The compelling message of No More Bullies is that we all - bullies and victims alike - can find healing and forgiveness for the anguish and torment associated with this rampant epidemic in our communities.

Book List Suggested Reading/Resources No More Bullies (originally The Wounded Spirit) Frank Peretti Rachel's Tears Beth Nimmo, Darrell Scott Endangered-Your Child In A Hostile World Johan Arnold The New Hide and Seek Dr. James Dobson You Are Special - Words of Wisdom from America's Most Beloved Neighbor Fred Rogers The War Against Boys Christina Sommers Bringing Up Boys Dr. James Dobson Girls and Aggression Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls Rachel Simmons Fast Girls:Teen-age Tribes and the Myth of the Slut Emily White Woman's Inhumanity to Woman Phyllis Chesler Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends and Other Realities of Adolescence Rosalind Wiseman Trust Me Mom - Everyone Else Is Going Roni Cohen-Sandler For Younger Readers Eggbert the Slightly Cracked Egg Tomm Ross and Rex Barron The Brand New Kid Katie Couric Charlie the Caterpillar Dom Deluise Your Are Special Max Lucado Your Are Mine Max Lucado If I Only Had a Green Nose Max Lucado Molly's Pilgrim Barbara Cohen Hangman's Curse (fiction) Frank Peretti

Bullying: What It Is and What Schools Can Do About It - from Preventing Classroom Bullying: What Teachers Can Do by Jim Wright.

1)   Conduct building-wide assessment to uncover the extent that bullying is a problem in your school. Use anonymous student surveys and analyze the pattern of student disciplinary referrals.
2)   Reach a consensus as a staff/community about how your school defines bullying and when educators should intervene to prevent bullying. Rates of school bullying drop significantly when all staff members are able to identify the signs of bullying and agree to intervene consistently.
3)   Compile a "menu" of appropriate consequences and train staff to use the consequences menu to ensure fairness and consistency when they intervene with bullies.
4)   Establish a policy for contacting the parents of a student who has engaged in bullying.
5)   Monitor the school's bully-prevention efforts on an ongoing basis.

The most sensible disciplinary approach that teachers can use with bullies is to make sure that they are watched carefully and that adults follow up with firm consequences for each incident.

Train non-instructional staff to intervene promptly when they see bullying, or suspected bullying, occurring.

Have classrooms "adopt" stretches of public space in your school by agreeing to help keep that space (bathroom, hallways...) safe. The students will then assert ownership over these public spaces.

Here's a state school sample guideline policy from the NASBE:

"West Virginia's policy spells out clear guidelines for local districts about their role in the prevention and intervention of bullying behavior. Schools and school boards are encouraged to from a bullying prevention task force, program, or other initiative that involves school staff, students, teachers, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement personnel, and community members. West Virginia encourages its schools to be "telling" schools where anyone who is aware of an act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying is encouraged to report the incident to a designated school staff member. As stated in the policy, full immunity is given to school employees, students, or volunteers who report information about bullying."

Thoughts on Bullying--American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry--Facts for Families #80

If you suspect your child may be the victim of bullying, ask him or her to tell you what's going on. You can help by providing lots of opportunities to talk with you in an open and honest way. It is also good to respond in a positive and accepting manner. Let your child know it's not his or her fault, and that he or she did the right thing by telling you. Other possible suggestions include the following:

Ask your child what he or she thinks should be done. What's already been tried? What worked and what didn't?

Seek help from your child's teacher or the school guidance counselor. Most bullying occurs on playgrounds, in lunchrooms and bathrooms, on school busses or in unsupervised halls. Ask the school administrators to find out about programs other schools and communities have used to help combat bullying such as peer mediation, conflict resolution, and anger management training, and increased adult supervision.

Don't encourage your child to fight back. Instead, suggest that he or she try walking away to avoid the bully, or that they seek help from a teacher, coach, or other adult.

Help your child practice what to say to the bully so he or she will be prepared the next time

Help your child being assertive. The simple act of insisting that the bully leave him alone may have a surprising effect. Explain to your child that the bully's true goal is to get a response.

Encourage your child to be with friends when traveling back and forth from school, during shopping trips, or on other outings. Bullies are less likely to pick on a child in a group.

Butler Junior High School has implemented the Starfish program and has shown a marked decrease in violations. Here are the statistics for Butler Junior High over several school years.

Comparison of Annual Summaries of Reportable Violations For Violence and Weapon Possession Acts