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District gets update n bullying program
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - January 03, 2011)
District gets update n bullying program
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
The Chardon Board of Education received an update last week on a one-year-old bullying program that is aimed at reducing the behavior.
Hambden Elementary School Principal David Rogaliner and Pauli Vellotta, of the Crossroads Center in Mentor, provided the board with a look at what has been done in the district's four elementary schools to combat bullying.
Mr. Rogaliner said the Chardon Schools Foundation provided $10,000 to get the prevention program off the ground. The Ohio Legislature, he said, enacted legislation late last year, establishing criteria for how such incidents need to be reported and investigated, he said.
Teachers as well as support staff, such as bus drivers and lunchroom monitors, participated in training for the program last February, he said.
Ms. Vellotta said the program is based on a model program established by Dan Olweus, who is considered the forerunner in the field. She said Mr. Olweus had been studying bullying since the 1960s. She said Chardon's program is one of only 11 blueprint-model programs.
Ms. Vellotta said the program is necessary not only for the victims, but also the perpetrators. Failing to intercede in such behavior can lead to chemical abuse and other anti-social behavior.
She said there is only one reason that people bully and that is to make others afraid. Bullying comes in different forms with verbal bullying the most predominant. An entire new arena for bullying, however, has taken shape in the computer age with cyber-bullying, she said.
While a group may be bullying another student, she said, 80 percent to 90 percent of those involved are simply bystanders, not participants.
She said there is hope that the program will show those who choose to bully that their actions have consequences.
Such programs are needed for intervention to ensure that the schools are safe and nurturing environments for all students, Ms. Vellotta said.
Mr. Rogliner said the program was kicked off during opening-day assemblies at the schools.
At Hambden Elementary School, he said, they coupled the program with the Cleveland Browns' mascot, Chomps, as students were taught "stop and paws, don't bully." He said staff performed skits, portraying a typical bullying situation and how those involved should respond.
At Maple Elementary School, students were encouraged to drop their concerns in maple buckets hung around the school.
Ms. Vellotta said the program will take several years to show positive change in student behavior.
School Superintendent Joseph Bergant II said he appreciated the teacher and staff dedication to the program, saying it takes a lot of extra work. He said the program will be introduced at the middle and high schools.
Ms. Vellotta said students are being asked to answer a questionnaire every year and she anticipates a decrease in bullying by the time the questionnaire is used the third time.
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