The Session: Bullying-it's not just for kids anymore

Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” The 3 Rs of Bully Prevention (Lori Ernsperger, Ph.D., BCBA-D)·  Recognize,·  Respond,·  Report.·  The U. S. Dept of Ed. Now calls bullying a school safety issue!Recognize The U.S. Department of Education estimates that 32% of all middle school and high school students are bullied in school. In addition, it has been reported that 60% of children with disabilities are bulliedin schools (Ability Path, 2011). A study of students with physical disabilities demonstrated that they were more likely to be called names and excluded from activities (Olweus, 1993).  Respond·  Bullies can be about anyone given the right conditions. Bullies can be from different cultures and can be as regular kids·  Bullying (often) occurs in unstructured school areas including playgrounds, hallways, cafeteria and the school bus. Bullying can also occur at other·  Including educationally sponsored events, such as field trips, school assemblies, and athletic events,·  Two important keys in responding should be immediate and consistent.Report·  To eliminate bullying and create a safe learning environment, parents and professionals must systematically report bullying to school officials.·  According to Stopbullying.gov, all school personnel including paraprofessionals, office assistants, transportation staff, coaches, and school monitors should be thoroughly trained in reporting and tracking all bullying experiences. Without quantitative bullying data, school districts will be ineffectual in designing interventions that are individualized and target the serious nature of the problem.  To reach Tom Russell, please call 419-709-8447, email Tom at [email protected], or visit his website at https://www.heritagechristiancounselingofmansfield.com