Strong Family Ties Help Stop Bullying
HealthDay News reported on a study that supports the idea that kids with strong family ties and school support are more likely to deal with negative social interactions and stop bullying. The study included 450 sixth-graders and 446 ninth-graders.
The co-author of the study, Secil Gonultas, "We found that family is very important. The stronger a student's reported 'good family management,' or positive family relationships was…” the more equipped they were to stop bullying. Students who felt excluded or discriminated against by peers or teachers were less likely to stand up for victims of bullying.
Cabaniss Elementary School provides strong support for students and their conflicts. The administrative team have an open door policy and are quick to intervene when there is a problem. The school-wide strategy for conflict resolution, TALK-WALK-TELL, is taught by our School Counselor and supported by the staff. TALK is summed up by calling the person by name, telling them what they are doing that bothers you, and asking for a solution. This gives a plan to interact with negative behavior, but it also helps the target to develop assertiveness to address life’s many conflicts. WALK is simply, Walk Away from the problem, Looking for a safe place (near friends or adults) as they Keep your cool. The key to moving away from the problem is the timing. As soon as the target knows the other person is wanting or trying to bully, they should say, “Ok, see ya” and walk away. They should not stand there and allow the other person to berate them. If being assertive is not enough for the bullying to stop, TELL is the obvious conclusion. Report the problem to their teacher, the School Counselor or the principals.