Department moves forward with anti-bullying initiatives

Education Minister John Ottenheimer is pleased to announce today the latest program stemming from the Department of Education's Safe and Caring Schools Initiative.

In the fall of 2001, the department launched its provincial Safe and Caring Schools Initiative and, since that time, has provided a series of resources and professional development opportunities to school boards and schools throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.

The latest component of this initiative is the introduction of a new comprehensive anti-bullying program which has received unanimous support from each of the province's school districts. Developed in British Columbia, the resources are entitled Focus on Bullying: A Prevention Program for Elementary School Communities for Grades K-7, and Focus on Harassment and Intimidation: Responding to Bullying in Secondary School Communities for students in Grades 8-12. The resources have been adapted to provincial legislation and curriculum, and provide practical ideas, activities and strategies that actively engage students in discussions about bullying.

Implementation began in mid December in the Baie Verte/Central/ Connaigre and the Burin Peninsula School Boards. In January, in-service took place with guidance counsellors and members from Safe and Caring School Teams in Avalon West and the Clarenville/Bonavista Boards. These groups will bring the resources back to their schools for implementation. In-servicing will continue with other boards throughout the year.

These resources can form the basis of a comprehensive bullying prevention program at the school level. Included in the resources is the following:

• information on the nature of bullying and the common myths and stereotypes that are associated with it;
• strategies and procedures to follow for the development of a school-wide plan for bullying prevention, including recommendations for the collaboration of parents, teachers, students and community members;
• detailed descriptions of responses and strategies for intervening in bullying incidents, with attention to the victim, the bully and bystanders;
• a strong focus on addressing bullying prevention through classroom lessons.

"The Department of Education is committed to supporting schools in the implementation of sound policy and sustained programming that will reflect our commitment to address issues of violence and bullying in schools and communities," said Minister Ottenheimer. "The result will be safe, caring and respectful school communities where children are free to learn in positive, healthy environments.

"Some school communities already have their own anti-bullying agendas and these resources will serve as a reference and support for already-established programs and action plans. Others will find these resources useful as they begin work in this area.

"This program - through it's excellent lesson plans - teaches students about appropriate action. Together with our education partners, we are preparing our young people to be responsible citizens of the future and these resources will go far in helping students be conscientious and accountable during their school years and beyond," noted the minister.

Additional information about the Safe and Caring Schools Initiative is available at www.gov.nl.ca/edu/dept/safesch.htm

February is Violence Prevention Month in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, and its community partners with the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI) have instituted Violence Prevention Month to focus attention on the issues of violence and to call on the public to get involved in violence prevention. For more information regarding Violence Prevention Month, please see the VPI web site at www.gov.nl.ca/vpi

Media contact: Lynn Salter, Communications, (709) 729-0048

2004 02 02                                        10:05 a.m.