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Nordonia Hills City School District

Inspiring Every Student to Value Learning, Community and Excellence

Bully Prevention

A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself.” (Olweus et al., 2007)

Three Key Components of Bullying Behavior

Involves an aggressive behavior
Typically involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time
Imbalance of power or strength

Gender Differences

Most studies find that boys bully more than do girls
Boys report being bullied by boys; girls report
being bullied by boys and girls
Boys are more likely than girls to be physically
bullied by their peers
Girls are more likely to be bullied through rumor-spreading,
sexual comments, and social exclusion

(Nansel, 2001; Olweus, 1993)

Bullying Affects Everyone

Those who are bullied
Those who bully
Bystanders

Know the Difference Between….

Rough Play	Real Fighting	Bullying
Usually friends; often repeated (same players)	Usually not friends; typically not repeated	Typically not friends; generally repeated
Balance of power	Power relatively equal	Unequal power
No intent to harm	Intentional harm-doing	Intentional harm-doing
Affect is friendly; positive, mutual	Affect negative; aggressive, tense, hostile affect	Affect negative; aggressive & differs for victim and aggressor

Possible Warning Signs That a Child is a Bully

Have more positive attitudes toward violence than peers
Have quick tempers, are easily frustrated
Have difficulty conforming to rules
Are stronger than peers
Appear tough, show little compassion for victims
Are aggressive to adults
Are good at talking themselves out of situations
Have good or average self-esteem
Are not be anxious and uncertain
Vary in popularity; popularity decreases in higher grades
Like to dominate others in a negative way
Gain satisfaction from inflicting injury and suffering
Receive “rewards” by bullying others (prestige, possessions)
(Olweus et al., 1999)

What to do if you suspect your child is bullying others

Communicate directly with the child:

“We know you have been involved in bullying.”
“Bullying is serious behavior.”
“We will not tolerate any future bullying behavior.”

Enforce family rules
Reinforce positive and kind behavior
Spend more time with your child
Monitor the child’s activities
Build upon the child’s talents\help the child find more appropriate behaviorspatterns
Seek professional assistance, if necessary.

Possible Warning Signs that a child is being bullied

Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches
Has few, if any friends, with whom (s)he or spends time
Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers (such as clubs)
Sudden loss of appetite or appears anxious
Takes a long, “illogical” route when walking to or from school
Has lost interest in school work
Begins to do poorly in school
Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical ailments
Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
Suffers from low self-esteem

(Olweus et al., 1999)

What if you suspect your child is being bullied?

If your child shows any of these signs, this does not necessarily mean that he or she is being bullied, but it is a possibility worth exploring. What should you do? Talk with your child and talk with staff at school to learn more.

Talk with your child. Tell your child that you are concerned and that you’d like to help. Here are some questions that can get the discussion going:

Some direct questions:

I’m worried about you. Are there any kids at school who may be picking on you or bullying you?”
“Are there any kids at school who tease you in a mean way?”
“Are there any kids at school who leave you out or exclude you on purpose?”
“Do you have any special friends at school this year? Who are they? Who do you hang out with?”
“Who do you sit with at lunch and on the bus?”
“Are there any kids at school who you really don’t like? Why don’t you like them? Do they ever pick on you or leave you out of things?”

Ask the teacher to talk with other adults who interact with your child at school (such as the music teacher, physical education teacher, or bus driver) to see whether they have observed your child being bullied by others.

If you are not comfortable talking with your child’s teacher, or if you are not satisfied with the conversation, make an appointment to meet with your child’s school counselor or principal to discuss your concerns.

Effects of Bullying

Effects on the Bystander (those that are present during bullying)

Feel afraid
Feel powerless to change things
Feel guilty
Feel diminish empathy for victims

(Olweus et al., 1999)

Effects on School Climate

Students perceive a lack of control/caring
Creates a climate of fear and disrespect
Interferes with student learning

(Olweus et al., 1999)

What is being done in Nordonia Hills City Schools?

Grades 9-12, lessons are provided through Health and Family Consumer Science classes
Guest speakers and community agencies/resources provide additional information and support to students, parents, and staff
School Counselors hold individual sessions with targets, bullies, and bystanders
Principals, teachers, counselors, and other school staff work with families to provide interventions and support to those who may be affected by bullying in any way
Continued staff training with the latest research and best research-based interventions
Bully Prevention Task Force has been set up at the High School to review all reports, interventions, and follow-ups of each of Bullying , Harassment, and Intimidation From submitted
District wide identification/reporting/protocol of dealing with harassment, intimidation, and bullying
Restorative Practices

Why is it important to address bullying in schools?

For students and their futures
For a healthy school climate
For the larger community
For the purposes of risk management for schools
It’s a wise investment

Parent Resources

If you obtain information from your child or from staff at your child’s school that leads you to believe that he or she is being bullied or is bullying others, take quick action. Bullying can have serious effects on children.

Downloadable Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Report Form

References

Nansel, T., Overpeck, M., Pilla, R., Ruan, W.J., Simons-Morton, B., Scheidt, P.Bullying Behaviors Among US Youth:Prevalence and Association With Psychosocial Adjustment..JAMA. 2001;285(16):2094-2100. doi:10.1001/jama.285.16.2094.

Olweus, D. (1993). Bullying at school: What we know and what we can do. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers, Inc.

Olweus, D., Limber, S., & Mihalic, S. (1999). The Bullying Prevention Program. Blueprints for Violence Prevention. Boulder, CO: Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence.

Olweus, D. & Limber, S. P. (2007). Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Teacher Guide. Center City, MN: Hazelden.