Anti Bullying Curriculum

Waging War on Bullies - The DARE Example

Bullying has always been a serious problem. Between the new laws, programs and policies, you might guess that bullies are on the run.

Anti-bullying legislation and schoolprograms make identical promises.

* Both DARE and school-based anti-bully programs are created / presented by 'experts'

* Media attention helped create and intensify an anti-drug mania. Similarly, news coverage of multi-million dollar verdicts in anti-bully law suits, and the portrait of spree-killers rampaging through schools as 'troubled, bullied outcasts' helps to fuel the anti-bully campaign.

Back to the anti-bully programs infiltrating school systems across America and around the world.

Dr. David Smith, PhD, of the University of Ottawa, conducted a meta analysis of all available research studies regarding the effectiveness of whole-school anti-bullying programs.
* 100% of self-reporting bully outcome reports demonstrated negligible / negative effects

Vreeman and Carroll published a review of 26 school-based anti-bully programs in 2007 issue of the Achieves of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Only 3 could point to consistent reduction in bullying.

Bullying has become a major area of concern for schools across the country. The problem is not just in Middle schools and High Schools, but in elementary schools as well. Many states and districts have taken active roles by requiring schools to include "no bullying" messages into their curriculum. Illinois has been particularly proactive in No Bullying school programs. This article offers advice and guidance for Illinois schools and schools across the United States who want their schools to be "No Bully Zones"

There are three keys to a successful anti-bullying program.
2. Engage students in the message.
3.Keep the message in front of students.

There are many books with no Bullying messages that are good for "story time" and bedtime reading for pre-school and kindergarten age students. Suggestions of good early-reading books with no Bully messages are:

The Berenstain Bears and the Bully

The Bully Blockers Club

Lower elementary students should never be fully excluded from any type of in school bully program. 2. Engage Students

Bullying can be a hard concept for younger students to grasp, as bullying can take on many forms. No Bullying / No Bullies school assemblies are a very good way to engage students in an anti bullying message.

The purpose of bringing in a no bully school assembly program to your Illinois school is to be able to present your students with the no bullying message in a different way from how they have already heard it. A truly effective No Bullies school assembly program blends no bully themes with entertainment elements, such as comedy, skits, music, and visual aides. A No Bullies school assembly also gives your students a chance hear a no bullying message as a whole school. Younger students can see that older students are hearing the same message as them. Having your entire school community together to experience a no bullying program can be very powerful.

It is important to remember too that Illinois offers grants for No Bullying Assemblies and enrichment programs. Check to see if your school may qualify.

3. Keep The Message in Front of Students

A No Bullying message should not be limited to a one-time assembly or classroom discussion. There should be ongoing school projects and reminders to keep students involved in a No Bullying message. Making posters or banners with "No Bullying" messages and images created by students.

Putting on a short "play" or skit about bullies

Make a special display of books with Bullying themes for your school media center

Have a sign to remind students that they are in a "No Bullying Zone"