Whitfield County’s school system is punching up a bullying prevention program this year at two of its schools.
Plans are to spread the effort throughout the system.
Bullying is not a rite of passage or just something that kids do, said Sherri Travisano, principal at Dawnville Elementary School. Bullying stems from an “imbalance of power” in social status, age or physical size or strength, she said.
Travisano is one of about 100 nationally certified trainers in the United States for the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. She is leading the anti-bullying effort that’s starting at her school and New Hope Middle School.
She said the program will roll out to more Whitfield County schools by year’s end.
The program “helps us to change the social norms and basically say that bullying is not accepted here,” she said.
National data show that 80 percent of children want to act when they witness bullying, but don’t know what to do, she said. That finding is mirrored in anonymous student surveys conducted at Dawnville and New Hope, she said.
Bullying rules tell students, “We will not bully others. We will include those who are easily left out. When we see this happening we will tell someone at school and someone at home,” she said.
The prevention program should boost student esteem and performance in the classroom “as students gain confidence that they are both physically and psychologically safe,” system spokesman Eric Beavers said.
Bullying has gained attention across the nation in recent years.
On March 30, a Polk County, Fla., teenager allegedly was ambushed by six other girls and beaten nearly unconscious, according to media reports. The girls videotaped the 30-minute assault, and the video later was used in the investigation.
In the fall of 2009, bullying played a role in the suicide of Murray County, Ga., student Tyler Long, 17, according to a federal lawsuit his parents filed against the school system. David and Tina Long claim their son died after years of bullying at school and on the school bus.
The school system has denied the allegations, noting that Tyler committed suicide at home.
Olweus officials contend the program can cut bullying reports 20 to 70 percent, and Whitfield officials hope to see a similar pattern.
School system social worker Tracie Hogan is working toward national certification on the Olweus program and will help train others in the Whitfield program.
Hogan said she meets with an Olweus consultant once a month for ongoing training.
She said participants often are surprised at the amount of time they spend recalling their own childhood experiences.
“People are really surprised at how quickly those emotions come back and the experiences come back,” she said. “My experience was always more as a bystander and not really knowing what to do.”
She said the program gives students and teachers clear definitions of bullying, what to do when it happens and how to prevent it.
SIGNS OF BULLYING
My child might be a bullying victim if he or she:
* Comes home from school with torn or dirty clothes or damaged books.
* Has cuts, bruises or scratches.
* Has few, if any, friends.
* Seems afraid to go to school or complains of headaches or stomach pains.
* Does not sleep well or has bad dreams.
* Loses interest in schoolwork.
* Seems sad, depressed or moody.
* Is anxious or has poor self-esteem. Is quiet, sensitive or passive.
My child might be a bully if he or she:
* Teases, threatens or hits others.
* Is hot-tempered or impulsive or has a hard time following rules.
* Is aggressive toward adults.
* Is tough or shows no sympathy for children who are bullied.
* Has been involved in other antisocial behavior like vandalism or theft.
Source: 2004 U.S. Department of Justice study “Bullying in Schools.”
BY THE NUMBERS
* 5.7 million: Children report being involved in bullying
* 13 percent: Report bullying others
* 11 percent: Report being the target of bullies
* 6 percent: Said they bullied others and were bullied themselves
Source: The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
PROGRAM IMPACT
Olweus officials cite six large-scale evaluations of the program that involved more than 40,000 students for results showing:
* Average reductions by 20 to 70 percent in student reports of being bullied and bullying others
* Marked reductions in student reports of general antisocial behavior, such as vandalism, fighting, theft and truancy
* Clear improvements in classroom social climate, more positive social relationships, and more positive attitudes toward schoolwork and school
Source: The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
TO LEARN MORE
The learn more about the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, visit www.hazelden.org/olweus or call 1-800-328-9000.