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Livonia Public Schools

Elementary School Bullying Prevention Program

Our shared vision for Livonia Public Schools includes a commitment to provide a

safe, joyful, welcoming environment for all who enter

&a place where students are eager to learn.

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Statistics about Bullying160,000 children

won’t go to school each day for fear of being bullied

Nearly 1 in 5 students is experiencing bullying in some way

Between 15% and 30% of students are victims or bullies

Between 19% and 27% of boys in grades 4-6 report being bullied in the past 3 months; for girls it’s 23%-26%.

1 out of 4 youths aged 11-19 have been threatened via their computers or by text messaging

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Facts about BullyingBoth boys and girls can be bullies and/or

victimsBullying is a learned behavior. Being a bully or victim is associated with

being a school dropout, experiencing poor psycho-social adjustment, engaging in criminal activity and other long-term consequences

Bystanders are also negatively impacted by bullying

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Types of BullyingPhysical – i.e. hitting or kicking; taking or

damaging the victim’s propertyVerbal – i.e. name calling, insulting, making

derogatory comments or constant teasingPsychological – i.e. excluding or rejecting

certain people, spreading hurtful rumors, non verbal gestures & body language

Written/Cyber – sending mean or threatening text messages, emails or IMs, posting inappropriate pictures or messages, using other’s usernames to spread rumors or lies, including on social network sites such as Facebook.

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Defining BullyingWhen a person or group purposely engages in actions intended to harm

someone else emotionally or physically.

Bullying often consists of a series of cruel acts repeated over time.

Children being bullied need and deserve adult intervention and

help.

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Effects of BullyingBullying can have serious

consequences.Children who are bullied are more likely than other children to exhibit the following:• depression, loneliness• low self-esteem• an increased number of absences, experience

school anxiety or avoidance• physical symptoms (i.e.: headaches,

stomachaches, fatigue)• declining school performance or lack of interest

in school• fearfulness, withdrawal or isolation• suicidal thoughts and acts of self harm• acts of violence

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Defining Peer ConflictIt is important to note that peer conflict is a normal part of a child’s life experience and all children will experience conflict at some point during their childhood and adolescence.

As children learn the give and take of friendship, group cooperation, and social interaction, conflict naturally occurs. Age-typical conflicts arise and can sometimes be resolved independently, and at other times adult intervention is required.

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Normal Peer Conflict vs. BullyingRECOGNIZING THE DIFFERENCE

Normal Peer Conflict Bullying

Equal power between students Imbalance of power between students

Happens occasionally Repeated negative actions

Similar emotional reaction Strong emotional reaction from victim with little or no reaction from bully

Effort to solve the problem No effort to solve the problem

Not seeking power or attention Seeking power, control or material things

Remorse-will take responsibility No remorse-blames victim or others

Not serious (no serious intent to harm)

Serious with threat of physical or emotional harm

Adapted from Bullyproofing Your School

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Myths about Bullying“Children who bully are loners.”

Research indicates that children who bully are not socially isolated, rather they have an easier time making friends and typically have a small group of friends who support or encourage their bullying.

“Children who bully have low self-esteem.”Research indicates that children who bully have average to above-average self-esteem.

“Children will outgrow bullying.”Unless someone intervenes, the bullying will likely continue, in some cases, grow into violence and other serious problems. Children who consistently bully others often continue their aggressive behavior through adolescence and into adulthood.

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How Do I Know if My Child is Being Bullied?

Be aware of changes in your child’s behavior or attitudes. Bullied children often give signals that something is wrong, such as:

◦withdrawal or complaints of physical symptoms such as headaches, stomachaches, or problems sleeping.

◦comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings.

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unexplained bruises, cuts, or scratches seems afraid of going to school or

taking part in organized school activities with peers

decreased interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school

appears sad, moody, teary or depressed frequently appears anxious and /or

suffers from low self-esteem begins acting out or taking out their

frustration

How Do I Know if My Child is Being Bullied? (Continued)

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If You Suspect Your Child is Being Bullied:What parents can do at home

Focus on your child. Be supportive and gather information about the problem.

◦Listen carefully to what your child tells you about the situation.

◦Check your emotions~stay calm, try not to overreact.

◦Don’t blame the child who is being bullied.◦Empathize with your child.◦Don’t encourage physical or verbal retaliation

as a solution.◦Keep lines of communication open with your

child.

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◦Help your child engage in the things that he/she enjoys and “builds them up.”

◦Help your child identify peers with whom they get along and suggest things they can do together.

◦Learn about your child’s social life – getting to know and monitoring friends, knowing where your child is, who s/he is with and what they are doing.

Positive Strategies to Help Bully-Proof Your Child

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If Your Child is Being Bullied:What you can do with the school

◦ Don’t be reluctant to report bullying; it may not stop without adult help. Contact your child’s teacher or principal.

◦ Stay calm. Give factual information (who, what, when, where, and how).

◦ Emphasize that you want to work with the school to find a solution.

◦ Additional information may come to light during the investigation.

◦ Do not contact the parents of the student who bullied your child.

◦ Expect that efforts will be taken to address the problem.

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Parent Interventions fora Child Who Bullies

◦Accept the possibility (or reality) that your child has participated in the bullying situation.

◦Make it clear you take bullying seriously and it will not be tolerated.

◦Develop clear and consistent rules within your family for your children’s behavior.

◦Spend more time with your child and carefully supervise his/her activities.

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◦Praise your child for appropriate social behaviors.

◦Catch your child interacting appropriately with peers and offer positive reinforcement.

◦Encourage children to support their peers.◦Monitor television and video games.◦Closely monitor electronic communications:

cell phones, email, social network sites (Facebook)

◦Bullying is not just kidding around. Make sure your child understands that bullying is hurtful and potentially illegal and you expect it to stop immediately.

Parent Interventions fora Child Who Bullies (Continued)

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How to respond to a bully…Be a good bystander

If just one person tells a bully toSTOP IT/KNOCK IT OFF/CUT IT OUTthe bully may stop within10 seconds!

If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem.(INSERT VIDEO CLIP 1 & 2 FROM DATELINE)

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Helpful BystandersBystanders have the power to play a key

role in preventing or stopping bullying.  Some bystanders . . . directly

intervene, by discouraging the bully, defending the victim, or redirecting the situation away from bullying.

Other bystanders . . .  get help, by rallying support from peers to stand up against bullying or by reporting the bullying to adults. 

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Hurtful BystandersSome bystanders . . . instigate the bullying by

prodding the bully to begin.Other bystanders . . . encourage the bullying by

laughing, cheering, or making comments that further stimulate the bully. 

And other bystanders . . . join in the bullying once it has begun. 

Most bystanders . . . passively accept bullying by watching and doing nothing. Often without realizing it, these bystanders also contribute to the problem. Passive bystanders provide the audience a bully craves and the silent acceptance that allows bullies to continue their hurtful behavior.

INSERT BOY VIDEO CLIP

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Why Address the Problem of Bullying?

Research shows harnessing positive, contagious emotions can have a powerful effect in the

classroom, in a school and in students’ lives.

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Cyber-Bullying Defined“Willful and repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic devices.”

Sameer Hinduja and Justin W. PatchinBullying Beyond the Schoolyard

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What makes this different than typical bullying?

• Anonymity• Accessibility• Bystanders—can be millions and

permanent; can go viral• Low self-esteem by both the

perpetrator and target • Can happen 24 hrs/7 days a week

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What students can do if they are

the victims of a cyber-bullyBlock communication with the

cyber-bully Print the message, show it to your

parents/ guardian, save it Talk to a parent/guardian about the

bullying Report the problem to an Internet

service provider or website moderator

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How Can I Prevent Cyber-bullying?

Refuse to pass along cyber-bullying messages

Tell friends to stop cyber-bullying Block communication with cyber-

bullies Report cyber-bullying to a trusted

adult

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In Livonia Public Schools, we believe

everyone has the right to be safe from any action, word, or gesture that hurts a person’s body, feelings, friendships,

reputation or property, regardless of the intent.

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“When schools make a comprehensive commitment to changing their climate, and the entire school community is involved in preventing bullying, bullying can be significantly reduced.”

No Kidding About Bullying

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Children need to believe the adults in

their lives will support them.