Schools
Bullying Prevention Program Held at NHS
Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Founder/Director of MARC (Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center), and several Norwood School Leaders, presented educational information and lead a discussion with dozens of Norwood parents surrounding the topic of bullying.
Dozens of Norwood parents filed into the brand new Norwood High School auditorium on Thursday night to gain insight into the troubling topic of bullying (and cyberbullying).
Norwood’s School system has created a protocol for handling bullying and the Norwood School teachers have been trained to recognize and handle bullying by Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University. Norwood’s school website has Bullying Information as well as three different ways for anyone to report bullying, anonymously or otherwise.
“We do not want what happened to Phoebe Prince to happen here in Norwood,” said Dr. Alex Wyeth, Assistant Superintendent of Norwood Schools who chaired the Bullying Prevention Task Force last year. He went on to explained that any form of bullying should be reported immediately.
Find out what's happening in Norwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Also present for the program was Dr. Elizabeth Englander, Founder and Director of the MARC. She said that parents are the key ingredients to bullying prevention. In bullying, she said, there is always unequal power. Bullying is not defined by a single conflict. The important thing isn’t the label of “bullying,” really. The important thing is to focus on how to resolve the situation.
The program noted that bullying has evolved over the past few decades. There has been a significant shift from physical bullying to psychological bullying, especially in the form of cyberbullying. Given the prominence of powerful technology in our lives at a younger and younger age, there is a far broader impact given the immaturity of young brains who possess smartphones, ipods, laptops, tablets and the like. The problem with the ever-increasing digital communications is that emotions, both good and bad, become inflated. Digital communication decreases both the opportunities to practice social skills in difficult situations and the ability to study nonverbal social cues. It also lacks tone, which makes it so much easier to misconstrue. This is where parents need to step in and educate children every chance they get.
Find out what's happening in Norwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Most kids bully other kids as a part of seeking popularity. Cyberbullying is currently more prominent than physical face-to-face bullying because the bully doesn’t have to see the victim and it feels more anonymous online. Parents can help children avoid these issues by helping them develop their self-confidence. Social skills in children can be compared to academic skills – sometimes they need extra tutoring. Dr. Englander stressed the importance of maximizing fun social activities with other kids. She indicated the parents who are willing to host the fun have children who are less likely to encounter bullying issues. Providing constant family support and a safe haven or refuge for kids is key.
Parents should be vigilant and not tolerate any vicious exchanges between siblings. Some key points are not allowing rude behavior, teaching empathy, and keeping the lanes of communication open with your family. Ask your children what is happening in their world daily, and how they feel about all of it. Monitor your child’s technology and all social networking. Be consistent and keep having fun.
If your child tells you that someone is bullying them or they are witnessing a bullying situation, ask for details. When you have fully assessed the situation, tell administration. Parents are an important part of the process of resolving bullying, and must watch for signs - such as changes in behavior, trouble sleeping, or general unhappiness and depression.
As far as technology is concerned, the program noted keeping kids safe by placing the technology in a public space in the home, keeping electronics out of bedrooms at bedtime, and respecting the rules already in place, like keeping kids off Facebook before they are 13 years old. Taking these steps can help kids steer clear of bullying and teach them to handle it maturely if it does happen.
The Norwood PTAs, the Norwood Orient Lodge of Masons, and Norwood Public Schools helped fund the presentation, which will be replayed on NPA-TV for any who missed it.
For further information on bullying, cyberbullying and how to prevent them, check out these resources:
