Lakeview Non-physically Attacks Bully Issue
Lakeview Middle School implemented the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program this year. In January, the school held student assemblies to let students know about the program.
The Olweus program was devised by Dan Olweus, PhD, a Norwegian researcher considered to be among the world’s foremost authority on bullying and school violence. The program advocates direct intervention in bullying cases and establishes a set of guidelines for doing so.
“The Lakeview staff decided to implement the Olweus program because research shows that it improves the school culture through the combined efforts of students, staff, parents and community,” said in a release.
This month, the school held a parent information meeting for parents of Lakeview and Plaza middle school students.
Parents learned about the various roles each student plays in bullying situations and ways to change those roles. The Lakeview staff shared results from a student survey about bullying, informed parents about the rules and procedures that have been put in place this year, and discussed ways each parent can help deal with this serious issue.
Research by the Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education involving 37 school shootings, including Columbine, finds that about two-thirds of student shooters felt bullied, harassed, threatened or injured by others. Most school bullying cases do not lead to school shootings, researchers added.
Sidebar:
WHO ARE THE BULLIES?
According to Dr. Olweus, bullies:
• Have a strong need to dominate and subdue other students and to get their own way
• Are impulsive and are easily angered
• Are often defiant and aggressive toward adults, including parents and teachers
• Show little empathy toward students who are victimized
• If they are boys, they are physically stronger than boys in general
WHO ARE THE BULLIED?
According to Dr. Olweus, the picked-on:
• Are cautious, sensitive, quiet, withdrawn and shy
• Are often anxious, insecure, unhappy and have low self-esteem
• Are depressed and engage in suicidal ideation much more often than their peers
• Often do not have a single good friend and relate better to adults than to peers
• If they are boys, they may be physically weaker than their peers