BCIFV home > Newsletter > 2002 Archives > Winter 2003 articles

Standing to Bullying

When teacher Ehru Kocaguney sat down with her Grade 5 class at Bayview Elementary last September, she knew social responsibility was going to be a focus for the next school year. "Most of the kids had been together since Grade 1, so there was a lot of history," she said. "A number of bullying situations had developed over the years."

To create a more positive atmosphere in the classroom, she began to teach the children how to recognize bullying, understand its impacts and reflect on their own attitudes and behaviours. She began holding "social responsibility" meetings every morning to talk about bullying incidents and how they made people feel. She started working with the Focus on Bullying and Second Step programs to help students develop impulse control and anger management skills. And she invited Dr John Taylor, a psychologist with expertise in moral development, into the classroom to lead empathy development class meetings.

The results have been dramatic. "Things are getting much better," said Kocaguney. "Students are really beginning to understand the importance of being socially responsible and empathetic in all their interactions. The kids are thinking about their actions and about other people. And they're taking responsibility for what they say and do."

Student Victoria Snashall says the social responsibility classes have helped a lot. "I like class better now," she said. "There's a lot more responsibility and everyone thinks about other people's feelings more."

According to Lisa Pedrini, Violence Prevention Coordinator for the Vancouver School Board, approximately 15% of children are bullied to the point where it affects their schoolworik. Bullying can take the form of name calling, exclusion from peer groups and physical attacks." The effects of bullying can range anywhere from not wanting to go to school and lowered self-esteem to abrupt changes in behavior and depression," she said, "to extreme forms, some students have suicidal thoughts."

To help eliminate bullying, Pedrini worked with Jan Sippel, Abuse Prevention Coordinator for the VSB, to develop the Focus on Bullying program in 1997. The first component of the program is designed to help schools create a climate in which bullying is less likely to occur. This entails raising awareness of the problem of bullying among parents and staff, creating a school-wide code of conduct and creating a plan to deal effectively with victims of bullying.

Nearly half the District's elementary schools, including Bayview, have already implemented Focus on Bullying, and many others are planning to soon. Impressed by the success of the program, the provincial government adopted the materials from the VSB in 1999 and has provided them to schools throughout the province.

Pedrini is encouraged that bullying is being taken more seriously at all levels of society, since it can have effects beyond the schoolyard. "As we learn more about violent behaviour in general, we are understanding the importance of early intervention to prevent a cycle of violence," she said. "If bullying goes unchecked then children learn they can use power over others in inappropriate ways to get what they want. It's important to give students good social skills and problem solving techniques they can turn to later in life."

Spotting Bullying

Children and teens rarely reveal that they're being bullied.They may be afraid of retaliation, worry they will be seen as a "wimp" or believe that nothing can be done to change the situation. However, there are signs you can look for if you suspect your child is being bullied.

They include:

• Upset stomachs
• Sleeplessness
• School avoidance
• Loss of personal possessions sSulking behavior
• Dishevelment or hunger upon returning from school
• Lack of contact and social interaction with peer group

If your child is being bullied, never blame the child for the harassment or suggest he or she "stand up" to the person doing the bullying. Instead, be supportive and contact the school principal to report the bullying behaviour.

For more information, contact: Live Violence Free 1-888-606-LIVE
BC Safe Schools Centre (604) 660-SAFE
www.safetogether.ca