Pride Learning Survey Results

Every year, Chelsea Middle Schools students take the Pride Learning Survey. (This link http://www.pridesurveys.com/ provides access to more information about the survey.) Shelby County schools conduct the survey every year for grades 6-12 to develop meaningful goals and objectives, to plan programs, and to create positive public image. The Pride survey questionnaire for grades 6-12 asks students to report the following information:

• incidence of alcohol, tobacco and drug use
• age of onset of drug use;
• perceived risk of drugs;
• parents'/friends' approval of student use of drugs or threatening behavior;
• risk and protective factors;
• discipline problems at school and outside school;
• feeling of safety at school and in neighborhood;
• time of day/week for using drugs;
• ease of obtaining drugs;
• location of drug use;
• effect of using drugs;
• personal and family information;
• academic achievement;
• activities at school and in community;
• family life.

The survey results are distributed to the schools during the summer months so that faculty and staff can use the results/data to create goals for the school improvement plan. The survey conducted for the 2010-2011 school year along with discipline data assisted us in creating a school improvement goal to focus on reducing incidents of bullying/harassment during the 2011-2012 school year.

The following data was used in our decision-making process.

Pride Survey Results on bullying-related questions: 

Question #17 Does your school set clear rules on bullying?

73% of students used the reponse of often or a lot

Question # 59 To what degree do the following interfere with your class work:  Bullying (verbal, physical, emotional).

27.9% of students used the response of some and a lot

Question # 60 To what degree do the following interfere with your class work: Cyberbullying.

13.4% of students used the response of some and a lot

Question #64 This year at schoool, how many times have: You been called mean names, been made fun of, or been teased in a hurtful way?

23.1 % of students used the response of once/week or several/week

Question #65 This year at schoool, how many times have: Other students told lies or spread false rumors about you?

14.9 % of students used the response of once/week or several/week

Question #66 This year at school, how many times have:  Other studetns threatened or forced you to do things you did not want to do?

7.5% of students used the response of once/week or several/week

Question #67 This year at school, how many times have:  Other students used the Internet or a cell phone to threaten or embarrass you by posting mean messages or photos of you?

5.3% of students used the response of once/week or several/week

Question #98 While at school have you (Past Year): Had a student threaten to hit, slap or kick you?

5.3%  of students used the response of once/week or several/week

We used these statistics to develop our goal of reduction of number of bullying/harassment instances. In addition, we are addressing bullying/harassment through our Advisory Program. In my next post, I will discuss how we are using the Advisory Program to address creating good character traits in all students.

Cyberbullying

One of the main bullying issues that we have to deal with is cyberbullying. The formal definition of cyberbullying is intentional and repeated use of computer and cell phone networks by kids and teens to cause harm or distress to other kids and teens. (Cybersmart Curriculum). Another extended definition is that "Cyberbullying" is when a child, preteen or teen is tormented, threatened, harassed, humiliated, embarrassed or otherwise targeted by another child, preteen or teen using the Internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones. It has to have a minor on both sides, or at least have been instigated by a minor against another minor. Once adults become involved, it is plain and simple cyber-harassment or cyberstalking. Adult cyber-harassment or cyberstalking is NEVER called cyberbullying. (Stop Cyberbullying website).

This link http://cybersmartcurriculum.org/assets/files/HC_68.pdf provides a resource of what students and parents should know regarding how to handle cyberbullying.

Most of the time the cyberbullying incidents begin outside of school, and then interfere with the school’s instructional processes. This occurs either because the students start fighting in school or a student is so upset that they cannot function at school. The Shelby County Board of Education has an anti-harrassment policy and a reporting form (http://www.shelbyed.k12.al.us/doclibrary/StudentServ/Harass-Bully-IncidentReportingForm.pdf) which is available on the school website for parents and students to report bullying. In addition, the board policy on acceptable use of technology also addresses that students should not use technology resources to harass another student.

There are two distinct ways that we handle all bullying situations. We can mediate between the students through counseling, and/or we can discipline the bully if we think that is necessary. One of the basic principles of our conversations with students is to inform them of what they are doing which has upset the victim. And then explain why it is wrong. We also give tips to the victims and the bully on how to handle situations. One way we handle cyberbullying is through mediation by the counselors. We discuss what the causes of the conflict were, then we look at how the students can either repair their relationships or how they can coexist without any more issues. As we are working with the students we might provide a bully quiz such as this link http://www.stopcyberbullying.org/tweens/are_you_a_cyberbully.html so that students can reflect on what has occurred and decide are they a bully or are they a victim?

If we discipline a student for bullying, we have a Class I violation which deals with the distraction of other students or the school program in general. We also can handle this through a Class II violation regrading threat, harassment, intimidation or bullying of students. There is also a Class III violation relating to harassment.

Finally, if a student is having issues with cyberbullying, the parents and students should remember to keep copies of disturbing communications, so if needed, the information can be turned over to the proper authorities, whether the bully’s parents, school authorities, or law enforcement.

Bullying and Harassment Resources on Twitter

https://twitter.com/#!/cindycruce/bullying-resources/members

My Twitter list is comprised of resources related to bullying and harassment. In addition, I have provided links to information regarding having positive social relationships and a positive school climate. Having a positive school climate is important so that students who encounter bullying have a safe place or adult who will be his/her advocate.

As an administrator, I work closely with our counselors to resolve bullying and harassment issues. These issues could range from cyberbullying outside of school to physical bullying during school. As I am working with students, teachers, and parents, I am always looking for appropriate resources to use whether for the bully, the bystander, or the victim. As I was evaluating the resources on the list, I looked for resources that I could actually use or resources that I would recommend to parents. Usually parents of students who are bullied ask me what they can do so I like to have a list of things to help them. We also have an advisory program at my school where we address bullying so I added resources that I thought the teachers could actually use for their advisory period. Finally, I looked for resources that also would benefit the students. As I was conducting the search for bullying resources on Twitter, I realized that not everything that pulled up during the search would be useful for schools, but that there are great resources that I did not know about until I conducted my search.

For instance, I really liked the site Bulliesout@bulliesout which provides online mentors for children who are bullied. This is powerful for children to have an anonymous person to talk to. Some children don’t want to admit they are being bullied to their parents so this gives them someone else to talk to. Another good account for students is Annie Fox, M.Ed.@Annie_Fox in which Dr. Fox provides positive information for parents and teens needing help with problems. In addition, this linked to her blog where she discusses friendships.

Regarding having a positive school climate, I liked the CommunityMatters@safeschoolambas account which linked up to a website that had a climate survey that I thought a school like ours could use immediately. A good site for teachers was the James Burns site that linked to the Bully-Proof Classroom. The site offered lesson plans for teachers. The Stop Bullying Now!@StopBullyingNow account also provided great resources such as the following YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_profilepage&v=h1gJY4vNQs8

which discusses what children are doing to combat bullying.

At this point, I believe that each one of the resources on my Twitter list could be used by students, teachers, and parents to deal with bullying and harassment issues. And in the future I will be providing more information to help children connect safely to the Internet, combat bullying, and provide lesson plan resources on bullying education.