A Canadian Approach to Prevent School Bullying and Violence

International Conference on School Bullying and Violence

Stavanger, Norway

September 5-8, 2004

Sandra DeanTogether We Light the Way

Canada

Creating Safe and Caring Learning Communities

Results: School Safety

• Decreased incidents of bullying over the three-year period of implementation

Bullying Sept. 1999-June 2002

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1401999-2000

2000-2001

2001-2002

All Sites School 1 School 2 School 3

Results: Academic Achievement

• Students met or exceeded grade equivalent growth

Academic CTBS Results for Enrolled vs. Not Enrolled Students from 1999-2002

4.5

5

5.5

6

6.5

7

Vocabulary Reading Language Math Core Total

Not EnrolledEnrolled

Focus

•Creating Safe and Caring

Learning Communities

•Bullying

Resilient

Risk Factors• Unsuccessful in school • Low academic achievement • Low sense of self• Unsafe and insecure environment

– Victimization– Bullying– Fighting

• Poor nutrition• Family stress• Poor relationships• Low secure attachments to caring adults

Protective Factors

• School success• Increased academic achievement• A sense of self• Safe, secure and nurturing environments• A healthful lifestyle• Positive family and school relationships• Respectful and caring relationships• Connection to caring adults

Monitoring and Evaluating

• Informed decision making

• Refine implementation

• Change or re-direct practice

Comprehensive School Based-Model

• Academic

• Respect

• Teamwork

• Leadership

Pillars for Living, Learning Growing and Being

Guiding Principles

• Everyone is unique and has a contribution to make

• Everyone has strengths which must be nurtured and supported

• Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others

• Service to others performed with caring and love makes a difference

School/Community-Wide Approach

• Agreements

• Consequences

Role Models

“Like it or not, teachers, parents, caregivers, we are all role models. Our daily choices and actions will echo through the generations.”

- Jensen

Circles of Respect

Partner Engagement

• Social Capital

• Social Cohesion

Current and Future Initiatives

• Provincial Governments

• Canadian Government

• U.S. Government

• The Caribbean

• OECD

• United Nations

From Program to Practice

1. Comprehensive training

2. Step-by-step instructions and staged

implementation approaches

3. Full range of resources

4. Measurement tools

5. Ongoing support

6. Best-practice sharing opportunities

7. Celebration events

CommunitySomewhere, there are people to whom we canSpeak with passion, without having the words

Catch in our throats.Somewhere a circle of hands will open

To receive us, Eyes will light up as we enter,

Voices will celebrate us whenever we come into Our own power.

Community means strength that joinsOur strength to do the work that

Needs to be done.Arms to hold us when we falter.

A circle of healing.A circle of friends.

Someplace where we can be free.- Christina Baldwin

Contact Information

Sandra DeanTogether We Light the Way

Durham District School Board400 Taunton Road East

Whitby, Ontario L1R 2K6Canada

dean_sandra@durham.edu.on.cawww.togetherwelighttheway.com