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 The playground was singled out by Bompas elementary students as the location where bullying occurs most often. Parents and school staff met last week to discuss the school's strategy for dealing with intimidation. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo |
Bompas school is launching a program this week that will use role playing to help children learn that getting even doesn't work.
Since the last bullying meeting held in December, students have filled out surveys on intimidation.
Being called names or teased was the most common form of bullying, according to the survey results.
At least a few incidents of being kicked, hit or punched were reported by students in most grades.
However, in some classes, an even greater number of students stated they had never been bullied at all.
At an evening meeting attended by several parents on Feb. 9, principal Terry Jaffray acknowledged that bullying is difficult to distinguish.
At Bompas it is generally defined as physical, emotional or verbal harm that happens repeatedly, she said.
"Chase games" such as tag are being discouraged on the playground. Those games tended to provoke aggression, Jaffray explained.
Because most bullying takes place on the playground, students are being taught to play new games that are inclusive of others as alternatives to chasing each other.
Parents are invited to sign up for playground duty to enhance supervision already provided by staff, she added.
Educators who are made aware of bullying are supposed to respond to both the victim and the aggressor.
In serious or repeated instances, the staff member may contact both sets of parents and counselling may be recommended for the aggressor.
Parent Sharon Allen suggested that parents should have more of a say in choosing the anti-bullying strategy.
She spoke in favour of a restitution program adopted by J.H. Sissons school in Yellowknife. It brings the aggressor and victim together to work out a solution to the problem.
It's more "problem solving" than punishment oriented, Jaffray acknowledged. However, one drawback is that it takes two years of training for staff to be fully qualified.
Parent Jeff Cressman said the program Bompas has selected, which also includes a "Don't Pick on Me" video for senior students, is a step in the right direction.
"You will never stop bullying, but if we all work towards something it's better than nothing," he said.
