At the Wheatland Middle School in the Lancaster School District, guidance counselor Jen Jesberger summarizes how important she feels their bullying prevention program is to school success and self-esteem.
"When students feel safe, they can concentrate much better on their academics," explains Jesberger. "And the bullying prevention program also lets students know that 'it's not them, they're doing nothing wrong,' if they're being bullied, but it's the other way around."
In 2007, the Lancaster School District brought the internationally renowned Olweus Bullying Prevention Program into their schools through Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT! – a Bullying Prevention Program. By February 2008, the faculty at Wheatland was trained and working intensely with the students there, while the district was expanding the program to additional elementary and middle schools.
In Lancaster middle and high schools, students learn about bullying behaviors and preventions through teacher-led role-playing sessions that result in healthier school environments. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, a school child is bullied every seven minutes.
"At Wheatland, we began with a large bullying prevention kickoff event, an assembly," explains Jesberger. "Then, we proceeded to classroom lessons on bullying about how to identify it, what our expectations are about preventing it and how to report it. Ongoing, we have weekly class meetings where students can share concerns and brainstorm solutions.
"The most important change is in awareness," says Jesberger. "We're making a big deal about preventing bullying. Everyone from the administrators to the teachers to the students now knows that bullying is wrong and that we won't tolerate it. And research tells us that students must feel safe – it's a strong need – in order for them to perform well in school."
Learn how to recognize and prevent bullying by reading our Bullying Prevention pages.
Learn more about Highmark Healthy High 5 HALT! — a bullying prevention program.
This story was originally published in an April 5, 2009, advertising supplement for Highmark Healthy High 5.