerless

22. Physical Safety:Safety  Violence Continuum • Early Manifestations by Students and/or Adults • Exclusion • Teasing • Name-calling • Ridicule • Sarcasm • Extreme Physical Violence • Homicide • Suicide Threatening and/or Real “Bullying” Behavior

23. Ultimate Remedy for Bullying To Create and Maintain Positive School Climate…Environments that do not support any form of mean-spirited behaviors (physically, emotionally and intellectually) Healthy and happy “Climates of Respect”