Michele Borba - The 6Rs of Bullying Prevention: Best Proven Practices to Combat Cruelty and Build Respect

Praise for

The 6Rs of Bullying Prevention

This book provides real results for bullying prevention, awareness, and education and will make a difference not only in the lives of children, but in our communities. Dr. Borbas expertise in bullying is second to no one: she is a leader in her field and this book will change lives.

Sue Scheff, Internet safety expert and author

Dr. Borba compiles and succinctly summarizes the weight of available evidence about what works to prevent bullying at school. Building safe and bully-free schools is not easy and there are no shortcuts. It takes coordination and collaboration by all concerned community stakeholders. This book offers a potent and pragmatic roadmap to help schools achieve that goal.

Justin W. Patchin, Ph.D., codirector, Cyberbullying Research Center

Dr. Michele Borbas contributions to the field are always practical, relatable, and powerful. Her newest book is no exception and provides a valuable step-by-step guide to help school communities reduce peer harassment and hate from the inside out through policy and programming.

Dr. Sameer Hinduja, codirector of Cyberbullying Research Center and professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida Atlantic University

An important addition to any educators toolbox for breaking the cycle of bullying violence and creating a more deeply caring school environment.

Barbara Coloroso, educator and author of The Bully , the Bullied , and the Not-So-Innocent Bystander

Copyright 2016 by Michele Borba, Ed.D.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Borba, Michele, author.

Title: The 6Rs of bullying prevention: best proven practices to combat cruelty and build respect / Michele Borba.

Description: Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing, [2016] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016011723| ISBN 9781631980206 (paperback) | ISBN 1631980203 (paperback) | ISBN 9781631981036 (web pdf) | ISBN 9781631981043 (epub)

Subjects: LCSH: Bullying in schoolsPrevention. | BullyingPrevention. | BISAC: EDUCATION / Leadership. | EDUCATION / Classroom Management.

Classification: LCC LB3013.3 .B67 2016 | DDC 371.5/8dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016011723

Free Spirit Publishing does not have control over or assume responsibility for author or third-party websites and their content. At the time of this books publication, all facts and figures cited within are the most current available. All telephone numbers, addresses, and website URLs are accurate and active; all publications, organizations, websites, and other resources exist as described in this book; and all have been verified as of March 2016. If you find an error or believe that a resource listed here is not as described, please contact Free Spirit Publishing. Parents, teachers, and other adults: We strongly urge you to monitor childrens use of the Internet.

The Bullying Policy created by the U.S. Government, adapted in , is not part of the copyrighted material of this book.

Cover image credits: Rawpixelimages | Dreamstime.com, Monkey Business Images | Dreamstime.com

Cover and interior design by Colleen Rollins

Edited by Meg Bratsch

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Dedication

This book is dedicated to the unsung heroes of the world: educators. Your compassion, competence, and commitment to children are the best hope for bullying prevention and producing a generation of empathetic, caring, and courageous upstanders.

Acknowledgments

No book is ever written alone. Countless people were instrumental in helping me develop these ideas, and I express my heartfelt appreciation:

To the extraordinary teachers, counselors, and administrators who allowed me the privilege of conducting research, trainings, and student focus groups at their schools to analyze the effectiveness of the 6Rs.

To the hundreds of educators who invited me to share and implement the 6Rs in schools around the world: United States, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Egypt, the Philippines, England, Germany, China, and the U.S. garrisons in Europe and the Asian Pacific. In working with you, I learned that bullying has no borders; our children are suffering in every region of the world. Your example also showed that bullying prevention is indeed possible. This book would not have come to fruition without your practical wisdom on how best to implement these practices.

To the parents from whom I have been privileged to learn during the past three decadesthose who attended my workshops and also those who shared personal stories about their children who have endured horrific harm from bullying. Thank you for your guidance and your honesty.

To the numerous people whose work has contributed enormously to my thinking about the development of bullying prevention, including Dan Olweus, Thomas Lickona, Nancy Eisenberg, Dorothy Espelege, Susan Swearer, Rachel Sim, Wendy Craig, Debra Pepler, Justin Patchin, Sameer Hinduja, Barbara Coloroso, Trudy Ludwig, and Ken Rigby. I only hope I accurately interpreted your work and gave it the credit it deserves.

To my agent, Joelle Delbourgo, for believing in this project and in me as a writer. Every writer should have this woman in her corner.

To Judy Galbraith, whose vision and integrity in leading Free Spirit Publishing has inspired me from the moment we met over thirty years ago. Thank you for the honor of allowing me to write for you.

To Meg Bratsch, editor extraordinaire, it has been a delight from your first phone call. Your insight, guidance, patience, and competence blew life into these pages. Words can never be enough to express my gratitude for having you as my editor.

To my growing, fabulous family for giving me so much moral support over the years of developing, researching, and writing this book, and recognizing its importance for children. As always, I could never have done this without the support of my husband, best friend, and rock of my life, Craig.

And to all the children around the world I interviewed. Your insights and ideas about how to stop bullying were always on the mark. In fact, the best ideas in these pages came from you. We would all do well to listen to you more.

Contents

List of Figures

List of Reproducible Forms

Customizable digital versions of all reproducible forms can be downloaded at freespirit.com/6rs-forms . Use password 4respect .

Introduction

S ticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me is a myth that needs to be dispelled. Bullying means that a child is intentionally causing another child pain. That pain may be inflicted emotionally, verbally, physically, or electronically, and it is always harmful. Whether a child is bullying others, witnessing bullying, or the target of bullying, the behavior wreaks havoc on childrens emotional, moral, and cognitive development; demolishes feelings of safety; and, if not stopped, can shatter young lives. In fact, bullying is viewed as one of the most serious public health problems in the United States and Canadian school systems.