BULLY PREVENTION PROJECT

Dexter Regional High School

By: Kristy Staples

Wednesday, August 19, 15

WHAT IS BULLYING?
Bullying is defined by Farrell and Sullivan (2004) as
mistreating or intimidating people perceived to be
weaker.
Kids will use power such as physical strength, access
to embarrassing information, or popularity-to control
or harm the others. This behavior is usually
repetitive. (What is bullying?)

Wednesday, August 19, 15

DRHS DEFINITION OF
BULLYING
According to our school handbook, bullying is actually included in
our Harassment definition. It states, Each student has the right to
perform in an atmosphere which is free of intimidation, ridicule,
hostility and offensiveness.
Harassment based on race/color, religion, gender, ancestry/national
origin, physical/mental disability, sexual orientation, or age is
prohibited
Others include: threats, offensive jokes, ridicule, slurs or derogatory
actions or remarks

(DRHS Handbook)

Wednesday, August 19, 15

HOW DO STUDENTS BULLY?

Some Examples Include:
Physical- hitting,
pinching, pushing,
tripping, breaking
anothers things
Verbal- name-calling,
teasing, taunting,
threatening
Leaving kids out,
spreading rumors
(What is bullying?)
Wednesday, August 19, 15

A t-shirt made for the Clothesline Project in my health class

HOW DO STUDENTS BULLY

CONTINUED...
Cyberbullying occurs through
the use of technology.
Cell phones, laptops, tablets,
kindles, etc.
Also through social media
apps like;
Facebook
Twitter
Text Messages
Instagram
Wednesday, August 19, 15

(What is bullying?)

HOW CYBERBULLYING IS
DIFFERENT
The victim will not physically
see the bully.
It can occur 24/7
The posts, videos or messages
can be deleted before an adult
sees it.
The bullying is not always
occurring on school grounds
so it can be tougher for
schools to discipline.
This ABC Family movie is shown in health class. It shows all the ways cyberbullying can
affect a persons life.
Wednesday, August 19, 15

HOW TO RECOGNIZE A
BULLY VS A VICTIM
Sometimes it can be hard to detect a bully from a victim in our students.
Why? Because many times students can/will take on both roles. Rigby
(1993) proposes that the tendency to bully others and the tendency to
be victimized by others are not polar opposites.
Bullies tend to be children who struggle to control their aggressive
behaviors, they tend to have positive views on violence, they may not
have close relationships with their families and can be looking for
attention. (The Bullying Project)
Victims will usually be smaller and younger than the bullies. They tend to
think the world is against them. They may not speak up and sometimes
feel like they dont have control. (The Bullying Project)

Wednesday, August 19, 15

WHAT ARE WE DOING AT

DRHS TO PREVENT BULLING?
The Clothesline Project- This is a project normally done with
victims of domestic violence. In health class, I have changed it to connect
with our anti-bullying unit. The students are to research information about
bullying and then create t-shirts that express why its bad and needs to
stop. These t-shirts are then hung in the lobby of the school during open
house and left there during the basketball season. It is the hope of myself
and the students that these t-shirts will enlighten people about how
common bullying is and how damaging it can be to someones life.
Advisory Groupings- Our advisory program groups students together
so that they are not with people extremely close to them. It is a
wonderful way to get all kids to get along and respect each other.
Discussions- Teachers continuously have discussions with students
when bullying is observed or mentioned.
Wednesday, August 19, 15

Wednesday, August 19, 15

DRHS WAYS TO PREVENT

CONTINUED....
KINDNESS ACTIVITIES:
1.) Kindness Cards -These are done as freshmen in health class. Each
student is to write at least one nice thing about each person in the
classroom. The students are to write it on an index card and then must
sign their names after the comment.
2.) Warm and Fuzzy- In sophomore english, the teacher will place a
white piece of paper on the board for every student in the school.
Throughout one week, sophomores can write something nice on a sticky
for whoever theyd like. They can write as many as theyd like for an
unlimited number of students.

Wednesday, August 19, 15

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO
STOP BULLYING?
You may never know what a person has
been through, is going through or will
go through......
Too many kids take their own lives, or
someone elses as a result of bullying.
WE DO NOT WANT THIS TO BE ONE OF
OUR STUDENTS:
Phoebe Prince had no safe place to go at South
Hadley High School.Court paperwork reveals that
the 15-year old freshman suffered harassment in
the hallways, the library, the classrooms, the
lunchroom and even the bathroom.According to
witness, the bullies hissed curse words, yelled
obscenities and threatened to beat her up,
sometimes within earshot of school faculty. As
Phoebe walked home from school on the final day
of her life, (a peer) passing by in a vehicle (threw)
an empty energy drink can in Phoebes direction
and yelled something degrading. Phoebe was crying
as she continued her walk. When she arrived home
she hanged herself in a stairwell, wearing the same
clothing she had on at school that day. ( The
Bullying Project)
Wednesday, August 19, 15

A t-shirt made for the Clothesline Project in my health class

WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP

BULLYING?
Teachers/Administrators:
1.) NEVER IGNORE IT
2.)ALWAYS INTERVENE
3.) Provide education about appropriate
online use in technology class
4.) Harsh penalties for bullies
5.) Enforce our handbook
harassment policy
6.) Anti-bulling programs
7.) Offer group support programs for all
at-risk students
Wednesday, August 19, 15

WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP

BULLYING?
Parents:
1.) Always keep an open line of communication with
their children/teachers/school
2.) Provide support, understanding & love
3.) Explain to their children how to create strong
passwords online & what is ok to share online.
4.) Set a good example with behavior/manners/character

Wednesday, August 19, 15

WHAT CAN WE DO TO STOP

BULLYING?
Students play an important role
in stopping bullying from
continuing because they are the
ones involved.
What can students do:
1.) Be an UPSTANDER, not a
bystander
2.) Tell a trusted adult
3.)Be a good friend
4.) Dont give the bully an
audience
5.) Always be a good role model
(What is bullying?)
Wednesday, August 19, 15

REFERENCES
Abc's of education:cyberbullying. (2008). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=Bxmi8Bo600Y&feature=channel&noredirect=1
Farrell, A.D., Sullivan, T.N. (2004). Impact of witnessing violence on growth curves for
problem behaviors among early adolescents in urban and rural settings. Journal of
Community Psychology 32(5).
Rigby, K. (1993). Dimensions of interpersonal relation among Australian children and
implications for psychological well-being. Journal of Social Psychology 133 (1).
What is bullying?. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.stopbullying.gov/what-isbullying/index.html
Williams, E. (2010). The bullying project. Retrieved from http://bullyingproject.com

Wednesday, August 19, 15