Bullying Prevention

Guide for Suggested Talking Points

Brief Overview

1. Present main points from:
   Bullying: A Major Barrier to Student Learning - Excerpted from the Fall 2001 Addressing Barriers to Learning newsletter (Vol. 6, #4).
    
   1. The introduction provides a brief description of the types of behaviors which are subsumed under the definition of "bullying," and includes statistics on bullying which may be used to introduce the extent of the problem.
       
   2. Note the section entitled "Understanding Why," which provides information regarding the underlying psychological factors which may contribute to the development of bullying behaviors.
       
   3. The points under the section titled "What to do" can form the basis for discussion in an effort to understand the associations between different forms of bullying, their unique causes, and the school's role in providing interventions that will address the source and nature of the problem.
       
2. Review Study
   Bullying common, linked to poor psychosocial adjustment. - Excerpt from The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, June, 2001. Available from AccessMyLibrary.com (http://accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-752554_ITM)
    
   1. This review of a research article provides more detailed information regarding the nature and extent of bullying in the US described in the brief overview (above).
       

Fact Sheets

1. Addressing the Problem of Juvenile Bullying - US Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (June 2001). OJJDP Fact Sheet #27. (http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/ojjdp/fs200127.pdf)
    
   1. This fact sheet provides an overview of bullying. In addition, note the section entitled "The Effects of Bullying," which provides an argument for the association between bullying and subsequent social as well as academic problems in childhood and throughout adult life.
       
   2. "Addressing the Problem" provides bulleted strategies for intervening at all levels of the school system that have been proven effective. This section may provide a starting point for discussing intervention at the school, classroom and individual levels.
       
   3. A model program discussed in this article (Olweus Bullying Prevention Program) is referenced at the end. More information about the program can also be found online: http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/modelprograms/BPP.html
       
2. Bullying Prevention: Recommendations for Schools - Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence Fact Sheet (http://www.colorado.edu/cspv/publications/factsheets/safeschools/FS-SC08.pdf)
    
   1. This fact sheet provides a more comprehensive explanation of how interventions must target all relevant levels (school, classroom and individual) to eradicate bullying in schools (as discussed in Addressing the Problem of Juvenile Bullying). More in depth strategies are provided as to how schools can begin to affect change at these levels. You can refer to this fact sheet if further information is requested regarding system-level strategies.
       
3. Bullying - Voices for Children Fact Sheet (http://www.voicesforchildren.org)
    
   1. The section entitled "Why care about bullying?" is targeted towards school administrators and staff. It provides statistics and consequences, as well as factors that may make school personnel less aware of the extent of the problem. This section may be helpful in providing a case for discussion.
       
   2. Note the section on peer-focused intervention strategies listed in this fact sheet. This section highlights why peer intervention is important, and how it can be effective.
       

Tools/Handouts

Here are some sample surveys that are intended to assess the frequency and nature of bullying in your school, with the ultimate objective being to determine the need for intervention.

1. Staff Survey on School Violence
    
2. Student Surveys
    
   1. Primary School Student Survey
       
   2. Intermediate to High School Student Survey
       

Model Programs and Additional Resources

1. Classroom Resources - Excerpted from Preventing Bullying: A Manual for Schools and Communities. US Department of Education (1998).
    
   1. This section provides information regarding specific resource materials for educators on the subject of bullying.
       
2. Innovative Approaches to Bully Prevention - Excerpted from Preventing Bullying: A Manual for Schools and Communities. US Department of Education (1998).
    
   1. This section provides specific examples of how other schools are addressing the bullying problem. This might form the basis for a discussion about how your school will address the problem.
       
3. Additional References - Provided for further reading on the research and interventions for bullying.
4. Quick Find on Bullying (printer-friendly format)
   To view the web-based quick find on Bullying, click here.

Originals for Overheads

The following can be copied to overhead transparencies to assist in presenting this material.

1. Facts about Bullying
2. Bullying Prevention: Recommendations for Schools

This material provided by:

UCLA Center for Mental Health in Schools/Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563 TEL: (310) 825-3634/ Fax: (310) 206-5895/ Email: smhp@ucla.edu

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