Bullying

Lockland Middle School

Cincinnati EnquirerAugust 27, 2009

School bullying talk hits homeBy William Croyle

WARSAW, KY - As John Halligan talked about the suicide of his teenage son, senior Tyler Mullins reflected on the bullying that happens here at Gallatin County High.

I really didn't think we had a bullying problem, but the more he talked, the more it stood out," Tyler said.

Halligan, from Vermont, was here Thursday to present "Ryan's Story." He's done it more than 200 times since Ryan's death in 2003, and has about 100 talks scheduled at schools nationwide this year.

"We want the kids to be aware of what can happen," said Gallatin County High Principal Roxann Booth. "We have never had serious bullying issues, but we do have it."

Every school does, and Halligan's mission is to end it.

Cincinnati EnquirerAugust 27, 2009

Ryan's problems began in fifth grade when he was picked on by one boy for everything from his academic shortcomings to his lack of athleticism.

The bullying did not stop, but it had advanced to cyber bullying.

By the start of eighth grade, on Oct. 7, 2003, Ryan committed suicide.

Why? What happened?

What is Bullying?

An intentional gesture or a written, verbal, or physical act of threat that a student has exhibited toward another student more than once that harms a student, damages his or her property, or places them in reasonable fear of harm.

It must be severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment.

I didn’t get it. What is bullying?

Bullying is doing anything on purpose to another person that causes them to feel that they may not be safe or welcome.

Bullying is a real and constant threat to another person that makes them not participate fully in our school.

Who is a bully?

Someone who must get their way. Someone who enjoys violence. Someone who is bigger or stronger. Someone who has a temper. Someone who does not like rules. Someone who does not help others in need. Someone who is aggressive with adults. Someone who argues about everything.

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

School-wide, classroom-base, and individualized bully prevention program.

Our goals… – to reduce and prevent bullying problems among school

children and to improve peer relations at school. We will…

– reduce bullying among students,– improve the social climate of classrooms, and – reduce related antisocial behaviors,

such as violence, vandalism, and truancy.

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

School-level components Formed a Bullying Prevention Team

– Mr. Eckert, Officer Menth, Mr. Young– Your classroom teachers.

Surveyed students on bullying Training teachers on what to do about bullying Developed appropriate positive and negative

consequences for students' behavior Involve parents of bullies and victims Adopted school-wide rules against bullying

Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

School Rules Against Bullying

We will not bully others. We will try to help students

who are bullied. We will make it a point to

include students who are easily left out.

When we know someone is being bullied, we will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

How does bullying happen?

Followerof Bully

Passive Supporterof Bully

Disengaged Onlooker

Possible Defender

Defender of Victim

Bully

Victim

Roles: Responsibility and Irresponsibility

Victim– Responsibility is to protect one’s self without participating in the bullying.

Defender– Responsibility is to dislike the bullying, and help or try to help the victim.

Possible Defender– Responsibility is to dislike the bullying.– Irresponsibility is to not do anything about it.

Disengaged Onlooker– Irresponsibility is to watch the bullying and not caring.

Passive Supporter of Bully– Irresponsibility is to like the bullying, yet do not openly support it.

Follower of the Bully– Irresponsibility is to take an active part in the bullying.

Bully– Irresponsibility is to start the bullying.

What can students do?

Learn what bullying is and why it is bad Know the rules and consequences of bullying Know the rewards of stopping bullying

– Positive Office Referral to Mr. Eckert or Officer Menth

Know how to help and get help– Tell a teacher and parent– “Out of trouble instead of in trouble”

What will the teachers do?

Review “Bullying Rules” regularly. Create classrooms that are safe and positive Intervene quickly and firmly with bullies

– “Stop Signs”

Report bullying to the office and parents.– Keep track of the who, what, where, when, + how

Reward those that help end bullying.– Positive Office Referral to Mr. Eckert or Officer Menth

School Rules Against BullyingQuiz

We will not bully others. We will try to help students who are bullied. We will make it a point to include students

who are easily left out. When we know someone is being bullied, we

will tell an adult at school and an adult at home.

The End…of Bullying

Any questions?

The Cone of OISM

Academic Systems Behavioral Systems

Adapted from OSEP Effective School-Wide Interventions

5-10% Targeted Interventions

5-10% Targeted Interventions

1-5% Intensive Individualized

Interventions

1-5% Intensive Individualized

Interventions

80-90% School-Wide Interventions

80-90% School-Wide Interventions

Decisions about tiers of support are data-based

The Cone of Bullying

Victims Bullies

Adapted from OSEP Effective School-Wide Interventions

5-10% Targeted Interventions

5-10% Targeted Interventions

1-5% Intensive Individualized

Interventions

1-5% Intensive Individualized

Interventions

80-90% School-Wide Interventions

80-90% School-Wide Interventions

Decisions about tiers of support are data-based

Bullying Survey StatisticsBad News

110 students surveyed How well do you get along with students at this school?

– 2 “Usually Not Well,” 15 “About Half,” Have you ever been bullied this year?

– 27 said “Yes” How often does bullying occur?

– 33 were hit or threatened– 55 were called names– 31 were deliberately left out

How have you felt about being bullied?– 33 were “bothered by it” or “greatly upset”

Do you feel safe from bullies at this school?– 30 “feel safe halftime,” “don’t always feel safe,” or “never feel safe”

Could you use some help to stop the bullying?– 37 “Unsure”

Bullying Survey StatisticsGood News

110 students surveyed How well do you get along with students at this school?

– 19 “Always Well,” 69 “Usually Well” Have you ever been bullied this year?

– 84 said “No” How often does bullying occur?

– More than 84 were not hit or threatened– More than 84 were not called names– More than 84 were not deliberately left out

Do you feel safe from bullies at this school?– 41 “always feel safe,” 35 “usually feel safe”

Could you use some help to stop the bullying?– 43 said “Yes” and 23 said “No”