Town of Hannah, Alberta adopts anti-bullying bylaw

Jackie Gold
Tuesday November 20, 2007

The Town of Hanna decided to take a firm stance against bullying during their Nov. 13 meeting, by voting to adopt policy 07-01, effective immediately.

Under the newly adopted policy all Town of Hanna facilities, events and programs will enforce a zero tolerance level for bullying.

At the meeting councillors were told that the intent of the policy is to "respect the safety, health and welfare of people."

The policy noted that bullying would be construed as conscious, willful, deliberate, hostile and repeated behavior by one or more people to harm others.

"It may include the harassment of others by the real or threatened infliction of physical violence and attacks," the policy noted, as well as racial, ethnic or gender based put-downs and name calling, both spoken and/or written down.
The policy noted that consequences of breaking the zero tolerance bullying policy will result in severe consequences, which will depend on both the form and extent of the actions.

Additionally the policy stated that the Hanna RCMP would be notified if acts of bullying during an event, program or in a Town facility that broke criminal code laws took place.

Hanna Town council was told that the policy was in preparation of Bullying Awareness Week, which began on Nov. 18 and runs until Nov. 24.

In their brief councillors were told that in North America bullying is the most common form of violence, with between 15 and 30 per cent of students and seven per cent of seniors facing some form of emotional or financial abuse. Council approved the policy as presented.

Ref:
http://www.hannaherald.com/News/355822.html

State of Oklahoma: 70-24-100.3. School Bullying Prevention Act Legislative Findings, -Purpose of Act -Definitions.

House Bill Report -SHB 1444. Washington State, USA, -an act relating to preventing harassment, intimidation, or bullying in schools.

Dr. Ken Rigby's paper, "Do interventions to reduce bullying in a school really work?", presents valuable insights for educators and parents.

This is a sweeping meta-study of over 13 different evaluations of bullying intervention programs Dr. Ken Rigby, educator and author, presents the most thorough review yet of successful and unsuccessful anti-bullying methods.

His downloadable paper "A meta-evaluation of methods and approaches to reducing bullying in pre-schools and in early primary school in Australia" he compares and contrasts programs in several countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, Norway, Spain and the United States.

His paper outlines similarities and divergences in anti-bullying programs worldwide and presents detailed thoughts on successful methods and useful combinations.

He concludes that overall, interventions ARE successful in reducing bullying in most cases to varying degrees while noting that interventions begun in kindergarten and primary grades were more successful than with older students. He also notes key success rates differences related to programs that focus on measures related to victimization vs bullying others.

"B" is for Bully is the name of a play about bullying which is designed to be performed by students in Junior grades. All the characters are objects in a desk. Blanche, the liquid paper, is the bully who picks on the erasers, Roberta and Rose. The message of the play is that bystanders need to speak up as they give power to the bully.

The teacher resource includes not only the play but 30 anti-bullying activities which involve language arts, visual arts, drama, music and even dance. There are also suggestions for costumes and sets along with ideas for using the play in other ways.

For more information, contact:
e-mail address, alang@primus.ca, or by telephone (416-466-7040) or by mail, 87 Monarch Park Avenue, Toronto, Ontario, M4J 4R1

But Names Will Never Hurt Me  -a video for grades K-5 is the portrayal of the relentless name-calling and humiliation of Rebecca. Then one person extends the hand of true friendship. But is that enough? Soon the rest of her classmates also discover that Rebecca is not as different as they thought. 22 minutes
$69.95 + $4.95 S&H (total of $74.50 each)

Send orders and inquiries to:
Kids Hope
150 Bluff Creek Lane
Ball Ground, GA 30107-2143 USA
Phone/Fax: 1-800-465-4758
E-mail: AKidsHope@aol.com

by Stale Einarsen (Editor), Oswald Hanfling

Publication date: November 2002 Publisher: Routledge
Binding: Hardcover
Subjects: Bullying in the workplace; Psychology; Industrial & Organizational Psychology

The Vision of The Virtues Project is to serve humanity by supporting the moral and spiritual development of people of all cultures, by helping them to remember who they really are and to live by their highest values.

The Mission of The Virtues Project is to provide empowering strategies that inspire the practice of virtues in everyday life through programs of excellence and simplicity which support people of all ages to cultivate their virtues -- the gifts of character.

“Cyberbullying involves the use of information and communication technologies such as e-mail, cell phone and pager text messages, instant messaging, defamatory personal Web sites, and defamatory online personal polling Web sites, to support deliberate, repeated, and hostile behaviour by an individual or group, that is intended to harm others.” –Bill Belsey

Canadian Children's Exposure to Violence: What it Means for Parents is the latest report to be released by the Canadian Council on Social Development in conjunction with Family Services Canada. The report reveals the dizzying array of violent images and behaviors children are exposed to on a daily basis and parents' perceptions of the dangers associated with this exposure. The full and summary reports are available on the CCSD website at http://www.ccsd.ca/pubs/2003/violence/

The National Association for Self-Esteem (NASE)
NASE believes self-esteem is "The experience of being capable of meeting life's challenges and being worthy of happiness."

The purpose of their organization is to fully integrate self-esteem into the fabric of American society so that every individual, no matter what their age or background, experiences personal worth and happiness.

An information brochure in Adobe Acorbat PDF format, created by students at St. Paul's Anglican Grammar School. It was created as a part of the school's bullying policy and bullying prevention program. The brochure is distributed to all students and as part of the bullying unit of work in Health at Year 7.

Kentucky anti-bullying bill clears House panel -The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Kentucky -Thursday, February 26, 2004

FRANKFORT, Ky. — School districts would have to adopt discipline codes aimed at protecting pupils from "deliberate and repeated" bullying by their peers, under a measure the House Education Committee approved yesterday...

HOUSE BILL 540

Sponsor: Robert "Buddy" Buckingham, D-Murray (send email through www.lrc.state.ky.us/Mailform/ buckingham.htm)

Click on the accompanying link to see the rest of the article.

Bill would outlaw bullying at schools

Robbie Sherwood
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 26, 2004 12:00 AM

Amid emotional stories from parents of bullied children, lawmakers took the first step Wednesday to outlaw bullying at Arizona schools...

Click on the accompanying link to see the rest of the story.

The No Blame Approach to Bullying

by George Robinson and Barbara Maines

You have probably heard of the No Blame Approach to bullying. The method was featured in the BBC 2 documentary “I just want it to stop!” (August 1997)

This book is the only comprehensive account of the work describing the development & explaining how it works. This is supported by accounts from teachers, psychologists & parents describing their experiences using the method with children and young people in primary and secondary settings.

A book for young people in PDF format. Written by Tia Morris and Geoffrrey Hoffe, edited by Greta Orsborn, illustrated by Sheri Lynn Hearn and Jennfier Fields.

This book is an initiative of the Grands Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland Committee Against Violence.

http://www.geocities.com/committeeagainstviolence

Let's Get Real:
A powerful new documentary where kids speak up about bullying

Lesson plans about bullying from the Concerned Children's Advertisers (Canada) in PDF format.

Irwin A. Hyman, Ed.D., Pamela A. Snook, RN, M.S.N.
ISBN: 0-7879-4363-0
Hardcover
288 pages
July 1999, Jossey-Bass
US $25.00

From the inner-city to the suburbs, thousands of school children are being systematically subjected to mandatory classroom policies which inflict both physical and emotional harm. Hundreds of school officials from across the country have been found guilty of sexual harassment, the illegal use of undercover agents, strip searches, corporal punishment, verbal abuse, punitive isolation, and other forms of institutional abuse. In Dangerous Schools, Professor Irwin Hyman and Pamela Snook, passionate advocates against the institutional maltreatment of children, reveal exactly what is going on in our nation's schools and what we must do about it.

"This book makes a strong argument against school abuses and offers clear and proven strategies for change. It will appeal to parents who suspect that their children have been maltreated by educators and for advocates who desire a blueprint for social change."---James Garbarino, codirector, Family Life Development Center, Cornell University; author, What Children Can Tell Us

"You Can't Say You Can't Play"
This book, by an award winning Chicago educator, focuses on the common early grade issue of exclusion.

Described as both "profound" and "powerful" this book is an important read for any teacher or parent.

ISBN 0-674-96589-2 –cloth
ISBN 0-674-96590-6 -Paper

Title: Teasing and Bullying: Unacceptable Behaviour (TAB)

This research-based 13 minute video, designed for elementary school age children, depicts a child being teased about stuttering and another child being teased about her weight. Peers become involved and work together with the victims and child who bullies to solve the problem. The video is accompanied by an awareness, prevention and intervention guide that incorporates conflict resolution strategies. The guide contains black line masters for in-class activities and parent-student home activities. Three conflict resolution posters are also included. Available from the Institute for Stuttering Treatment & Research at the University of Alberta, email: istar@ualberta.ca

"A World of Difference - Learning to live With Less Violence" is a  VIDEO designed  as a visual communication tool that stimulates dialogue about how schools might develop more positive learning environments in their respective cultures. Successful examples from three
schools, one in Canada, one in Finland and one in Scotland, are featured. These schools have earned respect for having addressed the issues surrounding school violence and bullying.This presentation addresses the following issues:
• building positive learning environments
• school violence
• bullying and aggression

The intended audience includes:
•teachers - in-service and pre-service workshops
•parents - councils and neighbourhood meetings
•students - leaders
•community organizations

The package includes a booklet to complement the video, providing more information about the research project, the schools involved and other resources.

Dedicated last 5 years to solving the problem of bullying here in Australia. Have developed a unique live animated show that children and adults can all understand and be inspired to grow from. See my web site at www.anudderworld.com.au This is being supported by a CSA comercial on T.V to advertise the web site. Being shown nationally now. Ready to go inspire change throughout the world. I hope you're site can organize a link to raise the awareness to the problem. I have realized after loosing all I have owned. ( Marriage 3 kids ) that communication is the key to solving bullying. As children we either learn to communicate with a degree of truth or we learn to be deceptive and lie. We've all been conditioned to behave via our up bringing. Check out the site. The program looks at human behaviour in truth. We can't keep dancing around it. Nothing changes. Cheers Tully, from Tully Toons.

Standing Together: A Focus on Bullying

Produced by the BCTF, 17-minute videocassette, ©2001. This video may be used as a supplement to the resource binder, Focus on Bullying: A Prevention Program for Elementary School Communities, and/or as a stand-alone teaching tool with an audience of elementary students, educators, or parents. The video is narrated and dramatized by over 150 elementary school students. In the video the students explore several types of bullying behaviours and demonstrate appropriate ways of dealing with bullying incidents when the school, home and community work together. A facilitator’s guide poses discussion questions. Funded by a grant from the National Crime Prevention Centre: Community Mobilization Program. K–7
LA 2331—$39.95.

Wednesday, April 23, 2003

Toronto: ?Bullying Trends and Interventions?, a pilot study among callers to Kids Help Phone, indicates that the plight of bullied children and youth is not improving, despite increased attention the issue has garnered in recent years.

?Schools, social service agencies and other organizations concerned with the welfare of Canada?s children and youth have all worked hard to implement bullying policies and programs over the past ten years,? says Christine Simmons-Physick, Kids Help Phone?s vice president, child and family services. ?In that time, we?ve also seen an increase in media attention to the issue through the coverage of several high-profile cases. All of these efforts should be applauded.

?We decided to do this study because we became concerned that the programs and interventions we?ve put in place aren?t doing enough to eradicate bullying completely.?

Early analysis of the results indicates that in very few cases the bullying stopped completely after victims sought help. Most participants indicated the bullying continued after seeking help and for some, the bullying got worse.

The pilot study sample was derived from 7,393 calls to Kids Help Phone about bullying received between 1996 and 2002 in addition to random in-depth interviews of 27 callers between February 11 and March 10, 2003.

The study also found:

? Most of the interviewed participants are aware of the resources, supports, programs and policies in place in their community;

? All of the interviewed participants had sought help from one or more of the following sources: a) a teacher/school staff; b) a friend; c) a parent; d) Kids Help Phone; e) the police; f) a coach; g) a doctor.

? Responses they received from adults were sometimes inconsistent and unpredictable ? some felt they were still not being taken seriously.

?Our early analysis of the results of this study makes me wonder if we?re paying enough attention to the effectiveness of these interventions and programs. Are we effectively following up to ensure they?re working?? asks Simmons-Physick.

?We?ve all done a great job on the first step, and now it?s time to collectively re-focus our efforts on the next step ? making sure these programs and policies are actually putting an end to bullying among young people.?

Since 1989, Kids Help Phone?s professional counsellors have been talking directly to Canadian children and youth on the phone and, more recently, on the Internet. Since 1996, it?s been consistently tracking those calls and holds one of the country?s richest databases of issues faced by Canadian kids. Every year, Kids Help Phone collects more than 120,000 records drawn from over 3,000 Canadian communities.

?Bullying Trends and Interventions? is a pilot study of initial data. It is the first installment in a series of annual studies and reports that Kids Help Phone will issue as part of a long-term look at the issues faced by Canadian children & youth. Kids Help Phone hopes the studies will help identify emerging issues affecting young people, resulting in public policy changes and front-line programs that will directly and positively impact Canadian children and families.

For a copy of the entire study, please visit kidshelp.sympatico.ca/bullystudy

About Kids Help Phone:

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only 24-hour, toll-free, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, referral and Internet service for children and youth. Launched in 1989, Kids Help Phone was originally created as a safe, anonymous environment where kids suffering from abuse could talk to a professional counsellor. Today, Kids Help Phone?s counsellors answer approximately 1,000 calls and online questions every day from young people about a range of concerns, including sexual, physical and emotional abuse, drugs and suicide.

Kids Help Phone is funded entirely by the generous contributions of corporate and individual donors and does not rely on United Way or on-going government funding to provide its services. More than 10,000 volunteers across the country also help raise money and awareness for Kids Help Phone through special events, including the Bell Walk for Kids, which will take place in more than 30 communities across the country on Sunday May 4, 2003. For more information, visit www.bellwalkforkids.com.

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Media contact: Karyn McMahon Bradfield, Manager, Marketing & Communications, (416) 581-8974 karyn.mcmahon@kidshelp.sympatico.ca or Lindsay George, Coordinator, Marketing & Communications (416) 586-5437, ext. 8345 lindsay.george@kidshelp.sympatico.ca

ABBOTSFORD, BRITISH COLUMBIA March 26, 2002 - A teenage girl was convicted of criminal harassment in British Columbia Monday after bullying her friend into suicide.

More than a year ago, 15-year-old Dawn Marie Wesley of British Columbia hanged herself.

In a landmark criminal trial for Canada, a girl accused of threats that led to Wesley's suicide will be punished...

The Stand Up! Speak Out! project including this Resource Curriculum, has been made possible through a grant from Canada’s National Crime Prevention Strategy and is dedicated to the memory of Denyse Rodger-McQuilkin.

This resource is designed for use with students of Grade 7 and 8 age. Our goals are that youth, adults and the community as a whole will:

• Understand the impact of bullying on its victims.
• Support the victims of bullying.
• Believe victims when they report incidents of bullying.
• Develop strategies for dealing with bullying.
• Establish consistent consequences for those who bully others.
• Be responsible and report incidents of bullying they witness.
• Take action to prevent and/or put an end to bullying.
   

Each lesson is designed to take approximately 25 – 30 minutes. Teachers and facilitators may modify and adapt the lessons to fit the needs of the learners and the time available. Although the lessons are arranged in an appropriate sequence, lessons may be arranged in an order that is appropriate for the audience and the objectives of the user.

Contact Us

Community Child Abuse Council of Canada

75 McNab Street South, Suite 203

Hamilton, Ontario

L8P 3C1

Toll free: 1-800-470-2111

Tel: (905) 523-1020

Fax: (905) 523-1877

www.childabusecouncil.on.ca

“The Diary” is an educational play for youth in Grade 7 and 8 written by Hamilton author Christopher Lane and performed by local students.

The focus is bullying and its effects on victims, bystanders and the bully. Jenny, a young adolescent, relives her experiences of the last year and a half. As Jenny reads her diary entries, portions of her story are re-enacted. As the drama unfolds, the audience is made aware of the impact of bullying on the victim.

The play with the accompanying curriculum identifies the problem of bullying, suggests ways to confront and stop the behaviour, and provides opportunity for continued discussion and learning.

Contact Us

Community Child Abuse Council of Canada

75 McNab Street South, Suite 203

Hamilton, Ontario

L8P 3C1

Toll free: 1-800-470-2111

Tel: (905) 523-1020

Fax: (905) 523-1877

www.childabusecouncil.on.ca

The Stand Up! Speak Out! Project: Lesson One: An Introduction to Bullying

Students will prepare a list of words describing the feelings experienced by victims of bullying.

Students will identify bullying behaviours.

Contact Us

Community Child Abuse Council of Canada

75 McNab Street South, Suite 203

Hamilton, Ontario

L8P 3C1

Toll free: 1-800-470-2111

Tel: (905) 523-1020

Fax: (905) 523-1877

www.childabusecouncil.on.ca