Bullying prevention and safe schools workshop II

Bullying prevention and safe schools: keeping our children safe:

Bullying prevention and safe schools: keeping our children safe Bernedette, Susan, Saji, John, Lisa 2/19/2011 1

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2/19/2011 2 safe schools and anti-bullying workshop format Introduction to workshop members Information is presented on all slides dealing with aspects of safe school programs On some slides there are links you must click in order to access readings or videos Those slides require brief group discussions (about 3 – 4 minutes each) or activities At the end of the workshop is a video summarizing bullying stats Followed by an evaluation form

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2/19/2011 3 LEARNING OUTCOMES Learn the definition of a number of bills enacted to counteract violence and bullying in Ontario’s public schools Investigate regulations enforcing the Safe Schools Act Review case law appealing an expulsion due to cyber-bullying Apply Bill 212 and Bill 157 to a bullying case Conduct brief readings and watch videos detailing anti-bullying campaigns Complete activities individually and as a group

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Meet the Committee of the Anti-Bullying and Safe Schools Virtual Workshop 2/19/2011 4 Lisa saji susan john bernedette

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Anti-Bullying Campaigns have grown in significant numbers in Ontario’s public school boards. Many activists across Canada take part in initiatives to eliminate bullying including local radio channels, retailers, and television shows such as Much Music. The best feedback about the effectiveness of anti-bullying campaigns comes from the victims, the students, the administration and the parents in school communities . In an effort to encourage kids to prevent bullying, advertisements starring well-known celebrities deliver the message about the dangers of bullying, including the commercial Click on the following link : An Anti-Bullying Message from the NOH8 Campaign

(1) Click on the adobe pdf for bernedette’s report :

(1) Click on the adobe pdf for bernedette’s report Write a brief sentence or two in your group reflection journal comparing the effectiveness of the anti-bullying campaign in your school with one of the campaigns mentioned in Bernedette’s report. 2/19/2011 6

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2/19/2011 7 In 1990, as bullying and other crimes in elementary and secondary schools became increasingly violent, school communities made their concerns known to school boards and the Ontario Ministry of Education . As a result, the Education Act was amended with the addition of Bill 212 . The Bill became known as the zero tolerance law, although it was not stated in the Act as zero tolerance per se. In part this was due to the dramatic increase in expulsions and suspensions in many school communities. Discrepancies however, were noted among many school boards regarding the interpretation of the Bill by administrators. Ontario Human Rights presented a draft document to the Ontario Ministry regarding these discrepancies . Key issues concerned: racism socioeconomic factors gender bias students with behavioral disorders

School within a school and alternative schools:

Two responses to Bill 212 include school-within-a-school programs for at-risk children and youth and alternative schools for suspended and expelled students. Proponents of the school-within-a-school program claim that their method prevents stigmatization of troubled youth and that it keeps them involved in their original school community. Proponents of alternative schools argue that some children are too violent and disruptive to remain within their original schools, particularly those with criminal records. 2/19/2011 8 School within a school and alternative schools

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2/19/2011 9 http://www.wix.com/lisalahey/legallahey2 - more info on Bill 212 is under menu tab Course Thesis Bill 212 (for your own reference) (2) Watch strive – school within a school for at-risk students (1) Click for a link to Susan’s report on Bill 212 and alternative schools for suspended and expelled students Using Susan’s report and the video briefly ( 3 – 4 mins ) complete the enclosed table about the advantages of both school-within-a-school methodology as well as alternative schools.

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2/19/2011 10 In the case of R.T. vs. Durham Catholic District School Board , ( EA s.311.7 SS08-0007 2008 CFSRB 94, CanLii , 2008), on behalf of her daughter, V.K. , Mrs. R.T . filed an appeal with the Child and Family Services Board for alleged cyber-bullying against Child A. In spite of these amendments, tribunals and appeals regarding student suspensions and expulsions grew in numbers including that of misconduct using social media. In January 2008 V.K . disguised herself online as a student Child A did not know and sent a message to her stating YOU DO NOT WANT TO GET ME MAD BECAUSE THEN I’LL KILL YOU RIGHT IN YOUR SLEEP OR AT SCHOOL ON MONDAY

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2/19/2011 11 As a result of these threats , Facebook closed V.K. ’s account on three occasions but V.K. continually re-opened it under a new identity. Under section 310 (1) of the Act , V.K . was suspended for ``engaging in activities or patterns of behaviour on or off school property that caused the pupil`s continuing presence in the school to create an unacceptable risk to the physical or mental well-being of other person(s) in the school.” Under subsection 311.1(1) the administrator was required to conduct an investigation and should he or she decide the infraction warranted expulsion, was required to recommend expulsion to the school board. The administrator in this case recommended that V.K. be expelled from all schools in the Durham Catholic District School Board. Safer Schools: Expulsion and Suspension Provisions – a list of the many regulations and amendments regarding safer schools (for your info)

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2/19/2011 12 Under the new regulations of Bill 212 the Board considered mitigating factors in V.K. ’s circumstances. The Board examined whether V.K . had the ability to understand the foreseeable consequences of her actions. The appellant argued that her daughter did not, due to a Central Auditory Processing Difficulty ( CAPD ). However V.K .’s CAPD did not interfere with her understanding of her actions. The appellant stated that V.K. did not have the advantage of progressive discipline . The board countered that progressive discipline would not prove efficient in this situation due to V.K.’ s actions against both Child A and the school climate. The Board upheld V.K. ’s expulsion. Watch Cyber-Bulling on Good Morning America . Have a brief group discussion (3 – 4 mins) to answer these 3 questions : Is cyber-bullying included in your school’s anti-bullying campaign? Should cyber-bullying and bullying become a criminal offence regardless of age? Do you think Sesame Street’s new female character who prepares adolescents and teens for cyber-bullying, is an effective means of addressing this issue?

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2/19/2011 13 (1) Watch iPods in education Before we despair that mobile technology has no place in education play iPod Jeopardy !! Play iPod JEOPARDY ! You will need : iPods or cell phones with texting features for each person in your group (If you don’t have the technology communicate online with your group – which is still technology  ) 1 person to be “ Alex ” (preferably someone who types fast) That person needs to write the answers onto his/her phone/iPod and only confirm the correct question from the group ( the answers-questions are here – no peeking contestants). The winner doesn’t get cash but you do get a sense of smug self-satisfaction .

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2/19/2011 14 Bill 157 , known as Keeping Our Kids Safe , was introduced to address several unwanted behaviours in schools including bullying, cyber-bullying, and harassment of teens due to sexual orientation. The bill was a mere formality since teachers were already addressing these issues with their students for several years. It emphasized the responsibility of teachers to report actions or behaviours that qualified for suspensions and expulsions to administrators. The bill does not change mandatory reporting of criminal activity to police. The government has a liability to fund and train teachers in light of these developments.

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2/19/2011 15 (1) Click for a link to Saji’s report on Bill 157 and Complete the poll regarding Bill 157 about evidence of its use in your school.

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This is the first time the bullies have been indicted in adult court, aside from beatings that left victims in critical condition, such as the brutal beating of a teenager in Florida when fifteen-year-old Wayne Treacy was indicted for attempted murder after he beat 15-year-old Josie Ratley into a coma. The irony i was that the beating resulted over text messages the girl sent to Treacy’s brother causing Treacy’s brother to commit suicide. 2/19/2011 16 In spite of growing awareness of the effects of bullying and the efforts of schools to deter the behaviour, debilitating cases continue. The media reports ongoing stories of teens who have committed suicide to escape being bullied. Click on the link “ bullied to death ” ( CBS News ). The outcome of this case is unprecedented: adult criminal charges were brought against the teenagers responsible for the tragedy.

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2/19/2011 17 Read the chart. Click on the Bully/Victim link at the top of the chart and fill in the cycle.

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2/19/2011 19 Educators are equally responsible for students’ behaviour. Cases are reported where students assaulted victims and although educators were aware of the situation, they avoided intervention. In the Ontario case of E.P. V Peel District School Board , a student was threatened by another student ( S.E. ) who stated that she would assault the student after school. The student told her law teacher of the situation. He replied she should “ defend herself ”. The student went home and retrieved a bike wrench. After school she was the victim of an aggravated assault, using the wrench to defend herself. Incredibly the administrator expelled the victim from his school. Her parents filed an appeal. Child and Family Services Review Board overturned the expulsion.

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Johns case

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2/19/2011 21 Leading to Leading to Culminating in suspensions/expulsion s

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Guidelines for Workshop Discussion Open and read page 4 only of Bullying in schools: ERIC Digest Built on the premise of Scared Straight , troubled teens dropping out of high school are walked through prisons to “experience” a day as an inmate. Watch A Day Behind Bars . Based on what you have learned in this workshop, the video and the above reading, do you think this is an appropriate method with students in alternative schools? Open the link to Feeling Scared, Safety in the Schools and read page 1 and the first paragraph of page 2 . Read the 4 factors that result from high school drop-outs in the Student Success Strategy document and draw possible connections between the two readings. Select ONE of the activities below. Each group member is requested to enter a reflection based on the questions in the Group Reflection Journal . Seldom do we think of a bully as a victim, or a child in need of protection. Most bullying behaviours however arise from environmental rather than internal factors. Open the link Feeling Scared, Safety in the Schools , read the bottom paragraph of page 5 and all of page 6. Compare your school’s anti-bullying campaign and draw any possible connections. 1 3 2

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Safe Schools for Every Child Click on the safe schools for every child link (below) for a quick summary of our workshop. There is an evaluation form on the following slide. No pushing or shoving on your way out!

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evaluation form – virtual workshop – anti-bullying safe schools The workshop was cohesive as a whole: transitions were smooth and logical Y N I gained new information from the workshop about safer schools and anti-bullying Y N There was enough information without being overwhelming Y N The information is relevant to my practice as a special education teacher Y N

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Anti-bullying school ad Some video clips you may wish to show your students Thank you from …… Cyber-bullying –Friendship Password Sharing (animation ) Anti-bullying animation How to be bully smart Teen’s death a bully-cide

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2/19/2011 26 References Safe schools legislation – bill 212 R.T. V Durham Catholic District School Board Crimesider – 48 hours mystery Safer schools expulsion and suspension provisions