Quality, Safe Schools

An Introduction for Families

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Safety Introduction

Quality, Safe SchoolsQuality, Safe Schools

1.1. Children cannot focus on academics if they feel threatened or Children cannot focus on academics if they feel threatened or unsafe.unsafe.

2.2. Children do not learn social skills if they are not taught them.Children do not learn social skills if they are not taught them.3.3. Children do not learn citizenship if they are not given opportunities Children do not learn citizenship if they are not given opportunities

to participate.to participate.4.4. Children cannot focus on learning if they are hungry or Children cannot focus on learning if they are hungry or

malnourished.malnourished.5.5. Children cannot focus on learning if they have no place to live, they Children cannot focus on learning if they have no place to live, they

are being abused at home, or seeing someone else there abused.are being abused at home, or seeing someone else there abused.6.6. Children do not focus on learning if they do not feel like they Children do not focus on learning if they do not feel like they

belong.belong.

Safety Statistics

One in three high school students reported being involved in a physical fight (2003)

Nearly half of students who belong to high school organizations report being subject to hazing

Nearly 20% of US teens say they have considered suicide in the past year. Suicide is the third leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds, surpassed only by car accidents and homicide

In 2003, 31 percent of Ohio teens report experiencing some type of harassment or bullying on school grounds. The majority of these students are in the ninth and 10th grade

Parental Safety Concerns

What are your concerns?

School Safety Directive

In 1999, following the worst incident of school violence in the Nation (Columbine), Governor Bob Taft, in conjunction with the 123rd Ohio General Assembly, placed in legislation Senate Bill 1 (ORC Section 3313.536) that required every school board in Ohio to adopt a comprehensive school safety plan for each school building under its control.

Ohio School Climate Guidelines

Guideline 5Addressing Real and Perceived Threats to Safety and Security Enables Students to Focus on Learning and Teachers to Focus on Instruction.

•Crisis Management Team development

•Policies and procedures for dealing with conflict

What is Bullying?

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional, repeated over time, and

involves an imbalance of power or strength. A child who is being bullied has a hard time

defending himself or herself.

Effects of BullyingIt happens a lot more than some people think - Studies show that between 15-25% of U.S. students are bullied with some frequency, while 15-20% report they bully others with some frequency (Melton et al, 1988; Nansel et al, 2001).

It can mess up a kid's future - Young people who bully are more likely than those who don't bully to skip school and drop out of school. They are also more likely to smoke, drink alcohol and get into fights (Nansel et al, 2003; Olweus, 1993).

It scares some people so much that they skip school - As many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they're afraid of being bullied (Pollack, 1998).

It can lead to huge problems later in life - Children who bully are more likely to get into fights, vandalize property, and drop out of school. And 60% of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24 (Olweus, 1993).

Family Risk Factors for BulliesThere is no single cause of bullying among children. A host of different factors can place a child at risk for bullying his or her peers. However, it has been found that children who bully are more likely than their non-bullying peers to come from homes with certain characteristics.

•A lack of warmth and involvement on the part of parents •Overly permissive parenting (including a lack of limits for children's behavior) •A lack of supervision by parents •Harsh, physical discipline

•Bullying incidences at home.

What to do!

If you suspect your child is being bullied…

•First, focus on your child. Be supportive and gather information about the bullying. Tell your child you are concerned about him or her and ask questions.

•Contact your child's teacher and/or principal. He or she will probably be in the best position to understand the relationships between your child and other peers at school. Ask the teacher to talk to other adults who interact with your child at school to see if they have observed students bullying your child.

•If you know your child is being bullied, take quick action. There is nothing worse than doing nothing, and bullying can have serious effects.

Overall Safety

Things to do at Home…Home Safety 911 Fire drills at home Stranger danger House rules Updated medical forms Weapons and medication access Know child’s behavior so warning signs are easily detected Know child’s friends and their parents Maintain open communication with child

School Safety Learn about the school’s policies and procedures Build relationships with school staff and administrators

Helpful Questions

If your child was an instigator or a victim…

What is my role as a parent? What are my responsibilities as a parent? What is my child’s role as a student? What are my child’s responsibilities as a student? Did I get everyone’s point of view about the situation (student, teacher, principal, etc.)? Should I file a police report? Does my child need follow up services such as counseling?

Bullying Resources

24 Hour Bullying Help Line1-800-788-7254 (option #2)

Interactive Learning scenarios and modules on bullying www.ebasedprevention.org

More Information and Resources www.stopbullyingnow.org

Thank you for attending today!