Brandon Twp.- Before classes even started this week, teachers and other staff in the district were taking steps to prevent bullying and ensure a successful year for students.
On Aug. 26-27, Olweus training was conducted at Brandon Fletcher Intermediate School.
‘This is a seed and we hope to grow it up to the middle school and high school, and also down into the elementary schools,? said BFIS Principal Carol Bogner. ‘We’re really excited about this program.?
Oakland Mediation Center administers Olweus, a bullying prevention program developed by Dan Olweus which has been used in schools around the world for more than 40 years, proven effective through research and successful implementation. Brandon Groveland Youth Assistance is sponsoring the program, providing $2,500 for start-up costs, with the remainder of costs funded through grant money.
According to the Oakland Mediation Center, the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program ‘gives schools the tools and resources they need to effectively prevent and intervene in bullying behavior long term. The program is designed for students in elementary, middle and high schools. All students participate in the program, while students identified as bullying others, or students who have been bullied, receive additional individualized interventions. All students are educated on roles involved in bullying situations and learn how to become proactive bystanders. Program objectives include reducing existing bullying among students; preventing the development of new bullying problems; achieving better peer relations at school; and making the school a safer and more positive place for students to learn and develop.?
The district has created a bullying prevention coordinating committee comprised of approximately 15 members including parents, teachers, community members and non-teaching staff. Committee members were trained the week before school began in Olweus and will now train other staff members. The Oakland Mediation Center will also provide ongoing consultation for 18 months after the training.
Bogner and other committee members will make a timeline of steps to take before the program is fully implemented with students. That timeline will include training of teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria staff, parapros and more.
A useful tool in the training will be the results of an anonymous survey given to every student at BFIS in May. The survey contained more than 30 questions about bullying, asking students if they had been bullied, where this happened, if they ever bullied someone else, if they had observed bullying or told anyone about it. Oakland Mediation Center put together the results and revealed them at the training. One interesting result was that compared to national rates, BFIS students reported more transportation-related incidences of bullying. Busing is something Bogner plans to examine.
‘There is work to be done as far as our results and plan of action,? said Bogner. ‘We’re going to look at hot spots, where bullying is more likely to occur, at the bus stop or playground, in the halls or in the bathroom. We will make changes and look at what we can do to address issues. A huge piece in this is the bystander role. So many kids, if they see something, they might be nervous about telling, they don’t want to be seen as a tattletale or have a bully be mad at them. A lot of the work is getting them to speak up or speak up for others that they see bullied.?
Part of the work for the staff will be helping children identify what is actually bullying, and what is normal conflict.
‘Bullying is everywhere, and what is so important about this training is it helps us educate the kids on what is bullying,? said Rhonda Tomei, academic behavior interventionist at BFIS and licensed counselor. ‘It’s needed so everyone is talking the same language and teaching ourselves as adults and students. I get so excited because it is all about teaching and equipping so we can make good choices.?
Bogner noted the trainees also learned about the health consequences of bullying, including headaches, depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. She is looking forward to alleviating these symptoms in students.
‘A huge piece is that we need the cooperation of the community, parents, adults in the district, bus drivers, lunch ladies,? she said. ‘If a child goes home and tells a parent but doesn’t let the teacher know? we need to know so we can do something about it. Bullying can sometimes continue into young adulthood.?
Once all staff members are trained and on the same page, they will be ready to roll out the program to students, including classroom activities such as role-playing, games, videos, conversations and more that fosters a family atmosphere in the classroom and enables children to speak up and intervene in bullying situations.
‘The program has a lot of resources for us,? said Bogner. ‘There are things they have tried in other schools that work and are age appropriate.?