2008 Woodie Awards
Delaware schools fight back against bullies with prevention programs
by Jennifer Heine
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: News
Poehlmann said Newark Charter School's anti-bullying program involves all students, rather than just the bullies and victims.
Every Tuesday, the students have small group meetings with adults, he said. The adults try to establish good relationships with the children so the children have at least one adult in the building they can confide in.
"We hope through these class meetings kids are learning character traits, so we're developing kids who won't go out bullying others," Poehlmann said.
Hubbard said she thinks school bullying programs should focus on what children have to say about their personal experiences. She said schools should also base their programs on psychologists' research.
"I don't think that at this point the schools know well enough how to design those programs and are basing their programs enough on literature that we really know," she said.
Psychology professor Roger Kobak said bullying is best treated with programs incorporating all students rather than targeting known bullies or victims.
"The general idea of treating it as a whole school or school-wide program that involves all the students is definitely the best way to approach it," Kobak said.
He said he believes the initiators of anti-bullying plans should pay attention to those students who see bullying happen.
"An awful lot of this occurs when adults aren't present," Kobak said. "Having others kids actively discouraging bullying behavior is one of the best ways."
Poehlmann said the school's anti-bullying program has been effective in reducing bullying occurrences. The school's ultimate goal is to have no bullying incidents.
"We've been able to change the climate of the building so that kids just don't bully other kids," he said. "We've cut down on the number of incidents we've had."
Hubbard said she thinks that bullying is a concern for children's well-being.
"It's a very big problem for kids in terms of its emotional affect on them and educational affect on them," she said.
Every Tuesday, the students have small group meetings with adults, he said. The adults try to establish good relationships with the children so the children have at least one adult in the building they can confide in.
"We hope through these class meetings kids are learning character traits, so we're developing kids who won't go out bullying others," Poehlmann said.
Hubbard said she thinks school bullying programs should focus on what children have to say about their personal experiences. She said schools should also base their programs on psychologists' research.
"I don't think that at this point the schools know well enough how to design those programs and are basing their programs enough on literature that we really know," she said.
Psychology professor Roger Kobak said bullying is best treated with programs incorporating all students rather than targeting known bullies or victims.
"The general idea of treating it as a whole school or school-wide program that involves all the students is definitely the best way to approach it," Kobak said.
He said he believes the initiators of anti-bullying plans should pay attention to those students who see bullying happen.
"An awful lot of this occurs when adults aren't present," Kobak said. "Having others kids actively discouraging bullying behavior is one of the best ways."
Poehlmann said the school's anti-bullying program has been effective in reducing bullying occurrences. The school's ultimate goal is to have no bullying incidents.
"We've been able to change the climate of the building so that kids just don't bully other kids," he said. "We've cut down on the number of incidents we've had."
Hubbard said she thinks that bullying is a concern for children's well-being.
"It's a very big problem for kids in terms of its emotional affect on them and educational affect on them," she said.
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