B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Bullying & Harassment Prevention and Awareness Elise Bowman, Lisa Cook, and Lauren Davis Social Work Interns, Middle.

BALTIMORE BALTIMORE CITYCITY

PUBLIC PUBLIC SCHOOLSSCHOOLS

Bullying & Harassment Bullying & Harassment Prevention and Awareness Prevention and Awareness

Elise Bowman, Lisa Cook, and Lauren DavisElise Bowman, Lisa Cook, and Lauren DavisSocial Work Interns, Middle Alternative ProgramSocial Work Interns, Middle Alternative Program

This slideshow was adapted from Jonathan Brice, Executive DirectorThis slideshow was adapted from Jonathan Brice, Executive DirectorOffice of Student Support and SafetyOffice of Student Support and Safety

Updated 11/17/2010

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OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

1. To define bullying1. To define bullying

2. To identify student behaviors that may constitute 2. To identify student behaviors that may constitute bullyingbullying

3. To recognize the responsibility of school staff in 3. To recognize the responsibility of school staff in student bullying prevention and interventionstudent bullying prevention and intervention

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What is Bullying & Harassment?What is Bullying & Harassment?

From City Schools Board Administrative Regulation JICK-RA: Adopted by Board of School Commissioner October 2010

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To help determine if an incident is indeed To help determine if an incident is indeed bullying, ask yourself:bullying, ask yourself:

Was it intentional?Is there an imbalance of power?Was the action meant to hurt?Is the behavior repeated (pattern of behavior)?Does the victim have trouble defending himself or

herself?Was the victim threatened with retaliation if he/she

told?

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As incidents come to our attention, we As incidents come to our attention, we should ask ourselves the following should ask ourselves the following

questions:questions:

Is the reported or observed behavior frequent? Is it severe? Is it physically threatening or humiliating? Does it interfere “unreasonably” in a student’s

academic performance? Would it seem hostile or abusive to a reasonable

person? Does the student who is the target view the school

environment as abusive? Is there a real or perceived imbalance of power

between the victim and the perpetrator?

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Seth’s StorySeth’s Story

Each day, 10-year-old Seth asked his mom for more and more lunch money. Yet he seemed skinnier than ever and came home from school hungry. It turned out that Seth was handing his lunch money to a fifth-grader, who was threatening to beat him up if he didn't pay.

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Examples of BullyingExamples of Bullying

Physical Bullying: punching, hitting, choking, physical assaults, beating, hair pulling, biting, excessive tickling.

Verbal Bullying: hurtful name calling, teasing, gossiping, terrorizing, blackmailing, distorting, threatening physical harm, or spreading nasty rumors about a person.

Non-Verbal (Emotional) Bullying: intimidating behavior (looks, obscene gestures, body language), shunning, rejecting, humiliating, isolating, ostracizing based on personal characteristics.

Sexual Bullying: sexual harassment or abuse involving physical contact of a sexual nature or sexual assault, exhibitionism, voyeurism, or sexual propositioning.

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The Effects of Bullying on the VictimThe Effects of Bullying on the Victim

Short TermLower self-esteemIllnessAbsenteeism and dropping outDepression, anxiety and hyper-vigilanceSleeplessness and eating disordersThoughts of suicide

Long TermLower self-esteemHigher rates of depressionSuicideViolent retaliation

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National Bullying Data National Bullying Data

Percentage of students ages 12-18 who reported being bullied at school and being cyber-bullied anywhere during the school year, by sex: 2007

*Cyber-bullying includes threats/insults made by instant messaging, text messaging and on the internet.Data obtained from the U.S. Dept of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics

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Bullying Affects School ClimateBullying Affects School Climate

It interferes with student learning

It creates a climate of fear and disrespect

Students may perceive lack of control/caring

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Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Dear Colleagues Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Dear Colleagues MemoMemo

Selected Excerpt from Dear Colleagues Letter:

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Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Dear Colleagues Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Dear Colleagues MemoMemo

MUST: Review the OCR FACT Sheet.Encouraged: Read the Dear Colleagues

Letter.

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VignettesVignettes

Scenario #1: Parent calls and tells you child is being bullied by another student. What do you do? How would you deal with this matter?

Scenario #2: What do you do if a parent reports on Monday that their student was bullied online over the weekend?

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Reporting and Investigation: Reporting and Investigation: For Parents, Students and SchoolsFor Parents, Students and Schools

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City Schools Bullying/Harassment City Schools Bullying/Harassment IncidentsIncidents

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City Schools Suspension DataCity Schools Suspension Data

1 Bullying became a new suspension category in SY06/07.2 Few LEAs reported bullying suspensions in SY05/06, including Baltimore County (reported zero) and Prince George’s (reported zero).

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SY 03/04 SY 04/05 SY 05/06 SY 06/07 SY 07/08 SY 08/09 SY09/10All Suspensions 26,324 16,641 15,031 16,752 14,744 11,059 9,712Bullying Suspensions N/A1 N/A1 02 37 91 109 157Fighting Suspensions 4,787 3,044 3,109 2,946 3,239 2,622 2,567

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City Schools DataCity Schools Data

Satisfactory Responses

SY07-08 #

SY07-08 %

SY08-09 #

SY08- 09 %

SY09-10 #

SY09-10 %

Students 31,048 63.9% 37,771 55.2% 41,075 59.1%

Parents 13,022 86.1% 15,568 86.4% 16,017 88.2%

Staff 5,168 72.2% 6,403 73.0% 5,168 73.8%

Climate Survey- Overall School Safety Indicator

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Focus for City Schools SY10-11Focus for City Schools SY10-11

1. Increase Schools Focus on Building Positive Staff and Student Relationships

2. Teach Students Acceptable Norms for Behavior through Health Education of Character Education Curriculum (Great Body Shop/Too Good for Drugs)

3. Support School Staff in Building Effective School Climate and Culture (PBIS)

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Strategy to Address Bullying & Strategy to Address Bullying & HarassmentHarassment

Awareness & PreventionIntervention (includes full range of Consequences as

outlined in the Code of Conduct)Engage community-based partners so that resources

are available at the school levelSchool Improvement Plan integrates resources, school

needs, and community support

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What is MAPAL’s Plan?What is MAPAL’s Plan?

What awareness and prevention strategies have you implemented to decrease bullying incidents in your school?

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Current Prevention StrategiesCurrent Prevention Strategies

Professional Development/Awareness—Targeted at principals and school staff during summer 2009. Students and parents were informed about expectations for behavior in August and September of 2009. Principals and leadership staff training summer of 2010. Regular updates provided in person and electronically during school year.

Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS)–Expanded PBIS from 44 school implementation in SY08-09 to 61 in SY09-10. PBIS implementation in SY10-11 includes 93 schools, 100% of which submitted their baseline climate evaluation to the state in November.

School-based Character Education Programs

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Current Prevention StrategiesCurrent Prevention Strategies

Youth Development –Expansion of programs designed to give students voice in their education. Student government, Youth Ambassadors, and school created programs for student development. Every school with secondary grades has a registered student government Youth Ambassadors program working with 500 students across all secondary

schools during the school year. Served 300 students in summer program summer 2009. Served about 400 students summer 2010.

Mental Health Counseling- Counseling is made available to students that are victims of bullying and perpetrators of bullying, counseling services are provided by guidance counselors, social workers, and psychologists SY09-10 103 schools with services, 37 schools targeting middle school

students. Continued targeted services in SY10-11. 8,830 Students receiving individual or group treatment 23,748 Direct Services Related to Individual Student/Group Treatment SY09/10 YTD Emergency Petitions & Evaluation 30

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Current Intervention StrategiesCurrent Intervention Strategies

Student Support Teams

Functional Behavior Assessment and Behavioral Intervention Plan training for schools Targeted assistance training and support ongoing during SY10-11. During SY09-10, City School Social Workers presented approximately 50 staff trainings at their

assigned schools on bullying prevention and behavioral interventions when bullying occurs. Training for 125 City School Psychologists and 204 Social Workers, who play lead roles at the

school team level, was a major focus of the project this year. The FBA/BIP project team provided, targeted technical assistance to approximately 30 schools,

and provided assistance to approximately 60 schools who requested student-specific technical assistance or experienced difficulty with students being suspended due to their behavior.

Code of Conduct interventions Levels 1-4– Includes Student/parent conferences, In-school suspension, Suspension or Expulsion

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School Anti-Bullying & Harassment School Anti-Bullying & Harassment ActivitiesActivities

School leadership teams integrate as part of School Improvement Plan

Communicate anti-bullying and harassment stance through multiple media to all stakeholders including students, parents, teachers

Engage students in the discussion by incorporating interactive lessons

Use of interventions that include community conferencing, mediation

Involve related service resources such as social workers and psychologists as well as external partners

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Examples of School Anti-Bullying & Examples of School Anti-Bullying & Harassment ActivitiesHarassment Activities

School Examples of Activities

Elementary Held a parent meeting with the 5th grade. Made posters, crease slogans, anti-bullying morning announcements, eagle buck incentives.

Elem/Middle Counselor visited each class with presentation on bullying. Eagle Bucks and t-shirts for good behavior (PBIS). Used video Matilda and class discussions. Anti-bullying posters displayed. Discussions about violence in the media ad kindness.

Elem/Middle Workshop held with grades 4-6 with video and worksheet. Program held for entire student body, with song “Don’t Bully” and poem “Bully Free”. Bullying video shared with teachers, and teachers given activities to do with students. Each student created posters, which were entered into City Schools competition, and posted throughout the school.

High Used attendance at a dance as a monthly incentive for PBIS. Students could earn back a portion of foregone PBIS bucks by completing service learning hours.

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Sampling of Current Partners that Support City Sampling of Current Partners that Support City Schools’ Anti-Bullying EffortsSchools’ Anti-Bullying Efforts

1. Community Conferencing- Works with schools to provide Daily Rap group meetings, and conferencing services for students, staff and parents involved in disruptive incidents in schools. During SY09-10, worked with 56 schools and had 184 cases

referred During SY08-09, worked with 55 schools and had 126 cases

referred 2. John’s Hopkins (Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence)-

provides research and best practices to City Schools in prevention of youth violence. During SY10-11, will train 12 schools in Paths to Pax During SY09-10, trained 13 schools in Paths to Pax During SY08-09, trained 9 schools in Paths to Pax

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Sampling of Current Partners that Support City Sampling of Current Partners that Support City Schools’ Anti-Bullying EffortsSchools’ Anti-Bullying Efforts

3. Community Mediation –Works with students, staff and parents to mediate conflicts that impact the school environment. During SY09-10, 3 mediations in 2 schools During SY08-09, 9 mediations in 7 schools

4. Mariposa Child Success Programs- Mariposa Child Success Programs fill a critical need for parenting education and professional training that fosters the emotional health and well-being of children. During SY09-10, worked with 1 school (also 1 school on Promoting

School Success) During SY08-09, worked with 2 schools

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Additional ResourcesAdditional Resources

NEW: City Schools website with bullying and harassment updates and resources. Click on Office of Student Support under “Departments,” then on Bullying and Harassment. Or click here.

NEW: Promising Practices from School-based Leaders, course on TSS. NEW: Federal Government resource for bullying and harassment, just launched after the release of the Dear

Colleagues letter. http://bullyinginfo.org. “Stop Bullying Now” – Website created by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in collaboration with

other public service, youth and community organizations that targets youth between the ages of 9 through 13 years. http://www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/kids/

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Bullying Website: http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/15plus/educate/

National Crime Prevention Council’s Tips for Principal’s on Reducing School Violence: http://www.ncpc.org/cms/cms-upload/ncpc/files/principals12.pdf

OLWEUS Bullying Prevention Program: http://www.olweus.org/public/index.page Resources for School Mental Health Clinicians : http://www.schoolmentalhealth.org/Resources/Clin/BullyClin The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center: http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/topics/bullying.asp Preventing Classroom Bullying: What Teachers Can Do:

http://www.jimwrightonline.com/pdfdocs/bully/bullyBooklet.pdf “Teens Against Bullying” – Website developed by Pacer Center (Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational

Rights) that’s good for middle school/high school students: http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org/

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Questions and Follow-UpQuestions and Follow-Up

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B ALTIMORE C ITY P UBLIC S CHOOLS Bullying & Harassment Prevention and Awareness Elise Bowman, Lisa Cook, and Lauren Davis Social Work Interns, Middle.

Documents

sexual bullying

effects of bullying

verbal bullying

student bullying prevention

nonverbal emotional

sexual harassment

sexual nature

sexual assault