Bullying is an enormous problem, and we must all do our part to impact it. Five Tips to Help Principals Prevent Bullying
Effectively addressing a bullying problem re-
quires a culture change. A true culture change takes time, but a few key steps to help principals get started:
Practice What You Preach Don't use your status as the school leader as
the lever for change; instead, "listen before talking and reflect before acting."
Assess the Extent of the Problem Survey students, staff and parents to find out
how much and what type of bullying is going, as well as where and when, to target prevention ef- forts.
Develop a School-Wide Code of Conduct Reinforce school values and clearly defines
unacceptable behavior and consequences. Em- power bystanders -- teachers and especially stu- dents -- to help enforce it by training them to iden- tify and respond to inappropriate behavior.
Increase Adult Supervision Most bullying happens when adults are not pre-
sent, so make sure they are "visible and vigilant" in hallways, stairwells, cafeterias and locker rooms, as well as on buses and the way to and from school for students who walk.
Conduct Bullying Prevention Activities Such as all-school assemblies, communications
campaigns or creative arts contests highlighting school values to bring the community together and reinforce the message that bullying is wrong.
Five Tips to Help Teachers Prevent Bullying Even when a school leader doesn't have a for-
mal bullying prevention agenda, teachers can cre- 35
ate safe, bully-free zones in their classrooms:
Know Your School and District Policies on Bullying Do your part to implement them effectively.
Treat Students and Others with Warmth and Respect Let students know that you are available to listen and help them.
Conduct Classroom Activities around Bullying Help your class identify bullying in books, TV
shows and movies, and discuss the impact of that bullying and how it was/could be resolved. Hold class meetings in which students can talk about bullying and peer relations.
Discuss Bullying with Colleagues As a group, you will be better able to monitor
the school environment. Discuss both bullying in general and concerns regarding specific students.
Take Immediate Action Failure to act provides tacit approval of the be- havior and can cause it to spread.
Five Tips to Help Parents Prevent Bullying Parents and guardians are among a school's
best allies in bullying prevention:
Talk with and Listen to Your Children Every- day
Ask questions about their school day, including
experiences on the way to and from school, lunch, and recess. Ask about their peers. Children who feel comfortable talking to their parents about these matters before they are involved in bullying are more likely to get them involved after.
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