School Bullying

Vodcast Six:

Issues with parents and

evaluating anti-bullying work

Dr Ken RigbyConsultant Developed for

The concerns of parents

Increasingly parents have become concerned about the problem of bullying, especially when it involves their own child

Many want to be assured that the school is taking the matter seriously and there are effective procedures to deal with cases of bullying

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Proactive work with parents

As far as possible involve parents in the development of anti-bullying policy

Enable them to make a contribution – for example through answering questionnaires about bullying

Ensure that each parent has a copy of the school’s anti-bullying policy, and relevant information on bullying appears on the school’s website

Inform them through newsletters of relevant developments in the school, especially actions being taken to educate students about bullying

Invite parents to meetings to discuss issues of esteem, eg, problems associated with cyber bullying

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Involving parents in addressing bullying

Not all bullying need involve parents. With low level bullying the school is ‘in loco parentis.’

With serious cases of bullying normally parents need to be involved.

Parents of children suspected of bullying and parents whose children have been bullied raise different issues.

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Working with parents of children who have engaged in bullying

Contact the parents and arrange a meeting

View the matter as a problem over which close collaboration is needed

Avoid any suggestion that questions their child’s character

Explain how the school is handling the matter and seek the parent’s support

Emphasise that the school’s action is in accord with agreed school rules

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Working with parents whose child has been bullied

Recognise that the anger and (often) critical tone of the parent is understandable and avoid being counter-aggressive

Listen carefully – and supportively – and obtain as much information about the bullying as the parent can provide

Explain that the school will need time to investigate the matter further – but that the parent will be informed of what happens

Although the parent may insist upon a particular course of action, make it clear that the school will act in accordance with its publicised anti-bullying policy (as endorsed by the parent)

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Common mistakes

Suggesting that the parent of the victim discusses the matter with the parent of the bully. Usually disastrous.

Not contacting the parent of the victim to check on the outcomes of the intervention

Not recognising the possibility that the victim may have been provocative – and the bully’s parents may have some reasonable concerns.

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Recommend literature or courses that are helpful in promoting the kind of parenting that makes bullying less likely

For parents wanting help

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Evaluation

There are two matters that may concern a school wanting to evaluate its work to counter bullying:

(i) Whether the policy or program has led to a reduction in bullying

(ii) Whether actual interventions with cases of bullying have been effective

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Evaluating policies/programs

First seek to discover how well the policy or program was implemented

This means systematically asking questions of staff members

Decide whether the implementation was

(i) really thorough (ii) only partly implemented (iii) implemented hardly at all

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Assessing the nature and degree of change brought about by the policy/program

This can only be done validly by obtaining estimates of the prevalence of the bullying before and after the implementation and comparing the changes with that found in a control group

Often it is best to invite an external person or organisation with appropriate skills and objectivity, eg., a University looking for a project to evaluate

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Evaluating interventions with cases

For each case addressed, record its nature – eg. how severe; mode of bullying – eg. verbal, physical, indirect, cyber, some or all of these. – How prolonged? – Whether there was group involvement; age, gender, ethnicity

Describe the method or methods of intervention actually used

Rate the success of the outcome as : (i) the bullying stopped (ii) the bullying got less severe (iii) there was no change (iv) things got worse for the victim

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Evaluating interventions with cases continued

In rating the outcome, obtain data from interviews with the victim and with the bully or bullies, and then, if practicable, from bystanders, teachers and parents

Repeat the inquiry a month or so later to see whether the situation has altered

Make a recommendation as to the effectiveness of the intervention as carried out in relation to the kind of case and factors involved

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Questions

What level of collaboration exists at your school between parents and staff in preventing and addressing problems of bullying? Suggest ways it could be improved.

What do you think your school could do realistically to evaluate efforts to reduce bullying?

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