Bullying Prevention
Goodness is about character - integrity, honesty, kindness, generosity, moral courage, and the like. More than anything else, it is about how we treat other people.
-Dennis Prager
Bullying has many formal definitions, but typically it is when someone repeatedly uses threats, intimidation or aggression to obtain objects, activities or social gain from others. Bullying prevention focuses on the strategies for reducing bullying behavior by blending PBIS with explicit instruction and redefining the bullying construct. Teaching students to identify and respond effectively to the bullying and harmful behavior of others needs to match the students’ developmental level. The goal is the same – to reduce bullying behavior – but the process may look different across communities and across elementary, middle and high schools.
Foundational Elements
There are four foundational elements of bullying prevention.
School-Wide Expectations
Everyone in school should know what it means to be respectful. They should know what it looks like and how it feels to be respected. On the other side, they also should be able to identify if, when, and how someone else’s behavior is inappropriate. School-wide definitions help everyone stay consistent.
Signals and Routines for Unwanted Behavior
Building on the school-wide foundation of expected behavior, all students should know the signal and routine to let someone know their behavior is unacceptable and needs to stop. The signal is something anyone can use anywhere, anytime. It’s short, easy to remember, and easy to do.
Responses to the Stop Signal
When a student signals a behavior is unwanted and needs to stop, other students need to know how to respond. Students should be taught appropriate responses that are calm and responsible.
Recruiting Help
The last routine to teach is how students can recruit help from an adult when they experience bullying, harassment, or intimidation.
Reporting Bullying
You may use the Reporting Link to notify the school and district officials of suspected bullying or concerns.
Questions?
Contact Danielle Foster (Bullying Prevention Coordinator) at this email
Source: Center on PBIS