I Want You … To Fight Against Bullying

http://www.safenetwork.org/Bully_Prevention_In_Schools.htm

Bullying has received a considerable amount of attention over the last decade following a number of high-profile school shootings and unfortunate acts of suicide. We at CHARACTERplus believe bullying to be a serious issue and deserving of attention, awareness and action.  Educators, parents and students need to be aware of how to address inappropriate bully behavior while making notice of appropriate actions.

CHARACTERplus is one of the key forces in bully prevention in the St. Louis Region, sponsoring the NEA Bullying and Sexual Harassment Prevention/Intervention Workshops since 2004, learning from national experts, and delivering trainings to schools throughout the state. More than 500 educators from over 45 districts have participated in the two-day training sessions. Using the research-based Olweus model, the approach involves a school leadership team including administration, teachers, counselors and parents.

CHARACTERplus’ goals are to address the common definitions for bullying and harassment, distinguish between facts and myths, implement well-designed and well-communicated policies, conduct anonymous student surveys to determine the extent of bullying and targets “hot spots” analyses of school buildings.

Bullying is one of many factors which must be taken into consideration in developing a safer school. Bully-prevention efforts and initiatives are one of many strategies that should be included in a comprehensive school safety program that addresses school student behavior codes.

Join the force to fight to prevent bullying by attending the Conference this June to participate in a break-out session with Tina Meier. Tina Meier lost her daughter, Megan Meier, to cyber-bullying in 2006. Meier knew firsthand the results and the impact bullying has on a child’s development. Therefore, she founded the Megan Meier Foundation, which is dedicated to bring awareness and prevention methods to stop the ongoing bullying in today’s society.

By having firm, fair and consistent discipline enforcement in schools, it improves school climate and enforces good character skills. Good character and school climate strategies, combined with balanced and reasonable security measures targeting “hot spots” where bullying occurs, can create a safer and more secure climate for students.  This can in turn reduce the likelihood of bullying, cyber- bullying and suicides.

For more information, please visit www.Characterplus.org

-Liz Gibbons, Director CHARACTERplus