Powerpoint
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 84 th 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 4 th 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 selfconfidence
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
Projectionpsychological 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
Reluctance to attend school or peer-centered activities at school.
Unexplainable drop in academic performance
Torn clothing
Headaches, stomachaches, or other unexplainable illnesses.
Waking frequently, sleeping more than normal, or other changes in sleep patterns.
Avoiding peers and social groupings at school.
Avoiding the school cafeteria or playground.
Avoiding extracurricular activities.
Loss of interest in activities formerly enjoyed.
Sad and depressed demeanor.
Reluctance to walk to or from school.
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 people.
Doesn’t care whether others’ feelings are hurt.
Shows a disrespect for authority.
Shows a fascination with neo-
Nazism or racial supremacy.
Shows disrespect for the opposite sex.
Makes jokes about rape or other violence against women.
Enjoys fighting.
Believes “everything should go my way”.
Won’t admit mistakes.
Lies frequently to get out of trouble.
Thinks rules are stupid.
Deliberately hurts pets or other animals.
Believes other people aren’t to be trusted.
Refuses to admit fear.
Uses anger to get what he/she 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.
