Building a Comprehensive Anti-Bullying Awareness Program

The Strongest Anti-Bullying Programs Use Multiple Approaches to Educate Students, Parents, and Teachers 

 

 

Bullying is an issue that concerns all students, parents, and educators.  Research shows us that bullying behaviors peak during the middle school years.  Why is this?  There are many reasons why students encounter bullying-type behaviors during the middle school years.  Because of the rapid physical, emotional, and social growth that children make between the ages of 10-14, it's no wonder that they struggle at times to find appropriate ways to express feelings of disappointment and anger.  Often, middle school students learn about appropriate social behavior by making mistakes - sometimes they even bully others.

So how does a school community effectively combat these types of behaviors and teach students more positive ways to handle their emotions?  The reality is that it is not easy, but it can absolutely be done.  Successful anti-bullying programs require the collaboration of students, parents, educators, and a host of other specialists.  At Middle School West we are fortunate to have a staff that is committed to putting an end to bullying - a staff that is not willing to succumb to the belief that bullying is just a part of growing up.  We believe it doesn't have to be.

Assistant Principal, Sherri Zynda, speaks with MSW students about the negative effects of bullying.



The lead designer of our anti-bullying program is Assistant Principal, Sherri Zynda.  Over the past five years, Mrs. Zynda has worked with her team to build an anti-bullying program that includes several key components:

Educate, Educate, Educate - Early in the school year, assemblies are held with students to teach them about the negative effects of bullying.  Students learn about the three roles that people can play in any given bullying scenario:  the bully, the bullied, or the bystander(s).  They hear about characteristics of bullies, avoidance tactics and avenues for assistance for the bullied, and the power of bystanders to be positive agents for change in any school.  It's important to note that teachers and parents learn a lot throughout this process by talking with students about their thoughts and feelings.

Include Third Party Experts - Students at Middle School West have an opportunity to hear from a variety of experts on bullying, including experts who speak about cyber-bullying, mental health experts and counselors who speak about how bullying affects one's self-image, police officers who educate about the legal ramifications of bullying, and educators & students who speak about bullying and special populations of students.

Thinking & Reflection - Students should be challenged to think about bullying scenarios.  They should be asked to reflect (even if only to themselves) about their own experiences with bullying.  Have they ever been bullied?  If so, how did it feel?  Have they every bullied someone?  Did they even know they were bullying?  Have they ever been a bystander to bullying?  If so, did they do anything to help out?  Students at MSW have a chance to think about these types of questions with writing prompts.  In addition, they engage in a number of reflective exercises such as the Power Shuffle, where students step across a line in silence to indicate that they have experienced a specific bullying scenario.  Through such activities, students see that they are not alone - even their teachers have gone through some similar experiences.  Finally, students have the opportunity to view films with bullying themes and reflect on how they would handle similar situations.

Teach and Practice Empathy - Showing empathy for another is the antithesis of bullying.  Each year at MSW, students engage in service-learning projects aimed at teaching empathy for others.  This year, with the help of some funding from the generous MSW PTO, students made fleece blankets to donate to Gahanna Residents In Need (GRIN).  When middle school students have an opportunity to help others they experience how good deeds have a positive effect on each of us, whereas negative behaviors hurt our own self-esteem.  Throughout the year, this message of service to others is promoted in class and in other clubs and activities.


We thank all of the members of the MSW school community for their efforts to help ensure that each child can feel comfortable being who he/she is - that each can enjoy coming to school to build friendships and experience academic progress!

Thanks for reading,
Brett

MSW student, Jacob Barno, and teacher, Heather Turner, pose for a picture after
their presentation about the negative effects of bullying.



Superintendent, Francis Scruci, speaks with MSW
students about how to fill their buckets with great
life experiences and how to deny bullies the chance
to take away from those positive experiences.


 

What's Up at West?

10/1/12 - Fall Fundraiser Orders Due
             - 6th grade Band Fitting at GLHS (4pm-8pm)
             - Market Day Pickup (5-6pm in the cafeteria)

10/2/12 - Rachel's Challenge Community Event (7:30 pm in MSW Auditorium)

10/4/12 - GMSW PTO Meeting (7pm in MSW library)

10/9 & 10/18/12 - Parent/Teacher Conferences (Call 478-5570 to set up a conference.)

10/12/12 - No School