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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 24, 2012)
schools january24 What’s All The Fuss About Bullying? continued from front page “We need a ‘Cultural Approach’ to change how bullying is viewed and tolerated or not tolerated in the school district,” says Weisel. And that is what is happening in Vernonia schools. The Vernonia Preven- tion Coalition (VPC) has helped sponsor a series of bullying intervention, infor- mational and preventative programming over the last few years. “Upon the request of staff, parents and administration, the VPC has been able to leverage trainings, speakers, in-services and experiential programming,” says the VPC Director, DeAnna Pearl. “All trainings have been provided in response to a real need seen and experienced in the school and com- munity. Various media resources has been purchased and housed in the school and in the local library for students, staff and parents. It is the hope that parents can use these resources to follow-up what is being taught in school.” According to government statis- tics, one in three middle school and high schools students report being bullied. And most experts agree that it can be- come a very real problem: students who are bullied may feel insecure, grow to dislike school, and have difficulty learn- ing. The effects of being bullied typi- cally do not end in childhood. As they grow older, students who were bullied can experience depression, low self-es- teem, health problems, poor grades and suicidal thoughts. And it’s not just the student be- ing bullied that is effected--students who observe bullying, often called “by- standers,” may feel they are in an un- safe environment. Effects of bullying on bystanders may include feeling fearful, powerless to act, guilty for not acting, and drawn to participate. The following poem (from the 4 Troubled Teens website) shows the sad- ness and desperation on the part of a 13 year old boy in Manchester, England who hung himself as a result of serious bullying: I shall remember forever and will never forget Monday: My money taken Tuesday: Names called Wednesday: My uniform torn Thursday: My body pouring with blood Friday: It’s ended Saturday: Freedom Bullying is a very real problem that needs real solutions. In fact, in March of 2011 Presi- dent Barack Obama convened a daylong conference at the White House on “Pre- venting Bullying.” “This isn’t an issue that makes headlines every day, but it is an issue that affects every single young person in the country,” Obama said in a video about the conference. Geoff McLachlan, who works with The Ovation Company has been hired to visit the Vernonia schools three times over the last few years to work specifically with students. McLach- lan and The Ovation Company takes a unique approach to combating bully- ing: “Inspired by the idea that everyone should be appreciated and applauded for their own unique talents and special gifts, The Ovation Company exists to rec- ognize and celebrate the positive while encouraging others to find out what they stand for. It is our mission to grow and cultivate positive interactions with all those who share the school environment,” says their website The Ovation Company, based in Littleton, CO, is a school resource organization focusing on the devel- opment of positive school climate and improved student achievement. Working with high school students as mentors, Mclachlan uses humor and fun, interactive games and ex- ercises to break down barriers. He helps promote increased awareness and positive student interaction by helping identify the good in all stu- dents, with the intent of creating a healthy social and academic envi- ronment. The Vernonia School District has also brought author Trudy Ludwig to work with school staff, students, and parents in three separate training events. Ludwig, who lives in Portland, special- The idea of teaching students to respect each other is spreading--Natalie Groshong, a 3 nd grader at Vernonia’s Washington Grade School is starting an Against Bullying club at her school. “Even the little kids need to learn that is not OK to be bullies,” says Groshong “It becomes a question of how do we teach our kids anything?,” asks Weisel. “How do we teach them man- ners or how to act in the cafeteria? There is a skill set involved and an attitude and hopefully an ownership of what is the right thing to do.” According to Pearl the results can be seen on many levels. The staff have all been trained in identifying bul- lying. Youth are beginning to understand their role in bullying. Student advocacy is beginning to spread. Several high school seniors have Senior Projects that address bullying. “But they are taking it several steps further,” ex- plains Pearl. “They are challeng- ing their fellow students to step up, take a healthy risk and be leaders in their community and school.” Over 20 students participated in the three-day bully training by McLachlan and The Ovation Company and acted as peer mentors for students. “That takes a lot of belief in what you are doing--to stand and meet peers eye- to-eye and carry a message of intolerance to bullying and harmful acts,” says Pearl. Is Weisel seeing an im- pact from this focus on preventing bullying? Have there been any changes in behavior on campus? “It is having an impact on the kids who have been bullied,” says Weisel. “I think they are starting to izes in writing children’s books that ex- feel more empowered and un- plore the confusing world of children’s derstand that we don’t have to social interactions, and is a sought-after speaker, presenting at schools and con- ferences around the country and educat- ing students, parents, and teachers on the topic of bullying. The VPC’s Pearl sees this as an opportunity to create cultural change in our schools and our community. “This type of programming also helps men- tors, parents and community members understand what bullying is, how it af- fects our kids and how it can impact a community,” says Pearl. “One of the most asked question now is, ‘I under- stand bullying today, but what can I do about it?’” Vernonia schools originally fo- cused on training for 4 th , and 5 th grad- ers and middle school students. When Mclachlan came back in November of 2011 he was asked to create a training for high school students as well. 2012 9 keep taking this and that we can address this and that if we work together this problem will decrease. What I do see is that events that happen on campus, that may not have been considered bullying in the past—they are now seeing that bullying connec- tion. Maybe it just looks like someone got their backpack stolen, but then you realize who stole it and why and we see that this is actually an ongoing bullying situation.” In other words, what we are seeing is the start of very real change—a change in culture in the way students, school staff, parents and the rest of the community view and deal with the problem of bullying. “We are not just talking about saying no to bullying,” says Pearl. “We are talking about building skills in youth to support each other—to create a sup- portive environment for youth to explore their potential in making a positive com- munity norm change towards compas- sion. We are empowering our youth with skills to advocate for each other on a daily basis. To date, over 500 students and staff have the same language foun- dation and the same way to talk with each other when it comes to dealing with bullying.” Weisel says that the Vernonia School District will continue to address the bullying issue. “These training in November were just the kick off,” says Weisel “We need to have a continual, on- going focus on this for there to be a real impact. This will be an ongoing thing.”
