A Safe Start to the Year: Fostering a Bullying-Free Climate in Schools

by Bailey Triggs

The start of a new school year is an exciting time for many kids – a chance to reconnect with friends and swap stories of summer adventures. But for children who are the victims of bullying, the first day of school is a time of anxiety and dread. According the 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), nationwide, 20% of students in grades 9–12 experienced bullying.

At the Children’s Safety Network, we’re dedicated to working in partnership with state health departments -- maternal & child health programs and injury & violence prevention programs who engage health care specialists, educators, and parents to create an environment where all children and youth are safe and healthy. That’s why we’ve selected Bullying Prevention as one of our key injury prevention topics.

On July 24, CSN invited Ed Donnelly, Senior Technical Assistance Specialist at Education Development Center, Inc. – the central figure for the Bully Prevention and Intervention Initiative of the Boston Public Schools –  to present the webinar: “Implementing Bullying Prevention in Schools: Boston's Story.”

“Teachers are great,” Donnelly said, addressing the student complaint that reporting bullying is pointless because teachers can’t help them, “Teachers will help out any chance they get – all they need are the tools.”

To help build these tools, Donnelly outlined several steps educators, all staff, and administrators should take to effectively deal with bullying:

• Act on bullying reports immediately
• Assure targets (if they are known) that school personnel will follow up on reports, and take appropriate action
• Do not blame the target
• Parental involvement prior to bullying issues
• Support parents’ efforts to teach children good social skills
• Provide early intervention
• Balance discipline with behavioral supports
• Equip teachers and staff with prevention and intervention skills

In addition to empowering teachers with the skills to effectively address bullying in their schools, Donnelly argues for the need for a school climate change. “The issue becomes creating the culture and climate in schools where [bullying is] just not accepted,” Donnelly said. “We don’t have to worry about the victim jumping up and saying ‘Don’t do that to me!’ We should have kids that are around there – the bystanders – they’re the ones who jump up and say ‘Hey that’s not cool do to that, leave the kid alone.’”

Additional CSN Resources:

Implementing Bullying Prevention in Schools: Boston's Story

Summary of Findings: CSN Bulling Prevention Environmental Scan

Bullying Prevention Resources Guide

Preventing Bullying: The Role of Public Health and Safety Professionals