BBHankins,

It shows great leadership that you are searching for an answer to the bullying that is occurring in your school. It is vital to have teachers and administrators who care for students and are willing to make the changes necessary in their school to reduce bullying. Fortunately, you are in a great position as principal to lead these types of changes.

There has not been a lot of research on the importance of using the specific term "bully" when addressing bullying issues in schools. Regardless of the term being used, one of the first steps to reduce bullying in your school is to adopt an anti-bullying policy (if you do not already have one). This could be a great way to work with your Civility Committee to accomplish a shared goal. Here is a "top ten" list of things to consider when creating your anti-bullying policy:

1) It must be created by school staff in accordance with district, state board of education, and state and federal policies.

2) It should be written with input from students and teachers.

3) It should be focused around a school mission statement and communicate the vision of a safe school.

4) It should outline procedures to be used by staff to achieve consistency in daily interactions with students and supervision of school areas.

5) It should provide consistent expectations for classroom behaviors.

6) It should have a protocol for behavioral problems that is enforced school-wide.

7) It should guide staff development and support staff growth.

8) It should be evaluated and updated annually.

9) It should be consistent with school board policies and state and federal laws.

10) It should be frequently reviewed with staff, parents, and students.

It is also important to have an open and honest conversation about bullying at your staff meetings. Providing teachers and administration with the definition of bullying and asking them to think about how it relates to what they have seen or heard would be a good start. Regardless of the label attached to bullying, it does not change the fact that bullying is happening. If it is decided that bullying is an issue in your school, it is vital to raise awareness about its negative consequences. This can be done through in-class discussions, videos, PTA presentation, or any other medium.

There are also many other resources here on Education.com that can help you decide what steps are necessary to help reduce bullying in your school.

Another good resource: Bullying Prevention and Intervention: Realistic Strategies for Schools by Susan M. Swearer, Dorothy L. Espelage, and Scott A. Napolitano.

Adam Collins, M.A.
School Psychology Doctoral Student
University of Nebraska-Lincol
Bully Research Network: http://brnet.unl.edu
Target Bullying Research Lab: www.targetbully.com
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