| Virginia schools students recently have | | | | they are tough. They defy authority, do not |
| returned to school. Along with the studies | | | | conform to rules, have a positive attitude |
| and coursework they expected to face, they | | | | toward violence, and have poor |
| have a new program with which to deal - a | | | | conflict-resolution skills. Many times, |
| bullying prevention program. | | | | bullies are children from abusive families - |
| | | | but not always. |
| Bullies are prevalent in all schools today. | | | | |
| It has been a growing problem for the past | | | | The Virginia schools are determined to stop |
| decade. The emotional trauma experienced by | | | | the abuse in their schools. They have teamed |
| victims of bullying is, in some cases, beyond | | | | with the Virginia Department of Health and |
| belief. The results of bullying, both upon | | | | Virginia Commonwealth University to implement |
| the victim and the bully, also are | | | | the Olweus Bully Prevention Program, which |
| significant. We have seen some of these | | | | began this fall. The program is funded by a |
| results in our news headlines - shootings at | | | | grant of $290,615 from the U.S. Centers for |
| schools, suicides, self-mutilation through | | | | Disease Control and Prevention for each of |
| cutting, depression and extreme emotional | | | | the three years the program will run, between |
| distress - and these only the victims. | | | | 2006 and 2009. |
| Bullies, many times, develop very serious | | | | |
| violent behavior with many ending up in | | | | The Olweus Program was first used throughout |
| prison; abuse their spouses, children and/or | | | | Norway and addresses individual and bystander |
| elderly parents; and sexually abuse others. | | | | behaviors. It promotes social skills to |
| | | | eliminate the negative interaction between |
| Bullying has become a real problem in the | | | | bullies and victims. It will promote parent |
| Virginia schools, with 12,709 incidents of | | | | and community education and collaboration |
| crime and violence against Virginia schools | | | | within the Virginia schools. |
| students reported in the 2003-2004 school | | | | |
| year. These incidents included physical | | | | According to State Health Commissioner Robert |
| assault with and without weapons, threats, | | | | B. Stroube, M.D., M.P.H., the Olweus Program |
| bullying and one attempted rape. Another 89 | | | | will directly address the behavioral |
| incidents were reported on Virginia schools | | | | tendencies that lead to becoming a bully or a |
| property that involved firearms. Another | | | | victim. It will work to prevent all forms of |
| 21,128 incidents of fighting with no or minor | | | | violence in the Virginia schools that is |
| injuries were reported by the Virginia | | | | directed by or at children and adolescents. |
| schools, and 1,336 incidents of fighting that | | | | |
| resulted in serious injury. | | | | The U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health |
| | | | Services Administration found the program has |
| Bullying occurs when one or more students | | | | many benefits. The Olweus Program: |
| repeatedly subject other students to negative | | | | |
| actions over a period of time. Bullying | | | | - Reduced student reports of being bullied |
| includes intentional physical attacks (such | | | | and bullying others by 30 to 70 percent; |
| as hitting), obscene gestures, intentional | | | | |
| exclusion from a group, and verbal attacks | | | | - Significantly reduced students' reports of |
| (such as threatening, malicious teasing, and | | | | general antisocial behavior, such as |
| spreading rumors). | | | | vandalism, fighting and theft; |
| | | | |
| Bullies are impulsive and hotheaded. They | | | | - Significantly improved classroom order and |
| generally (but not always) have more physical | | | | discipline; and |
| strength than other children their age. | | | | |
| Bullies lack empathy and have dominant | | | | - Fostered a more positive attitude toward |
| personalities, a need to control and prove | | | | schoolwork and school. |