For boys, much of the teasing centers on sexual orientation, she says. No strategy or program can compete with the positive effect of low class size on quelling disruptive behavior. The project involves a wide range of stakeholders, including teachers, students, police, parents, and Neighborhood Watch groups. The first step in the process is to collect data. Data will include such basic items as when and where bullying occurs, as well as more probing analysis into the offenders' role models or past history of being victimized themselves.
Bullying affects school performance, attendance, and how kids feel about themselves.
The basic problem is that bullying is a power struggle between individuals. She agrees with Kentucky teacher Lynn Hambrick that parents' attitudes play a major role. In our problem-solving phase, we'll look for things to raise parental awareness, to change this mindset. Additional grant money will be needed to implement any solutions the stakeholders develop to attack the problem in the family, school and community. In order to involve students in the process, PAVE has set up a group with representatives from each grade level.