Carrie ConnollyPat Crane

Gail MoskowitzCandy Weems

EDLP 704- Spring 2014

Introduction

• Article-• What is bullying?– Specific form of aggressive behavior characterized

by• Intention to harm• Repeated occurrence• Imbalance of power between bully and victim

– Physical, verbal, cyber-bullying Candy

Article Summary• The study is on perspectives of a random sampling

of 213 school psychologists on anti-bullying policies in American schools.

• The study focused on bullying prevention strategies in five categories: – Systems-level interventions– School staff and parent involvement– Educational approaches with students– Student involvement – Interventions with bullies and victims– Candy

Research• The survey instrument was developed based on existing

theoretical and empirical information about school-based bullying and prevention.

• 500 surveys were sent and asked the following questions– What anti-bullying strategies are most/least implemented in US

schools?– What anti-bullying strategies do school psychologists perceive as

most effective?– What areas do school psychologists perceive need

improvement?– What barriers make the improvement difficult?– 213 returned and interpretable

Research Results

• Most frequently used strategies– Talking with bullies after bullying incidents– disciplinary consequences for bullies – increased adult supervision Peer juries/court

• Least frequently used– an anti-bullying committee– peer counselors

Research Results• Anti-bullying strategy perceived most effective

– school-wide positive behavior support plan – Modifying space and schedule– Immediate responses

• Perceived least effective – Avoid contact between bully and victim– Zero tolerance– Written anti-bullying policy– parent involvement bullying preventions strategy

• Findings of the study consistent with previous findings and literature– School wide positive behavior support plan– Rigor of research???

What type of policy?

• School-wide positive behavior support plan– Includes school or entire district establishing

behavioral guidelines to reinforce pro-social behavior and empathy

• Regulatory policy– Codify and prescribe how school personnel would

be required teach positive behavior.

What type of policy?

• Modified space and schedule for less structured activities– Identify the areas and activities not currently well

supervised by adults and then school personnel would be dispatched

• Redistributive policy– Human resource would need to be reallocated or

monies apportioned for extra personnel

What type of policy?

• Immediate responses to bullying incidents– Clear guidelines to address both the perpetrator

and the victim of bullying as a critical incident in need of immediate response

• Regulatory policy – Codify and prescribe how school personnel would

intervene after an incident of bullying

Strategies Used to Promote Policy

• Focused on multiple targets • Research studies on effectiveness– Create buy in with community– Communication/dissemination of research to all

stakeholders• Public Forums– Town Hall Meetings

• Articles in local paper/newsletter• Direct mailings• Use of social media

Benefits

• Create a welcoming safe environment• Several strategies– Allow schools to select policy that best fits their

population• Training fosters consistency– Staff able to handle more situations– Provides structure in reporting

• Raise awareness, changes attitudes and educate

Disadvantages

• Zero tolerance– Does not address issue

• Peer mediations– Balance of power?

• Parent involvement– 2nd most implemented strategy

• What is bullying?– Personal growth and development

Challenges

• Buy in from the staff– Survey indicated higher priorities over bullying– Lack of time for training and handling situations

• Need additional staffing– Supervision in unstructured areas– Reporting structure– Training staff– Do more with less”

• Survey results– Barriers – time and priorities

Improving Anti-bullying policy

• Areas of improvement indicated by survey results– Staff training– Community involvement– Reporting structure for bullying policies

Application to Workplace and Leadership

• Need to consider all stakeholders– Staff involvement

• Train staff, increased supervision in areas, committees

– Parent involvement• Conference Day, newsletter, etc.

• Communication strategies for policy implementation– How to communicate policy with students

• Educational approaches

– Time constraints• Will staff have time for trainings or additional required

meetings?