Olweus Bullying Prevention Program Overview

Jefferson Middle School

“Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending himself or herself.”

OBPP Teacher Guide, p. xii

What Is Bullying?

Three Key Components of Bullying Behavior

1. Involves an aggressive behavior

2. Typically involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time

3. Involves an imbalance of power or strength

Direct Bullying

• Hitting, kicking, shoving, spitting

• Taunting, name-calling, using degrading comments

• Threatening or obscene gestures

Indirect Bullying

• Getting another person to bully someone

• Spreading rumors• Causing another

person to be socially isolated

• Cyber bullying

Effects of Being Bullied

• Lower self-esteem• Depression and anxiety• Absenteeism and lowered

school achievement• Thoughts of suicide• Illness

Prevalence of Bullying NationallyThe first national study of bullying used a sample of 15,600 students in grades 6 to 10.

• 19% of students reported bullying others “sometimes” or more often during the school term

• 17% reported being bullied “sometimes” or more often

• 6.3% reported bullying and being bullied

Nansel, T. R., M. Overpeck, R. S. Pilla, W. J. Ruan, B. Simmons-Morton, and P. Scheidt, “Bullying Behaviors among U.S. Youth,” Journal of the American Medical Association 16 (2001): 2094–2100.

OBPP is . . .• designed for ALL

students, not just bullies• proactive and responsive• focused on changing

norms and restructuring the school setting

• research-based• NOT time-limited:

requires systematic efforts over time

OBPP is not…• a curriculum• a conflict resolution

approach• a peer mediation

program• an anger management

program

Program Principles1. Adults need to show warmth, positive interest, and

involvement. (“Caring adult”)

2. Set firm limits for unacceptable behavior. (Rules)

3. Teach empathy, encourage bystanders to help.

4. Intervene using nonphysical, non-hostile, negative consequences when rules are broken.

5. Adults in the school should act as authorities and positive role models.

Other key pieces of information you should know…

• Only 50% reduction

• “One good friend” makes the difference

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Program Components

School

Classroom

Individual

Community

ParentsParents

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School-wide Components1. Coordinating committee2. Training3. Questionnaire4. Team meetings / Staff meetings to discuss5. School rules and consequences6. Increase supervision7. Partner with parents8. Host a kick-off event

.

.

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SPSP

Thomas Jefferson Middle School A C a r i n g C o mmu n i t y

1. Respect yourself and others.

2. Be understanding and empathetic of others’ feelings, needs and challenges.

3. Include others in activities and conversations.

4. Stand up for what is right.

5. Solve problems creatively and peacefully.

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Classroom ComponentsClassroom Components1.Classroom rules posted and discussed2.Regular class meetings 3.Positive classroom climate and reinforcement

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Individual-Level ComponentsIndividual-Level Components1.Supervise students’ activities2.Ensure that all staff intervene on-the-spot when bullying occurs3.Hold meetings with students involved in bullying4.Develop individual intervention plans for involved students

Take-Home Message• Things are different now for kids.• It is possible to reduce bullying, but schools

cannot do it alone.• It requires a team effort and a long-term

commitment.

For more information about the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program

www.olweus.org

1-800-328-9000 in the U.S.

1-651-213-4590 outside the U.S.

For more information about OBPP training

www.olweus.org

or contact Dr. Marlene Snyder at

nobully@clemson.edu

1-864-710-4562