An updated playground is more than play space
Boeckman - Fitness and creative play are emphasized with the school's improvements
Thursday, February 21, 2008
CATHIE ERICSON
Special to The Oregonian

A peaceful playground -- isn't that the dream of all students, parents and educators? Where recess is a time of socialization, fresh air and physical activity, rather than a period marked by conflict and bullying.

That's the concept behind the ne…

It's not often that legislators in both parties agree. Even more rare is a bill with a unanimous outcome. But that is exactly what happen this week when Kentucky legislators voted on anti-bullying legislation.

The bill would prohibit bullying and harassment among students in Kentucky's public schools and require school districts to put procedures in place to handle reports of such behavior. The bill passed the House today by a vote of 9…

A Florida judge over turned a jury's $4 million award to a elementary school age boy that was bullied at recess. The judge cut the award to $600,000.

Hillsborough County Circuit Judge William Levens wrote in his order that the boy's attorney delivered an "improper and unfairly prejudicial" closing argument. The attorney's words, Levens wrote, were inflammatory and focused on punishment rather than the facts of the case.

On J…

Check out the Bullying UK website for bullying resources for schools, parents, students . Sign up for their online newsletter or create and print a bullying poster.

Bullying UK is sponsoring Teachers TV in Anti-Bullying Week. These videos are playing as part of every web video we produce and can be seen on Teachers.TV Check out Nick Hall's inspirational song Sticks & Stones.

High-tech "bully buttons" are being installed in some Australian schools so students can alert educators and trigger video cameras to record such incidents. "If students are confronted with footage then there can be very little denial, but it also gives us a clearer perspective of what happened because kids often remember their part but don't have an overall perspective," said Thomas Carr College deputy principal Vera Tre…

I stumbled on the following utube video entitled, "Hero in the Hallway." Check it out.

People who study bullying often focus on the bullies and the children they target. But now attention is turning to a long-neglected actor in this drama: the bystander. Empowering the bystander to speak up and act may be the key to stopping bullies, some experts say.

When children who see bullying speak up against it, seek help from an adult and offer support to the bullied child, they raise the overall emotional health of their school. And when c…

By Cheri Carlson (Contact)
Friday, October 5, 2007
Ventura County Star Newspaper

Kaity Webster had a list of new rules to learn at her Camarillo school this year, but she didn't complain when she saw what she got in return.

The fifth-grader returned to University Preparation School to find the asphalt painted with tricycle tracks, maps, and alphabet and number games — and the equipment racks stocked full of new balls, jump ropes, bean bags and…

Polly Curtis, education editor
Monday October 8, 2007
The Guardian

Boring playgrounds could be fuelling bullying in schools, a charity warns today after a survey suggested that many parents think their child's schools lacks green space. According to one in five parents polled, schools lack proper spaces for sports, and one in six children are bored at break times.

The poll of 1,100 parents paid for by the the charity Learning Through Landscapes …

By Jane Clifford
UNION-TRIBUNE FAMILY EDITOR
September 29, 2007

OK, you've seen your child do some things, little things really, but nagging little things. Being just a little too aggressive with younger siblings, a little too snarky on the phone about classmates, a little too intimidating with the kids in the neighborhood.

Do you continue to ignore it or do you follow your instincts and acknowledge that your child is a bully, confront your chil…

Principal Pam Winfield credits a dedicated group of volunteers for transforming ordinary blacktop into an endless supply of games that can attract an entire classroom to share an activity.

Peaceful Playground is a concept developed by a former physical education teacher who wanted to create a safer and more inclusive play area for children.

In addition to providing more play opportunities for a relatively low cost, peaceful playground also encoura…

Bullying is down at one Collier County elementary school, and the reason behind it may surprise you. School administrators claim it's because of the design of the new playground. School administrators claim it's because of the design of the new playground.
It's called a Peaceful Playground.

A study found the colorful playground markings and organized games decrease bullying, fighting, and injuries because every game has rules children …

Summer is over, school bells are ringing. It's time to have a talk with your students about bullying at school and some strategies for dealing with it.

Go to stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov/ to get tips and expert advice on how to help your students outsmart the bully.

By Alexa Jenner, ajenner@libertysuburban.com Downers Grove Reporter Thu Sep 06, 2007, 03:00 PM CDT Downers Grove, IL -
Photo by Ron Koopmann With their new “Peaceful Playground,” students at Whittier School have learned how to resolve thier own conflicts. Nisha Albert (left) and Haley Reid, both of Downers Grove, use the strategy of “Rock, Paper, Scissors” to settle a conflict Wednesday.
In an effort to curtail problems at recess, Whittier …

Kids who bully others and kids who are victimized by bullies each face an increased risk of psychiatric disorders by early adulthood, according to a study recently published in the journal Pediatrics. According to comprehensive study data, frequent bullying behavior in childhood reliably predicted antisocial personality, substance abuse, and depressive and anxiety disorders. Frequent episodes of victimization predicted future anxiety disorders…

It comes as no surprise (when you consider obesity related illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease) that obese children miss more school. A new study from the University of Pennsylvania suggests a link between childhood obesity and school attendance.

The study, which was published the journal Obesity, studied fourth- to sixth-grade students at nine inner-city Philadelphia elementary schools. Based on the children's BMI (body ma…

By Robinson Duffy
rduffy@newsminer.com
Published July 24, 2007

Often when people picture bullying, the image that comes to mind, is a bully or group of bullies backed by a cadre of supporters. Who are picking on a child with no visible support.

Margie Kurzbard would like to see the opposite of that situation. She wants to see that the victims of bullies have a strong support network of peers and adults.A support network stronger than the bullies.

“Th…

As the school year draws to a close it is the perfect opportunity for schools to begin to access bullying and harrassment within the school setting. Identifying when, where and how often bullying is occurring is the first step in extinquishing these behaviors. Mr. Donovan is a Vice-President with School Perceptions LLC, suggests that an anonymous survey that provides honest feedback is a great starting point. Once the bullying data is collec…

On the topic of bullying. We need to teach children that:
"All that is necessary for evil to succeed is that good men [or good women] do nothing." Winston Churchill.


Melinda's favorite bullying videos.
Watch the Beat Bullying Video. 60 second video.

Watch the Tell Someone Video. 60 second video.

TEMECULA, Calif. - A seventh-grade girl got suspended from school for a week for bullying another student. Then Mom got involved, and things got worse for the bully.
During the suspension week, the 12-year-old's mother, made her daughter stand outside various schools with a poster reading: "I engaged in bullying behavior. I got suspended from school and this street corner. Don't be like me. Stop bullying.""I don't want…