Jackson Road Elementary School

   We are an officially certified Olweus Bullying Prevention School! 

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a program designed to reduce and prevent bully/victim problems among students at school. School staff are largely responsible for introducing and implementing the program, and their efforts are directed towards improving peer relations and making the school a safe and pleasant environment.

What is Bullying?

A student is being bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more students. In bullying incidents, there is an imbalance in strength or power—a victim of bullying has a difficult time defending himself or herself. Bullying may be carried out through physical, verbal, or indirect means (e.g., excluding students). Thus, bullying is characterized by three criteria:

• It is aggressive behavior or intentional “harmdoing”

• It is carried out repeatedly and over time, and

• It occurs within an interpersonal relationship

characterized by an imbalance of power.

Why Focus On Bully/Victim Problems?

There are several critical reasons for examining and attempting to counteract bully/victim problems in school:

• Bullying may cause short-term problems for the victims (e.g., depression, anxiety, problems with school work).

• Persistent bullying can leave long-term scars on the victims (e.g., low self-esteem, depression).

• Students who bully others are especially likely to engage in other antisocial/delinquent behaviors such as vandalism, shoplifting,

truancy and frequent drug use. This antisocial behavior pattern often will continue into young adulthood.

• Bullying may contribute to a negative school social climate that is not conducive to good social relationships or learning.

• Bullying is a widespread problem among school children

Program Goals

• Reduce (and ideally eliminate) existing bully/victim problems among school children.

• Prevent the development of new bully/victim problems

Program Content

Core components of the program are implemented at the school, classroom, and individual levels:

School-level components include:

• the formation of a Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee to coordinate all aspects of a school’s program,

• distribution of an anonymous student questionnaire assessing the nature and prevalence of bullying at each school,

• a school conference day for discussing bullying problems and planning the implementation of the program,

• the development of a coordinated system of supervising students,

• the development of school-wide rules against bullying,

• holding teacher discussion groups, and

• involving parents in anti-bullying efforts,

Classroom-level components include:

• reinforcing school-wide rules against bullying,

• holding regular classroom meetings with students to increase knowledge and empathy and to encourage prosocial norms and behavior

• holding meetings with parents to foster more active involvement on their part.

Individual-level components include:

• interventions with children identified as bullies and victims, and

• discussions with the parents of involved students