Bullying in Schools© J.A. Gilmer CJS 380

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WHAT CJS 380 RECOMMENDED

INCREASE THE EFFORT INCREASE THE RISKS REDUCE THE REWARDS REDUCE PROVOCATIONS REMOVE EXCUSESHarden targets Extend guardianship Conceal targets Reduce frustration/stress Set rulesFind places where most bullying takes place

Buddies List the rules & punishments

Assess surroundings of problem areas

Escorts No bully policy in/out of school, by principalstudent sign 'no bully' policy

Control access to facilities Assist natural surveillance Remove targets Avoid disputes Post instructionsStagger access to rest room or lockers

design natual watchable spaces Advertise where & how victims report

lighting and remove lockersScreen exits Reduce anonymity Identify property Reduce emotional arousal Alert conscience

anonymous award program Signs around schoolSchool meeting on bullyingLetter to parents

Deflect offenders Utilize place managers Disrupt markets Neutralize peer pressure Assist complianceclose 'cubby holes' Teachers or staff walk-throughs

in halls, other problem areasPre-pay lunch monthly In-school service activities

Alter student routes by segregating younger students

student monitors (older, more responsible)

Parent-student conferences

cheap/fake cameraswalkie-talkies

Control weapons/tools Strengthen formal surveillance Deny benefits Disourage imitation Control alcohol/drugsPatrol bully hotspotsinvest in forms of surveillance

In the News

President Obama & the First Lady: Conference on Bullying Prevention The President and First Lady Michelle Obama discuss how we can all

work together to end bullying as an accepted practice and create a safer environment for our kids to grow up in.

White House Conference on Bullying Prevention materials Legislature Spotlights Bullying in Schools

Texas: currently more than 15 antibullying bills filed in the Legislature this session

Schools are failing to keep students safe Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney's

Office recently reached an agreement with the School District of Philadelphia to address reports of severe, pervasive bullying of Asian American students at South Philadelphia High School

Watch video here

The Problem Bullying – in general [from POP Guide No. 12 (2002)

] Is widespread and perhaps the most underreported

safety problem on American school campuses▪ 10 to 29 percent of students reported to be either bullies

or victims Has long-lasting harmful effects, for both the

victim and the bully Occurs more often at school than on the way to

and from. Occurs most frequently during elementary school,

and slightly less often in middle schools.

What Constitutes Bullying Bullying has two key components:

repeated harmful acts an imbalance of power

Bullying behaviors includes assault, tripping, intimidation, rumor-spreading and isolation, demands for money, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, destruction of another's work, and name-calling.

Also sexual harassment ostracism based on perceived sexual orientation; and hazing.

Reluctance To Report Most students do not report bullying to adults Teachers may underestimate extent of bullying and

can identify only a portion of the actual bullies Reasons for underreporting

Fear retaliation Victims feel ashamed Believe teachers won’t intervene or confidence that

things will change if they do Believe telling parents or teaches will make matters

worse Don’t want to be a snitch

Student-witness role central in creating bullying opportunities

In each bullying act, there is: a victim the ringleader bully assistant bullies (join in) reinforcers (provide an audience or

laugh with or encourage the bully) outsiders (stay away or take no sides),

and defenders (step in, stick up for or

comfort the victim)

Bullying Behavior More often at school than on the way to/from Boys are more likely to bully than girls

Boys bully both boys and girls Tend to rely on physical aggression (direct bullying);

Girl bullies Mainly bully girls Often use teasing, rumor-spreading, exclusion, and

social isolation (indirect bullying) Bullies have other peers involved about half the

time Racial/religious bullying about 25%, 8% frequently

Characteristics of Bullies

Aggressive (parents physically punish/violent)

Dominant (with low empathy) Slightly below average in intelligence

and reading ability (by middle school)

At least of average popularity (most studies)

Poor social skills (compensation) Young bullies tend to remain bullies,

without appropriate intervention

Incidents of Bullying

Occurs most often where adult supervision is low or absent: In schoolyards, cafeterias, bathrooms,

hallways, on busses Classroom bullying may have more to do

with the classroom management techniques a teacher uses

Cyber-bullies can operate anonymously and harm a wide audience

Victims of Bullying

Most victims in the same class or year as bully 30% bully is older; 10% bully is younger

Victims often (not always) smaller and weaker than their peers Nonassertive, socially incompetent

Having friends reduces chance of victimization

Chronic victims: 6% of 10% of school age children

Consequences of Bullying

Psychological and/or physical distress

Chronic absence, low concentration Low self-esteem, can lead to

depression Physical health problems for chronic

victims

Effective Strategies: General

Specific Responses

Specific Responses

Operation Mullion (Tilley Award Winner) Hampshire Constabulary

Issue 1 Assaults / Bullying within schoolThe partnerships biggest concern, especially in the light of media publicity, was bullying. Over a 2-year period assaults within Mayfield reported to police had increased from 4 to 18 a year. All occurred during school hours and 17 were student on student related. The culture in the school between students appeared to be that bullying was accepted. A majority of the incidents reported were as a result of retaliation between students for some misunderstanding or confusion or tended to be related to long-term arguments. As bullying had become accepted within the society as the “norm,” many more incidents were occurring and going unreported due to a lack of confidence in the situation being managed effectively. Belief created an environment that allowed a bullying culture to flourish.

The Underlying Causes appeared to be: Bullying between children and acceptance of this as the norm.Lack of confidence in school reporting procedures.Lack of appropriate rule setting.

Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour and Crime in and around Mayfield School

Link to full report

Partnership ResponseBest Practice in dealing with bullying is already in place … were analysed and in partnership consultation, a suitable Policy was drawn up by the school. This policy was then implemented by:Advertising a “No Bullying Campaign” throughout the School.Posters in corridors with names and contact details of key individuals.Information available on the School website.Adopting a Multi-agency approach to dealing with incidents.Students encouraged to report bullying.Counselling services for perpetrators.Appropriate rule setting, set up and maintained.Mentors utilised from existing school council and support put in place for victims.

This had a profound effect on the reporting of incidents. The confidence of the students in the School processes and the Police improved. Reporting of incidents rose dramatically and with it our relationship with the students blossomed. We became an intrinsic part of the procedures of discipline. The school invited us to case conferences and re-integration meetings to work with individual students. This role has developed and we are now regularly involved in many of these situations. It also became accepted that Police were visiting the school to work with staff and students, and the students became more receptive to us.

Assessment

Overall crime in Mayfield School reduced 36% savings of in cost police

investigations of school crime (£4800) Reported assaults increased by 100% in

first year of program Staff and students interviews revealed that

students appeared to trust and understand the systems available

Reduced in following year to below pre-program levels

HOW DID WE DO? WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?

INCREASE THE EFFORT INCREASE THE RISKS REDUCE THE REWARDS REDUCE PROVOCATIONS REMOVE EXCUSESHarden targets Extend guardianship Conceal targets Reduce frustration/stress Set rulesFind places where most bullying takes place

Buddies List the rules & punishments

Assess surroundings of problem areas

Escorts No bully policy in/out of school, by principalstudent sign 'no bully' policy

Control access to facilities Assist natural surveillance Remove targets Avoid disputes Post instructionsStagger access to rest room or lockers

design natual watchable spaces Advertise where & how victims report

lighting and remove lockersScreen exits Reduce anonymity Identify property Reduce emotional arousal Alert conscience

anonymous award program Signs around schoolSchool meeting on bullyingLetter to parents

Deflect offenders Utilize place managers Disrupt markets Neutralize peer pressure Assist complianceclose 'cubby holes' Teachers or staff walk-throughs

in halls, other problem areasPre-pay lunch monthly In-school service activities

Alter student routes by segregating younger students

student monitors (older, more responsible)

Parent-student conferences

cheap/fake cameraswalkie-talkies

Control weapons/tools Strengthen formal surveillance Deny benefits Disourage imitation Control alcohol/drugsPatrol bully hotspotsinvest in forms of surveillance