Back-To-School Supplies!

Parents, guardians and children are gearing up for the start of another school year! Many of us are thinking about school supplies, clothes, shoes and other necessities that our children need before day one. As a counselor, social worker, author of a bully-prevention book and most important, a parent of two children in elementary and middle school, I am also thinking of a necessity that is not on the school supply or school clothing list and can not be purchased; the need to an open and consistant dialogue with my children throughout the school year. According to the book, Child Development, Davis(2004) suggests that "consistent and open dialogue between parents and their children on specific social interests and concerns help improve communications and help children with resilience issues and self-esteem". I am aware that my children will witness bullying behavior, mean-girl behavior, teasing and other behaviors that will make them feel uncomfortable or make others feel uncomfortable this school year. According to SAMHSA(2006), "victimization due to bullying may result in absenteeism, social exclusion, lower academic achievement and internalizing problems such as depression, anxiety, and lower psychosocial adjustments". I strongly believe that there is truth in what Davis suggests and the SAMHSA research. Therefore, high on my list of necessary school supplies is an open and consistent dialogue with my children. My hope is that all parents and guardians practice listening and maintaining an open, consistent dialogue with their children in order to reduce the harm to our children from bullying behavior and increase their self-esteem.

New Anti-Bullying Law in Massachusetts!

It is with great pleasure to write about the new anti-bullying program that is now required in schools in Massachusetts. On March 25, 2010, the House approved a bill that requires all public schools, charter schools and some schools providing special education services to develop and implement a plan to prevent bullying and cyber-bullying from happening and to discipline bullies. The law prohibits any bullying on school grounds; at any school sponsored event on or off campus; through the use of the school's computer system while on or off campus; through the use of any personal digital device on campus and in any non-school related situations if the bullying affects the school environment or creates a hostile environment at school for the victim.
The law also requires schools to develop a bullying prevention plan and to integrate bullying prevention instruction into their curriculum. Another provision requires schools to report incidents of bullying to local police and prosecutors if it is possible that criminal charges might be pursued.

Bully-Proof Workshop for Parents!

All Parents, Guardians and Teachers!
Please don't miss the Bully-Proof Workshop to be held at Chickering Elementary School in Dover, Ma. on March 2nd between 7PM and 9PM! This workshop is designed for parents and guardians to help them understand the different modes of bullying and learn about the bully-proof techniques and tools to help their children deal with bullying. The meeting will feature Brigitte Berman, the 16 year-old author of Dorie Witt's Guide to Surviving Bullies. Brigitte is an excellent speaker on bullying and will retell her own first hand accounts of bullying. She also has a website for visitors to view her book, purchase merchandise and join in on a discussion. Her website is www.doriewitt.com Then, I will offer Bully-Proof Techniques and Tools for Parents to help them understand bullying and learn ways to help their children deal with bullying. The tools that I will present are worksheets from my guidebook, A Family Guidebook on Bullies, Self-Esteem and Hidden Hurts! I will demonstrate Bully-Proof techniques and Active-Bystander techniques. I also have a website for visitors. It is www.bulliesguidebook.com Also, Officer Aaron Mick will speak on the topic of Bullying. The workshop is open and I hope you can attend!
Elizabeth

Every State Needs Anti-Bullying Legislation!

Did you know that a third(5.7 million) of students nationwide in grades 6-10 have either bullied another student at school or been the target of a bully...within the past 30 days? Did you know that Arkansas, California,Colorado,Connecticut,Georgia,Illinois,Louisiana,New Hampshire,New Jersey,New York,Oklahoma,Oregan,Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and West Virginia are the only states in the U.S. that have passed laws addressing bullying among students? Anti-Bullying Legislation is not a cure to bullying among students, but it certainly helps! It helps the school administrators, faculty and staff to identify the characteristics of bullying and target behavior. It also helps each student feel safer in school because once identified, the bully behavior must be reported and stopped! It's time for more states to enact stricter anti-bullying legislation and to make every administrator, faculty and staff in each school accountable for stopping bully behavior. It time for our children to feel safe in school, again.