Libby Elementary School students learn about bullying

Bullying among school-age children can cause effects that last well into adulthood and result in various negative outcomes, including physical injury, depression, dropping out of school and even death.

With an eye toward reducing bullying behavior, in October, Libby Elementary School students in grades kindergarten through sixth have participated in classes designed to reduce bullying behavior using the Second Step Bully Prevention curriculum.

“While we may never be able to completely eliminate bullying we can build the expectation that mean and disrespectful words and actions are not just a normal part of life but are harmful and unacceptable at our school,” said Brittany Katzer, school Counselor and Behavior Interventionist at Libby Elementary. “All students benefit from a safe and respectful learning environment. Being the target of bullying interferes with a student’s ability to engage with school and puts them at risk for anxiety, depression and in some cases suicidal ideation. Students who engage in bullying others are also at risk for future problems.”

Katzer said sixth grade students had bully prevention lessons as part of their Second Step lessons. Students K-5 will have these lessons with their school counselors.

“But it is also important that teachers and staff understand the concepts and language used so that we can work together to create a safe and respectful learning environment,” Katzer added.

In the prevention program students learned about the three Rs of preventing bullying, including recognize, report and refuse bullying and how to use their power as a bystander to help others.

Katzer shared further details of the three Rs.

Recognize

Bullying is mean or hurtful behavior that keeps happening. It is unfair and one sided. Bullying is not safe, respectful, or kind. It is against the rules. Recognizing bullying Is the first step in getting it to stop.

Report

If you cannot get mean behaviors to stop you must tell a caring adult. Reporting is assertive behavior. Adults can help make school safer and more respectful for all students. Sometimes adults do not see that bullying is happening so reporting is helpful. Reporting is different from tattling (where you tell an adult about a minor misbehavior of another student in hopes the student will get in trouble or expect an adult to solve a problem you can solve yourself). Reporting is when there is unsafe behavior, someone is hurt, or there is bullying and you need help from an adult to make it stop.

Refuse

You can refuse to let bullying happen to you or to others. Being assertive is one way to refuse bullying

Bystanders are people who see or know about bullying happening to others. There are things bystanders can do to help stop bullying.

“All students who were here last year are familiar with these concepts,” Katzer said. “This year we will build on the concepts and practice the skills needed to recognize, report, and refuse bullying and to use the power of bystanders to to stop bullying.”

Katzer also said that many students and families are quick to label any behavior that is mean or undesired as bullying so it is important to clearly define what bullying is.

Bullying is recognized and defined by three primary characteristics.

• Aggressive behavior that is repeated over time. One time is mean, it turns into bullying when it keeps happening;

• It occurs in a relationship where there is a power imbalance. The target is unable to stop the behavior as the perpetrator is older, bigger, stronger, has more social power, or others join in or support the bully.

• Is intended to cause harm or distress and has a serious harmful or distressing effect on the target.

Bullying is different from rough and tumble play where children are participating voluntarily and it is different from conflict where peers of equal status disagree and can resolve their differences using problem solving strategies or mediation.

Adults must respond differently to bullying.

Katzer said it is common when discussing bullying for some students to assert that violence against the person(s) doing bullying behavior is the best solution.

While it may be true in some situations that a good thrashing or dose of humiliation might curtail the situation it is more likely to cause the perpetrator to feel justified in continuing to bully and escalate the situation into something much worse.

“Violence always has consequences such as getting hurt, injuring others, and getting into trouble at school or with the law,” Katzer said. “Besides the fact that targets of bullying are usually already at a disadvantage, it puts them at great risk if they choose violence. Being assertive, getting help from adults, and building personal power is a safer and more effective approach.”

Katzer also pointed out that retaliating with violence does not build healthy relationships but perpetuates a culture of violence and intimidation which is the opposite of the safe and respectful atmosphere which promotes learning.

“We encourage students to report bullying to administration and it will be investigated,” Katzer said. “Students are encouraged to support each other and not encourage others to engage in bullying behavior.”

stopbullying.gov is an excellent resource for information about bullying and has many informative videos appropriate for showing to students.