CALIFORNIA’S ANTI-BULLYING LAW
The school year is winding down and kids are looking forward
to a long leisurely summer. However, most parents still have to work which
means kids will attend various summer programs. For the most part, summer camps
are a great way for kids to enjoy their summer and are beneficial socially,
emotionally and academically. They also tend to have less supervision which can
be concerning in regards to the potential for bully behavior.
Public schools are required by law to have strong
anti-bullying policies and programs. In 2012 California legislatures passed
Seth’s Law, requiring all California public schools to update their
anti-bullying policies and programs. This may not be true for summer camps but
you can still ensure your child’s well being.
I recently spoke with Patricia Marquez, Bullying Prevention
Coordinator for San Benito County and certified Olweus Program Trainer. The
Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is a multi-level approach to bullying
prevention that focuses on changing social norms. “If a parent suspects their
child is being bullied, it’s important that they focus on the child,” she said.
“Be supportive and gather information that will help determine if the bullying
is occurring. Also, pay close attention to their daily habits.” For more
information, you can visit their website, www.violencepreventionworks.org.
What constitutes bullying? Bullying is unwanted, aggressive
behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power
imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over
time. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors,
attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on
purpose.
There are many roles that kids can play. Kids can bully
others, they can be bullied, or they may witness bullying. When kids are
involved in bullying, they often play more than one role. It is important to
understand the multiple roles kids play in order to effectively prevent and
respond to bullying.
When enrolling your child into a summer camp look at what
anti-bullying programs they have in place. There are loads of outreach services
in San Mateo County and the Bay Area.
The Peninsula Conflict
Resolution Center (www.pcrcweb.org)
works to provide "non-adversarial problem solving in San Mateo
County." They have an extensive list of school services they provide,
including Building Empathy and Respect, Bullying Awareness and Prevention, and
Freshman Transition. In addition to programs directed at students, the Center
offers parent and staff workshops.
Parents Place (www.parentsplaceonline.org)
offers training for teachers and administrators in their "Steps to
Respect" program aimed at third-sixth grades. This program also includes
options for parent workshops on topics like "Relational Aggression: How
Girls Bully" and "Cyber-Bullying."
Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org)
is an organization that reviews a lot of the media available and rates it by
age appropriateness. They also provide education for parents and
teachers.www.commonsensemedia.org.
Contact Margaret Lavin at elementarydays@gmail.com.
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