Bully-Proofing Youth

An Anonymous Reporting System is implemented in each school because most bullying happens under the R.A.D.A.R. of adults. Children can discretely let a teacher know when they see physical bullying occur, or are the target of a physical bully. The teacher then writes down what is reported and puts the report in a central location. The reporting system allows teachers and administrators to give hard evidence to both the victim and bully’s parents if there is any question about their child’s behavior. Action can be taken when the school feels there is enough evidence to indicate what is truly happening. Kids who physically bully will have several victims, and the pattern will be clear once reports are accumulated. This evidence helps to avoid the stand-off that often occurs between two sets of parents who each believe their child is innocent. Additionally, the kids doing the bullying benefit from this anonymous reporting system because the school can provide the parents with peer evidence that their child is targeting other students. The school is then in a position to assist both sets of parents in getting help for their son or daughter instead of being in a stand-off trying to convince the targeting child's parents that there is even a problem.

A second important component of the Bully-Proofing Youth program is the Staff Workshop and the Anonymous Peer Rating Tool. The staff workshop is a 90-120 minute training that focuses on specific skills for reducing bullying in the school. The staff workshop can be shorter in duration depending on the school schedule.

Teachers and administrators will learn how to accurately identify the two types of bullies and the two types of victims using the Anonymous Reporting System as well as the Anonymous Peer Rating Tool. Teachers will also receive targeted training on how to structure and re-map their classrooms, communicate with parents of bullies and victims, handle bullying situations directly, and reinforce the steps taught during the student assemblies. They are provided with a printable description of how to generate the Anonymous Peer Rating Tool for their school, and given detailed instructions on how it should be administered. This tool is administered by teachers and allows students to anonymously evaluate the behaviors of each peer in their grade. It identifies not just bullies, but also victims, and students who are neither (The “true leaders” of the school).

After compiling the students’ input, the teacher can derive a bully and victim score for each child. This score can then be compared with future scores to measure improvements in behavior. This information is kept very confidential, it is not shared with other students or other parents, and is only used to benefit victims, bullies, and their families. If workshop time permits, teachers will also learn the step-by-step connection method to help children who are targeted, as well as those who target others, connect with peers. They will also be trained in how to reduce rumor/isolation bullying, and learn specific ways to discourage and consequence this type of behavior. Teachers will also learn to bring kids on the social fringes into the social groups.