Positive Behavior/Anti-Bullying curriculum in schools

[swampangel]

Hi folks.

I'm struggling to move my son's school forward with instituting an anti-bullying curriculum/culture. I think the staff aren't convinced that it's necessary or all that helpful.

This is an area of huge concern for me because I strongly value anti-bullying cultures in schools and think they are extremely important for helping the kids feel safe and able to report inappropriate social behaviors. I so much want the kids at our school to feel safe, supported and included. I know there is so much research out there that supports these programs.

Does anyone have experience with them in your children's schools? Anyone with experience trying to institute such a program? I'm looking for any suggestions or ideas about going about this from a parent's perspective. I'm trying to get active with our site council which I think is a start, but I'm just not quite sure how to get the ball rolling.

Thanks for anything you can offer.

[swampangel]

bump

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

I love the fact that my son's school has a very very strong culture of no bullying / no teasing. They don't use a particular curriculum, so its not something I can point you to. DS's school revolves around 12 core values (please don't make me name them -- any K student can but I can't even name the 7 dwarfs!) Everything at the school revolves around them. All of the rules are positive spins on the values (E.g. "We show reverence by sitting quietly during prayers" -- which is much nicer than "Don't talk") Some of the values are respect and kindness, so these translate into no bullying or teasing. And I must say that all of the students are wonderfully kind and respectful to everyone

So, maybe putting it in terms of positive values rather than "anti-bullying"? Sort of the "character counts" sort of thing, but specifically targetted so that kids understand that teasing and bullying aren't nice?

[BAU3]

Our school uses this: www.pbis.org

I personally think it leaves my average 4th grader out, and he sees the really difficult children get rewarded alot... but maybe the difficult children are better behaved???

[swampangel]

Thanks for the information and links. I'm wondering, too, if anyone has been a part of instituting this kind of curriculum in their child's school? We are inching in the right direction, but I think the staff need a push to really make it a priority.

I'm working with the site council and also trying some other creative ways to present the information (family folk sing-a-longs, for example). I'm also wondering about getting an acting group in to do a presentation or something. I don't know...it just seems so important to me.

Thanks for the input.

[kmeyrick]

Well, I've found that some skeptics feel they won't get the department of ed or the parents to back them up on the anti-bullying thing. But try talking to the PTA to get their perspective. If they are supportive, then push for it!

[swampangel]

Thank you, kmeyrick. I think it has come up before but I will be another voice bringing it up again. I feel inspired and I really think the parents can make it happen even if the staff is resistant.

Thanks for the encouragement!!

[Tinkerszs]

My school district uses PBS also. It's okay. It's nice that everyone in the school uses the same language and the same rules.

[mommy68]

I think in order for something to work that the teachers would have to be taught how to use the strategies as well. Any school can try to educate the children to do what is right but the way a teacher handles it is what it all comes down to in the end and I've seen teachers that do not handle situations regarding bullying very well. So in some instances it would be a waste of time.

[kmeyrick]

um, PBIS. Didn't really like that.

[kmeyrick]

I'll be frank, I've seen PBIS used before in a school where I worked. TBH, it's no silver bullet. Those token merit cards get handed out like candy and kids won't do a thing without them. Stuff they should be doing anyway becomes impossible without a bribe. Also, say a dance costs twenty merits to get in, by that time even really bad kids could have a hundred. They also steal the merits. I think it's also parental support that makes a difference in school climate. Mostly parental support, really.

[swampangel]

Excellent points. We have a sort of reward/punishment system in place now that the teachers use which seems really archaic. The result seems to be that kids learn to do things in order to get something, not simply behave appropriately with others or make good choices just because. They also reward kids with the label of "self manager" and they get to wear these necklaces. So it really sets up the "good" kids from the "bad" kids. The self managers often say that they only want to hang around with other self managers. It feels like the wrong way to go with all of this.

[savithny]

Our district uses "Second Step," which focuses on building empathy and self-control. It's up to the teachers how much they use, but most are doing some of it, and it does seem to be seeping into the collective consciousness of the kids (I've seen them use the "step back and take three deep breaths" thing, for examle).

[swampangel]

I think Second Step might be part of a program that our district offers. That sounds good to me. It seems like the only way things change is if it is school-wide and as the pp said, the collective conscious forms around these values.