Blogboard

At our school, use the Olweus Bully Prevention Program. The strategies taught are great for taking the focus and power away from the bully and giving the attention to the other students. Class meetings are held at least 30 minutes per week to teach the class strategies for dealing with bullies. We have just had our Bully Prevention Kick Off and are excited about the stand students are beginning to take against bullying.

National School Boards Association has some excellent resources on its website. One point that it makes is that sometimes "bullying" constitutes harassment--and when race (among other "protected classes) is involved, particularly among students old enough (they suggest 6th grade and up)this should be taught to them.

Another point to remember is that prevention is much more effective than response after the fact. The Olweus program mentioned above is certainly the gold standard as far as the research is concern. NSBA also provides good legal (and practical) advice about the kinds of policies and practices that should be in place--including a requirement that any staff who witness suspected harassment make a report within 24 hours and that each building or other unit (like transportation) have a designated person to receive reports and see that they are investigated. Changing the overall environment to make clear that harassment is not an accepted part of the school culture helps to remove the focus on the victim (where they are easily revictimized) and onto the reasonable expectations of the school and society with regard to treatment of individuals.