Related Link: Recent
Accomplishments
Finding What Works in Districts to Reduce Bullying
In partnership with the Governor’s Prevention Partnership, Connecticut Appleseed recruited a team of more than 20 pro bono attorneys from Travelers Corporation to interview officials and teachers from a representative sample of 11 school districts to help accelerate district compliance with the 2008 statute. During 2011 this teamconducted and wrote up approximately 60 interviews with administrators, principals, teachers, guidance counselors and psychologists.
Extraordinary School District Cooperation
While school officials are occasionally reluctant to assume responsibilities beyond their core educational role, we were able to secure tremendous cooperation from the following 11 districts in discussing the effectiveness of bullying policies and strategies that they had adopted:
- Bridgeport
- Hamden
- Hartford
- Regional School District 13
- Rocky Hill
- Shelton
- Simsbury
- Stratford
- Tolland
- Waterbury
- West Hartford
Our team of interviewers found that relatively safer schools have programmed a sensitivity to bullying right into their school culture, while simultaneously empowering each child to stand up for what is right. Techniques with myriad names – “RAMS” in Waterbury, “CLIMB” in Simsbury, “Make Your Day” in Stratford and “Best Buddies” in Regional School District 13 – strive to ensure the mutual respect that lies at the heart of a positive school climate.
After bullying has occurred, Rocky Hill, Bridgeport, West Hartford, Hartford and Hamden all report that they use some form of peer mediation. Unsurprisingly, because bullying often takes place during less structured time periods and where there is less supervision than in classrooms, we also found that involving all school personnel - from bus drivers and cafeteria staff to custodians - helps to foster a positive school climate.
Report Distributed in Early 2012
The Governor's Prevention Partnership played a pivotal role in drafting the research interviews and training Travelers' volunteer attorneys. The "Best Practices" and related bullying deterrents that the interviews surfaced will assist schools and districts statewide in accepting the increased responsibility for protecting children that was first prescribed by the 2008 statute - and which was then expanded by an additional statute in 2011 to address cyber-bullying.
After Travelers generously stepped forward to cover our report’s printing costs. Connecticut Appleseed Board member Michael D'Agostino, who chairs Hamden's Board of Education, distributed our findings with a cover letter to every school board chair or member, and every superintendent, principal and legislator in the state.
|
