Bullying Issues for parents

							Bullying Issues     Act 681 of 2003




             Northwest Arkansas Child Care
              Resource & Referral Center
               614 E. Emma, Suite # 135
                  Springdale, AR 72764
                      479-751-3463
                www.nwachildcare.org
                 www.parenting-ed.org
             cthornto@jtlshop.jonesnet.org


             Carolene Thornton Ed.D
Bullying is


Repeated hurtful behavior by one or
 more persons toward another person
 or persons
BULLYING Behaviors:

 Bullying behavior may include:
  physical,
  verbal,
  written and/or
  emotional abuse
  intended to be intimidating
  threatening
  harmful to another person.
    Bullying occurs whenever
 one or more persons enjoys using
power to repeatedly and consistently
               harm
        one or more people.
           ACT 681
In 2003 the 84th General Assembly of the
 Arkansas State Legislature enacted House Bill
 #2274 as Act 681 of 2003
  Requires every school to adopt anti-bullying
   policies.
  Requires publishing notice of the policy.
  Requires mandatory reporting.
  Recommends staff training.
  Requires filing of policy with ADE.
Anti-Bullying Policy Required

Every school and school district is required to
 adopt an anti-bullying policy including:

  A definition of bullying,
  Age appropriate consequences,
  A plan for publishing the policy,
  Provide training
Policy to be Posted

Bullying posters and consequences must be posted in
 every:

   Classroom
   Cafeteria
   Restroom
   Gymnasium
   Auditorium
   School Bus
Policy Notification

In addition, copies of this policy are to be
 given to:

  Parents
  Students
  School Volunteers
  School Employees
Mandatory Reporting

All school employees must report any incident
 of bullying.
All incidents of bullying are to be reported to
 the school principal.
The employee is immune from tort liability.
Training

The local school board may provide
 opportunities for school employees to
 participate in programs or other activities
 designed to develop the knowledge and skills
 to prevent and respond to acts covered by this
 policy.
District Required to File

The school district must file a copy of their
 policies with the Arkansas Department of
 Education.

  The Department of Education must review the
   policy and may make recommendations for
   changes or improvements.
To be Considered Bullying:

There must be:
 Repeated and consistent negative actions.

 Imbalance of power between the child who
 bullies and the target child.

 Contrasting feelings between the child who
 bullies and the target child as a result of the
 bullying.
4 Types of Bullying

            Physical

            Verbal

            Relational

            Cyber-Bullying
PHYSICAL


 Physical bullies hurt people and/or damage
  property.
VERBAL
 Verbal bullies use humiliation and insulting
 comments
RELATIONAL

 Relational bullies (often girls) influence
  their peers to reject or exclude another child.

Example:
  The movie: Mean Girls
CYBER-BULLYING

Using technology to:
    * Threaten
    * Intimidate
    * Scare
    * Gossip
    * Rumor
    * Demean
    * Harass
Recent Bully Research

Research suggests
 today that bullies
 tend to have:

Inflated self esteem
Need to feel powerful
Family history
Who are the Victims?

Research studies have indicated that 1 in every 10
 students are regularly harassed or hurt by bullies.

A survey reflected that 87% of the 4th graders
 responding to a survey had been bullied.

An ‘unscientific’ survey by a local northwest
 Arkansas educator found similar results.
Anti-Bullying Programs

 We encourage all school districts to develop
  and implement a school-wide bullying
  program.
 Some suggested curriculum and books;
  Second Step
  BullyProofing Your Schools
  The Bully Free Classroom
  Set Straight on Bullies (video)
How to Identify a Problem

 How do you know if bullying is a
  problem?
  Ask the students
  Perform a survey
  Have the students write essays
  Put up a suggestion box
  Use ‘silent’ complaint forms
     MYTHS about Bullying

 All bullying is physical.
 Bullying is just playing around.
 Bullying is normal peer conflict.
 Bullying is only a boy’s issue.
 Bullying has no lasting effects.
 Bullying behavior is seen only in children.
 Being bullied toughens you up.
Bullying Bystander:
Implied Approval; The Silent Majority


 Why do children
   allow others to
   bully?
Fear of being targeted
Feel helpless
Entertaining
How Bullying Affects the
Target Child
 Low self-
 confidence
 Fear
 Depression
 Revenge
Possible Future Problems
for the target child

                        Academic Problems


                       Social Isolation

                       Mental Health Issues

                       Substance Abuse

                       Clinical Depression
How does Bullying Behavior
Affect the Bully?

 Violence

 Manipulation

 Low Self Confidence


Projection-
  psychological defense of one’s
  own unwanted characteristics.
Possible Future Problems
for the child who Bullies


                             Academic Problems

                             Vocational Difficulties

                             Social Isolation

                             Legal Problems

                             Violence and Crime
  Warning Signs that Your Child is
      the Target of Bullying

 Any change in normal behavior     Avoiding peers and social
 Reluctance to attend school or     groupings at school.
  peer-centered activities at       Avoiding the school cafeteria or
  school.                            playground.
 Unexplainable drop in             Avoiding extracurricular
  academic performance               activities.
 Torn clothing                     Loss of interest in activities
 Headaches, stomachaches, or        formerly enjoyed.
  other unexplainable illnesses.    Sad and depressed demeanor.
 Waking frequently, sleeping       Reluctance to walk to or from
  more than normal, or other         school.
  changes in sleep patterns.        Reluctance to talk about what’s
                                     happening at school.
What Teachers of Target
Children Can Do to Help
           Teachers must be:
           Accessible
           Trustworthy
           Calm
           Listen
           Provide supervision
           Be supportive
           Accept the student’s feelings
           Role play responses
           Help them determine
            possible solutions.
Reporting Bullying

All school employees must report any bullying
 incidences to the school principal.

School employees cannot be sued for
 reporting
    Practice
 Brainstorming
    Solutions
with the Students
  When Should Parents Contact the School?


 When you’ve worked with
  him/her at home, but the
  problem remains serious
 when his/her academic
  performance is failing.
 when he/she is physically
  threatened.
 When the child seems to
  be depressed
            Contacting the School

Gather as much information about the bullying
 episodes as possible.
Schedule a meeting to discuss the problem with
 the teacher, counselor, and/or administrator.
Develop an action plan.
Put the plan into action.
Have a follow up meeting to evaluate the action
 plan and discuss changes in behavior.
     Warning Signs Your
   Student/Child is a Bully
 Enjoys putting down other        Believes “everything should go
  people.                           my way”.
 Doesn’t care whether others’     Won’t admit mistakes.
  feelings are hurt.               Lies frequently to get out of
 Shows a disrespect for            trouble.
  authority.                       Thinks rules are stupid.
 Shows a fascination with neo-    Deliberately hurts pets or other
  Nazism or racial supremacy.       animals.
 Shows disrespect for the         Believes other people aren’t to
  opposite sex.                     be trusted.
 Makes jokes about rape or        Refuses to admit fear.
  other violence against women.    Uses anger to get what he/she
 Enjoys fighting.                  wants.
                                   Has an attitude of superiority
                                    over other children.
   What Teachers / Parents of
        Bullies Can Do?

Teach your child/student to care about others.

Teach your child/student to be a peacemaker.

Teach your child/student to be responsible.

Know when to seek professional help.
Teach Your Students/Child
  to Care About Others
              Ask your children how they
               feel.
              Provide unconditional love.
              Focus on similarities and
               discuss differences between
               your child and others.
              Refuse to laugh at cruel or
               demeaning jokes.
              Be kind.
              Show kindness to animals.
              Follow the Golden Rule.
 Teach Your Students/Child
   to be a Peacemaker
Use respectful
 discipline techniques.

Use healing words
  “Thank you”
  “I love you”
  “I forgive you”
Teach Your Students/Child
    to be Responsible
              Have a positive attitude.
              Be a model of honesty at all
               times.
              Provide good supervision.
              Be cooperative and
               supportive.
              Admit your mistakes.
              Empower your children to
               determine the classroom
               rules.
              Role model good behavior.
       Bullying Can be Stopped if We

Learn to identify the problem
Intervene effectively
Build self esteem
Teach problem-solving skills in children who are
 targeted by bullying.
Encourage empathy, responsibility, and kindness in
 children who bully.
Recognize and change insidious social myths about
 bullying.
Take positive steps that will make more confident,
 better-behaved children to build a happier future.
When do You Contact a
Therapist?

  When you see serious
   signs of:
    Depression
    Anxiety
    Post-Traumatic Syndrome
When do You Contact the
Legal Authorities?
Ask yourself the
 question:


  Has a
   delinquent
   act been
   committed?
   Know When to Seek
    Professional Help
If your child’s serious behavior problems
    continue despite your best efforts,
    professional help may be necessary

   Encourage parents to contact a:
               Psychologist
               Social Worker
               Psychiatrist
     Feel Safe and Secure

Every student/child has a right to a safe
 school.
Free to learn without threats, aggression or
 intimidation.