Bullying

 in  Schools  
 
National  Association  of  School  Psychologists      (http://www.nasponline.org/resources/factsheets/bullying_fs.aspx)  
• Most  common  form  of  violence:  Between  15%  and  30%  of  students  are  bullies  or  victims.  
• A  recent  report  from  the  AMA  on  a  study  of  over  15,000  6th-­‐10th  graders  estimates  that  approximately  3.7  
million  youths  engage  in,  and  more  than  3.2  million  are  victims  of,  moderate  or  serious  bullying  each  year.  
• Between  1994  and  1999,  there  were  253  violent  deaths  in  school,  51  casualties  were  the  result  of  multiple  
death  events.    Bullying  is  often  a  factor  in  school  related  deaths.  
• Direct,  physical  bullying  increases  in  elementary  school,  peaks  in  middle  school  and  declines  in  high  school.    
Verbal  abuse,  on  the  other  hand,  remains  constant.    The  U.S.  Department  of  Justice  reports  that  younger  
students  are  more  likely  to  be  bullied  than  older  students.  
• Over  two-­‐thirds  of  students  believe  that  schools  respond  poorly  to  bullying,  with  a  high  percentage  of  
students  believing  that  adult  help  is  infrequent  and  ineffective.  
• 25%  of  teachers  see  nothing  wrong  with  bullying  or  putdowns  and  consequently  intervene  in  only  4%  of  
bullying  incidents.  
 
According  to  the  CDC:    Approximately  30%  of  students  in  grades  6-­‐10  report  moderate  or  frequent  involvement  
in  bullying,  as  a  victim  (11%),  perpetrator  (13%),  or  both  (6%).  Bullying  victimization  is  associated  with  
depression,(9)  suicidal  ideation,(9)  increased  odds  of  repeated  common  health  problems,  school  absenteeism,  
psychological  distress,  and  feeling  unsafe  at  school  
 
 
According  to  the  U.S.  Department  of  Justice  (www.cops.usdoj.gov/pdf/e12011405.pdf)  
&  Olweus  (http://www.olweus.org/public/bullying.page)    
 
The  definition  for  bullying  includes  three  important  components:    
1.  Bullying  is  aggressive  behavior  that  involves  unwanted,  negative  actions.  
2.  Bullying  involves  a  pattern  of  behavior  repeated  over  time.  
3.  Bullying  involves  an  imbalance  of  power  or  strength.    
 
Different  types/forms  include:  verbal,  physical,  racial,  sexual  harassment,  ostracism,  cyber,  social  exclusion/isolation,  
lies/false  rumors,  taking  and/or  destroying  another’s  property,  coercion,  hazing.  
 
Why  students  bully  suggests  three  interrelated  reasons:  
1.  Students  who  bully  have  strong  needs  for  power  and  (negative)  dominance.  
2.  Students  who  bully  find  satisfaction  in  causing  injury  and  suffering  to  other  students.  
3.  Students  who  bully  are  often  rewarded  in  some  way  for  their  behavior  with  material  or  psychological  
rewards.    
 
http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/bully/bully_toc.htm  
 
Research  indicates  schools  that  emphasize  enforcement  and  punishment  measures  to  respond  to  aggression  and  
violence  are  ineffective.  
More  than  10  years  ago,  Harvard  University  convened  international  experts  on  school  violence  and  bullying  to  study  
prevention  strategies.  Sponsored  by  the  National  School  Safety  Center  and  the  Federal  Office  of  Juvenile  Justice,  
Delinquency  and  Prevention,  the  practicum  included  prominent  researchers,  mental  health  professionals,  and  school  
and  law  enforcement  personnel.  This  effort  resulted  in  the  development  of  a  list  of  services,  strategies,  and  
suggested  training  classes  for  addressing  bullying.  It  also  led  to  the  recommendation  that  schools  provide:  
 
• Rules  against  bullying  that  are  publicized,  posted  school-­‐wide,  and  accompanied  by  consistent  sanctions  
• Student  and  adult  mentors  who  assist  victims  to  build  self-­‐esteem  and  to  foster  mutual  understanding  of  
and  appreciation  for  differences  in  others  
• A  "buddy  system"  that  pairs  students  with  a  particular  friend  or  an  older  student  who  is  aware  of  the  
buddy's  class  schedule  and  is  available  if  help  is  needed  
 Bullying  in  Schools  
• An  on-­‐campus  parents'  center  to  recruit  parents  to  participate  in  the  educational  process,  volunteer,  and  
assist  in  school  projects  and  activities  
• Parenting  and  anger  management  classes  for  adults  
• Behavior  contracts  signed  by  students  and  parents,  and  written  behavior  codes  for  students,  teachers,  and  
staff  members  
• Discipline  policies  that  emphasize  positive  behaviors  rather  than  punishments  for  wrong  behaviors  
• Training  for  all  adult  supervisors  in  cafeterias,  playgrounds,  or  other  "hot  spots"  where  bullying  is  known  to  
occur  
• Classroom  and  school-­‐wide  activities  designed  to  build  self-­‐esteem  (for  those  who  are  bullied)  by  
spotlighting  special  talents,  hobbies,  interests,  and  abilities  of  all  students  
 
Prevention  Programs  that  work  
 
The  Olweus  Bullying  Prevention  Program  
Dan  Olweus,  considered  by  most  to  be  the  pioneer  in  bullying  research,  developed  the  first  research  study  in  Norway  in  1970,  
which  served  as  the  basis  for  this  prevention  program.  He  has  continued  to  refine  and  expand  his  contribution  to  research  on  
bullying.  In  the  1990s,  he  began  working  with  two  professors  at  Clemson  University  who  conducted  the  first  evaluation  study  of  
his  prevention  program  in  the  United  States.  The  Bullying  Prevention  Program  has  been  identified  as  a  Model  Program  by  
SAMHSA  and  by  the  U.S.  Department  of  Justice's  Office  of  Juvenile  Justice  Delinquency  Prevention  and  by  the  Center  for  the  
Study  and  Prevention  of  Violence  (CSPV),  University  of  Colorado.  Details  of  this  program  can  also  be  found  at  SAMHSA's  Model  
Programs  Web  site.    
 
Bully  Proofing  Your  School  
The  Bully  Proofing  Your  School  Program  was  developed  in  Colorado  in  1996.  It  is  designed  to  work  in  elementary  and  middle  
school  settings.  The  program  is  a  comprehensive  school  climate  program  designed  to  create  a  safe  and  caring  school  
community  by  shifting  the  power  away  from  bullies  and  into  the  hands  of  the  caring  majority  of  students.  
 
BullySafe  USA  
BullySafe  USA  is  a  comprehensive  program  that  offers  common  terminology,  concepts,  and  strategies  for  bullying  prevention  
and  intervention  for  students,  educators,  parents,  and  community  leaders.  
 
The  Don't  Laugh  at  Me  Program  (DLAM)  
DLAM  is  a  program  out  of  Operation  Respect,  Inc.,  that  is  working  to  transform  schools  into  more  compassionate,  safe,  and  
respectful  places.  The  program  was  founded  by  Peter  Yarrow  of  the  music  group  Peter,  Paul  and  Mary  in  collaboration  with  
Educators  for  a  Social  Responsibility.  It  is  designed  to  reduce  the  emotional  and  physical  cruelty  children  can  inflict  on  one  
another,  often  in  the  form  of  ridicule,  bullying,  and  sometimes  violence.  
 
Peaceful  Schools  Project/Menninger  Clinic  
The  Peaceful  Schools  Project,  created  and  run  by  the  Menninger  Foundation's  Child  and  Family  Center  in  Houston,  Texas,  
focuses  only  on  the  elementary  level  grades  (K-­‐5).  The  program  also  includes  a  research  component  that  is  examining  the  
results  of  antibullying  efforts.  
 
Promoting  Alternative  Thinking  Strategies  (PATHS)  
This  curriculum  is  a  comprehensive  program  for  promoting  emotional  and  social  competencies  and  reducing  aggression  in  
elementary  school-­‐age  children.  The  program  is  designed  to  be  used  in  a  multiyear  format  by  teachers  and  counselors.  
 
Safe  Culture  Project  
This  bullying  prevention  program  is  originally  from  Iowa,  but  has  been  implemented  in  States  from  Maine  to  California.  
 
Steps  To  Respect  Program  
The  Steps  To  Respect  Program  is  a  bullying  prevention  curriculum  designed  to  decrease  bullying  at  a  school  and  help  students  
build  more  supportive  relationships  with  one  another.  The  program's  dual  focus  is  based  on  the  research  showing  that  
friendships  help  protect  children  from  the  harm  of  bullying.