Creating a Safe Environment
for LGBT Youth: Education and
Tools for Bullying Prevention in
the Schools
LGBT Advocacy: Finding the Road in Indiana
October 28, 2011
Mary Yoder Holsopple
Bullying Prevention Coordinator
Elkhart Community Schools
Why bother?
The National Education Association estimates
that 160,000 students miss school every day
because of fear of attack or intimidation by a
bully. That totals 28 million school days per
year.
Source: Northwest Indiana News: nwitimes.com 1/30/06
The “plan”
1.Clearly define bullying—do you know it
when you see it?
2.Children at risk
3.Myths, motivation, risk factors
4.Prevention principles and best practices
for creating a safe environment
5.Bullying circle
6.Conversation
Olweus Definition of Bullying:
“Bullying is when someone
repeatedly and on purpose says or
does mean or hurtful things to
another person who has a hard
time defending himself or herself.”
Three Key Components of
Bullying Behavior
1. Involves an aggressive behavior
2. Typically involves a pattern of
behavior repeated over time
3. Imbalance of power or strength
5
Types of
Bullying
• Direct--Hitting, taunting, name calling
• Indirect—Rumors, exclusion,
cyber bullying
6
Distinguishing Among…
• Bullying
• Rough-andTumble Play
• Real Fighting
7
If it looks mean, if it sounds
mean, intervene…
BULLYING = PEER ABUSE
9
Children at Higher Risk of
Being Bullied:
• Children with disabilities, special needs,
and health problems
• Children who are obese
• Children who are lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender, or who are questioning
their identities (GLBTQ)
Gay bashing
• The typical high school student
hears anti-gay slurs 25.5 times a
day.
• Ten second intervention
Ten Second Intervention
“I heard that.
It’s not appropriate.
Don’t say it again.”
12
Common Myths About
Children who Bully
• “Children who bully are loners.”
• “Children who bully have low selfesteem.”
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
Why is it important to
address bullying in schools?
1. For students and their futures
2. For a healthy school climate
3. For the larger community
4. For the purposes of risk
management for schools
5. It’s a wise investment
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
14
Ultimately...
It’s a question of
rights.
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
15
Group Mechanisms in Bullying
• Social contagion
• Weakening inhibitions against
aggression
• A decreased sense of individual
responsibility
• Gradual changes in the view of
bullied student(s)
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
16
School Risk Factors
for Problems of Bullying
• Lack of supervision
during breaks
• Students have
indifferent or
accepting attitudes
• Staff have indifferent or accepting
attitudes towards bullying
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
17
Misdirections in Bullying
Prevention and Intervention
•
•
•
•
Simple, short-term solutions
“Program du jour approaches”
Group treatment for children who bully
Anger management or self-esteem
enhancement for children who bully
• Zero tolerance policies for bullying
• Mediation/conflict resolution to resolve
bullying issues
• Selecting inappropriate supplemental
materials
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
18
Prevention Principles That Work
1. Warmth, positive interest, and
involvement are needed on the part of
adults in school.
2. Set firm limits to unacceptable
behavior.
3. Consistently use nonphysical,
nonhostile negative consequences when
rules are broken.
4. Adults in the school should act as
authorities and positive role models.
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
19
Implications of Key Principles
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Adults are responsible
Clear and consistent message
Short and long-term focus
Follow model with fidelity
Bullying prevention becomes part
of everyday life at school
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
20
Implications of Key Principles
6. Student involvement in changing
climate
7. Student learning about bullying
8. Bully prevention is NOT peer
mediation or conflict resolution
9. Bully prevention is not a classroom
management technique
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
21
Best Practices
Focus on the social environment of the
school
Assess bullying at your school
Obtain staff and parent buy-in and
support for bullying prevention
Best Practices continued
Form a group to coordinate the school’s
bullying prevention activities.
Provide training for school staff in
bullying prevention
Establish and enforce school rules and
policies related to bullying
Best Practices continued
Increase adult supervision in “hot spots”
for bullying
Intervene consistently and appropriately
when you see bullying
Devote class time to bullying prevention
Continue these efforts
What Roles Do Students Play In
Bullying Situations?
A
Start the
bullying and
take an active
part
Take an active
part, but do
not start
the bullying
B
Students Who Bully
Defenders
Student
Who Is
Bullied
Followers
G
Dislike the bullying,
help or try to help
the bullied student
H
The one who is being
bullied
Support the
bullying, but
do not take
an active part
C
Like the bullying,
but do not display
open support
Supporters
D
Possible
Defenders
Passive
Supporters
Disengaged
Onlookers
F
Dislike the bullying
and think they
ought to help, but
don’t do it
E
Watch what happens, don’t take a stand
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
25
Let’s talk about it
• Where on the Bully Circle are most of
the students in your school?
• How can you help the bystander become
a helpful defender?
Why Adults
Don’t Always
Intervene:
• Have difficulty recognizing bullying
• Fail to recognize the importance of
intervening
• Uncertain how best to intervene
• Lack of time
© The Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2007
27
Let’s talk about it
• Given what we learned from
Graham’s presentation and what we
now know about best practices in
bullying prevention, how can we
create a safe environment for
LGBT Youth?
For more information
www.stopbullying.gov
www.olweus.org
www.clemson.edu/olweus
www.stopbullyingworld.org
Mary Yoder Holsopple
Bullying Prevention Coordinator
Elkhart Community Schools
201 West Wolf Street
Elkhart, IN 46516
574-295-4840
mholsopple@elkhart.k12.in.us
sources
• Some power point slides from training slides provided
by the Olweus Bullying Prevention Group, 2004 &
2007, 2009 as noted.
• www.stopbullyingworld.org
• www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov
• Davis, Stan Schools Where Everyone Belongs,
Research Press, 2007
• Williard, Nancy cyberbullying and cyberthreats,
Research Press, 2007