Bullying

DURHAM CONTINUES CHARACTER EDUCATION/
ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM

The faculty at Durham joined together during the fall of 2003 to start a character education/ anti-bullying program. This web page will summarize the program from where it began to plans for the future.

HOW IT ALL BEGAN: In 2003, a “Character Education/Anti-Bullying Committee” composed of faculty and staff members attended a one day workshop at the Prevention Intervention Center in Cobb County. Following the workshop, committee members devised program objectives, planned a 2-week “kickoff” to educate students and faculty, and surveyed students/faculty/parents. The survey results were used to formulate goals for the second and third years of the program. New committee members were sent to 2-day training classes with the same center.

SINCE THEN: This is the fourth year of our program. Students were surveyed at the end of last year and we will use these results to formulate goals for the coming years. We will have our KICKOFF DAY on October 4. This is where students will learn about character education/bully prevention in all classes. Parents may attend a "cyberbullying lunch and learn" on October 27. We are also training our bus drivers this year to better understand bullying behaviors when they arise.

OBJECTIVES: Bullying behavior goes on everywhere. As educators, we should strive to provide the safest possible learning environment for all students. Studies show that bullying incidents decrease at least 50% after two years of program implementation. It is our hope that by educating students, faculty and parents about bullying and methods of showing good character, all students will feel safe being at Durham Middle School.
The goals of the Durham Middle School anti-bullying program are:
· To reduce as much as possible any existing bullying/victim problems and prevent the development of new problems.
· To educate students, Durham employees and parents about bullying behavior with ways to recognize these behaviors and intervene.
· To reassure each student that there are many people eager to help work through any bullying situation.
· To build a character education/bully prevention program that will be continuous and effective for future years.

Do you want to know what lessons were taught in each grade and what the future plans are at Durham? Click here!

Can you name the "4 Anti-Bullying RULES" that all of us are striving to follow at Durham? They are on each teacher's wall. Click here!

Would you like to see the pledge that Durham students signed? Click here!

Guess what? There are other sites to find out more information.
The site www.bullyfreeworld.com has all kinds of information about bullying, how to help victims, how to help bullies, ways to make a difference. Write down 4 ways that you can help victims as well as bullies.

The site http://drphil.com/page/students/ tells about a congresswoman who introduced a bill in the legislature about stopping bullying. After reading it, write a letter to your congressman.

includes a pledge from the "Dr. Phil Show". Do you think pledges are effective? Tell us about it!