Steps to Respect: A Bullying Preven6on Program May 17th, 2012 PTO Presenta6on Presenter: Mary Jo Kacvinsky Scope of the Problem •  Up to 500,000 children stay home from school at least once a month due to bullying. •  60% of students who bully will have a criminal record by age 24. •  Teachers no6ce and intervene in only 1 out of 25 episodes. •  Bullying happens once every 7 minutes. •  10-­‐20% are chronic targets of bullying. •  Research shows that children witness 85%-­‐90% of school bullying incidents. Why Steps to Respect? •  Research-­‐based bullying preven6on program for grades 3-­‐5 developed by the CommiVee for Children. •  Creates adult awareness and monitoring, enhances pro-­‐social behaviors and teaches social-­‐emo6onal skills. •  Dual focus on bullying awareness and friendship skills. •  Teaches skills to children in order to regain power through asser6ve strategies while maintaining dignity. •  Separates the behavior from the child. Doesn t use words such as bully/vic6m but rather person who bullies and person being bullied. History of Steps to Respect in District 196 •  In Spring of 2008, a Sprint Character Educa6on Grant was received to purchase the curriculum for Steps to Respect and Second Step. •  Social Workers were trained on the curriculum and helped with implementa6on. •  Na6onal Dep t. of Educa6on named STR as One of the Ten that Work preven6on programs. What We Learned •  Offers common language across the district. •  Provides social skills training. •  Brings a deeper awareness of bullying issues and teaches an6-­‐bullying skills. •  Builds rela6onships between students, staff, and parents. Steps to Respect defini6on of bullying
Bullying is unfair and one-­‐sided. It happens when someone keeps hur6ng, frightening, threatening, or leaving someone out on purpose. Steps to Respect Asks: Is it fair? Is it one-­‐sided? Is someone using their power in a huraul way? How does it feel? Types of Bullying •  Face to Face easily recognized, the person being bullied knows that it is happening •  Behind the Back Bullying less obvious, the person being bullied may not know it is happening or who is doing it •  Cyber Bullying happens through technology like computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices The 3 Rs
TaVling versus Repor6ng •  Repor6ng is telling an adult in order to keep people safe •  TaVling is trying to get people in trouble Bystander Power Teaches •  To be part of the solu6on not part of the problem. •  Applying steps of refusing bullying to stop others from being bullied. •  Don t watch bullying; help or seek help. Asser6veness Skills •
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Get calm. Stand straight and tall. Look at the person you are speaking to. Say what you mean in a strong, clear, respecaul voice. An6-­‐bullying efforts need to be a partnership between schools, parents and community. What Can Parents Do? •  Listen to your child. Take what your child says seriously, and don t minimize the problem. •  Assure your child that he/she is not to blame. •  Help your child avoid responding in ways that reward bullying behavior. Explain that people who bully are oeen hoping to get a certain reac6on. •  Foster an atmosphere of kindness and concern towards others and property. Instruct your child not to fight back. •  Teach child to respond with an asser6ve response such as Stop! That s bullying. Role play situa6ons with your child to prac6ce. With your Child s School you can…. •  Partner with your school •  Advise your child to report all bullying situa6ons to an adult at school. •  Read the parent informa6on related to bullying. •  Learn more informa6on at www.cfchildren.org www.dontlaugh.org www.bullying.org If a child doesn t know how to read, we teach. If a child doesn t know how to swim, we teach. If a child doesn t know how to mul6ply, we teach. If a child doesn t know how to drive, we teach. If a child doesn t know how to behave, we… Teach? Or Punish? (Herner. 1998) Ques6ons or Comments