In another tragic story about teenagers who want to die for being victims of bullying, two fourteen-year-old Minnesota girls were found hanging on April 16, 2011. The bullying, according to their mothers Haylee Fentress and Paige Moravetz, was mostly done through Facebook and text messaging. Haylee’s family members said that her peers made fun of her weight and red hair. The parents of these teenagers had no idea that it would end like this. So who is to blame? School? Parents bullies? In the middle? The better question is… How do we stop it? Schools and families must teach tolerance, starting at a young age and continuing through high school.
Many schools tout “zero-tolerance” for bullying, but lack clear definitions for policies that constitute bullying, clear consequences to be implemented, or implementation of programs that deter bullying behavior. Programs such as Olweus BULLying Prevention Program or Committee for Children Second Grade< / i> and Steps to Respect can be used to promote positive schools by fostering an environment of respect, inclusion and safety. Such programs could reduce bullying and other negative peer interactions, while improving students’ social, friendship, and disengagement skills. Similar programs already exist in many schools. The problem is that it is not used consistently.
Districts and school administrators generally do not mandate or recommend the use of positive behavior programs. Some administrators advise teachers to use them “for work.” The prevalence of bullying, suicides, and school shootings tell us that we need to be more proactive. But in the defense of teachers there is already too much to teach, and not enough time. Factor in dwindling resources and expanded class sizes and it seems even less possible. However, as little as 10-15 minutes of direct instruction on conflict-resolution, respect, tolerance and other social skills would go a long way a way to improve the school climate
Children and adolescents who are typically PROUD do it for these reasons: they have a strong need for power and dominance; they satisfy in others the loss and torture; or they feel rewarded in some way for their behavior with material or psychological rewards. Bullies are often students who get into other trouble, such as fights, theft, vandalism, poor grades, but they can also be happy, athletic, or otherwise seemingly well-behaved, well-adjusted students. Dan Olweus identifies these nine types of bullying;
1. verbal abuse including derogatory comments and bad names
2. Bullying in social exclusion or isolation
3. Physical bullying such as hitting, kicking, shoving and spitting
4. Harassment in lies and false rumours
5 money or other things taken or damaged by the students PROBUS
6. Being threatened or forced to do things by students who are dishonest
7. Racial bullying
8. Sex bullying
9. Cyber bullying (via cell phone or internet)
As we have seen many times, the consequences of bullying can be tragic. Therefore, parents must also be proactive. You must teach and model tolerance, empathy, respect, appropriate conflict resolution strategies in your home. Otherwise, the efforts of the schools will be in vain. But if you know or suspect that your child is engaging in any of the aforementioned behaviors, let them know you are inappropriate and consider what you find in their counseling. If your child is a victim of bullying, report it to child support and support them, via advice or support group. Some of the warning signs to look for in victims of bullying are depression, low self-esteem, withdrawal, poor grades, health problems, and suicidal thoughts. thought or comment.
More from Brandy:
Ready for your College Middle Schooler
Four Rules for Improving Child Behavior
Resources:
http://www.olweus.org/public/bullying.page
http://www.cfchildren.org/ss-e-newsletter-april-2010/schola-climate-and-sel/
