Bullyproof your school: 10 Places to start

by Lisa Sjostrom, Ed.M., author of “Bullyproof at School” © 2005, www.helpingkidsthrive.org

1. Get everyone on the same page — don't forget parents, bus drivers, janitors, lunch staff, adjunct music teachers —with the same language, rules, intervention strategies, so you can all work in concert.
2. Provide incentives for positive behavior in the classroom. Laud the courage it takes to speak and act against disrespect and cruelty. Praise acts of kindness, courage, empathy and inclusion. Bestow “Spirit” awards. Basic behavioral theory: what we focus on increases.
3. Raise “relational” awareness with kids. Discuss what it means to be a friend, leader, community member. Draw a distinction between “ratting” and reporting. Formulate a Classroom Bill of Rights. Weave conflict resolution into the ongoing curriculum.
4. Practice “zero indifference” to cruelty, physical or social. Always intervene when “just fooling around” crosses a line into meanness. 4a. Consequences should be non-hostile and applied reliably.
5. Follow up. After an intervention, check in frequently and at predetermined times with each child so they know you’re serious and “for real.”
6. Guarantee absolute anonymity to anyone who reports a bullying incident.
7. Teach the importance of reparations, of acting to repair a wrong. When possible, let the kids themselves decide the best form of amends.
8. Rolemodel respect. Refrain from cynicism and sarcasm that are often passed off as “humor” in the wider culture. You attitude and actions set a powerful example for kids.
9. Supervise everywhere, especially those “hot spots” and during high-risk times.
10. Remember: silence won’t solve the problem. Reporting is key for both kids and adults. You’re not a “bad” teacher if you ask for support. Rather, you care enough about community to admit you don’t always have all of the answers.