Oakland Mediation Center works to reduce bullying in schools

No child should be afraid to go to school. Bullying, which creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, is a widespread problem in schools. In fact, one out of every five students in the average classroom experiences bullying on a regular basis. Studies indicate that 23 percent of students in grades 4-6 have been bullied more than once. In grades 6-10, 17 percent of students have been bullied more than once, with 8 percent being bullied as often as once a week. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program notes that bullied students experience lasting negative effects including depression, low self-esteem, health problems, poor grades, and suicidal thoughts. Bullying also has a lasting negative impact for students who bully. In one study, 60 percent of boys identified as "bullies" in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24. Thirty-five percent had three or more convictions. "Bullies" were three to four times more likely than non- bullying peers to have multiple convictions by age 25. Oakland Mediation Center has brought the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program to Oakland County to address the bullying-related issues that students everywhere face each day. This research-based program has been developed for school wide use and has resulted in 20-70% reduction in student's reports of being bullied and bullying others. The program has been named an Effective Program by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and a Model Program by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. This program is not a curriculum that students take part in as a short-term workshop. Rather, it is a joint effort requiring each and every staff member within the school to supervise student interactions and intervene when any bullying occurs. As part of the program, students will participate in weekly class meetings to study the effects of bullying, discuss their part in preventing the behavior, and learn new techniques that allow them to work together with the adults at school. Parents will have the opportunity to get involved at designated meetings so that they too, can offer their support and perpetuate the message that students are receiving in school. Kenzi Bisbing, Youth Services manager, said, "Research tells us that to effectively address bullying in schools prevention and intervention efforts must be woven into the entire school environment. It is for this reason that OMC provides schools with the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program so that the whole school climate is impacted to make it a safer, more positive place to learn." To learn more about this program or how schools can impact bullying, contact Bisbing, Youth Services manager, at (248) 338-4280, ext. 216, or kbisbing@mediation-omc.org. Published: Mon, Nov 29, 2010

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