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Tell Someone

Tell Someone!

Valley Heights has implemented an anti-bullying program called Olweus (Ol-VEY-us) to prevent and address bullying issues as they occur in our buildings.  We do realize that bullying is going to occur and we must deal with those issues either in a proactive or reactive manner.  The program insists on four major rules to be followed in schools.

1. WE WILL NOT BULLY OTHERS.
2. WE WILL TRY TO HELP STUDENTS WHO ARE BULLIED.
3. WE WILL TRY TO INCLUDE STUDENTS WHO ARE LEFT OUT.
4. IF WE KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS BEING BULLIED, WE WILL TELL AN ADULT AT SCHOOL AND AN ADULT AT HOME.

The below information taken from Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, Teacher Guide

 Rule #4 emphasizes the importance of telling an adult if students know that someone is being bullied.  It should be made very clear that rule 4 does not apply only to other students who are bullied.  It also applies to situations where a student is being bullied himself or herself.  This means, quite concretely: If I am bullied, I will tell an adult at school and an adult at home. 

This rule is based on the fact that a considerable number of students who are bullied do not tell an adult about it, either at school or at home.  There may be several reasons for this:

• They are afraid of retaliation from the students who bullied them and may even have been threatened with more bullying if they tell.
• They feel inadequate or ashamed for not being able to stop the bullying themselves.
• They feel that the bullying is their own fault and fear being blamed.
• They don’t want to worry their parents and give them problems.
• They are afraid that their parents will cause trouble at school by overreacting.
• They are afraid that the situation may become worse if the teacher brings the problem up in the class.
• They may have previous experience that telling an adult does not solve the problem.

Even fewer students who witness bullying tell adults.  Clearly, there is a great need for more open communication regarding bullying problems among students.  Rule 4 has been created specifically to stimulate such communication.  To some extent, this rule overlaps with rule 2, a natural way of helping students is to tell adults.  However, rule 4 amplifies and extends beyond rule 2. 

As stated in the above information, it is crucial to tell an adult at school and an adult at home. In a survey taken by students at Valley Heights Jr./Sr. High School only 15.6% of the students who have been bullied have told an adult at school.  Also, of those same students only 25% told a parent or guardian at home.  Furthermore, the data indicates 34.4% of students who have been bullied told no one.  This data is not uncommon, especially with older students.  However, this is something that we must improve in order to combat the bullying issues effectively.  As a school we urge all parents, family members and etc. to notify us immediately if bullying is happening.  We will approach the situation very seriously and deal with it appropriately. 

Bullying is something that we must battle together.  Therefore, communication should be open and honest when dealing with bullying as it is very serious.  Additional resources can be found on the Valley Heights Jr./Sr. High website located under the school information link.  Please call us with any questions or concerns.  Thank you for supporting Valley Heights students and their education.

Don Potter, (785)-363-2508