Empowering Students and Educators to End Bullying

While New Jersey's new antibullying law will clamp down on the abusive behavior, it is proving to be burdensome on schools.

The state's Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act requires public schools to train staff and investigate every allegation of harassment, intimidation and bullying - including those made anonymously and those alleged to have happened off school grounds or via the internet. Educators face disciplinary action if they don't immediately report an incident they witness.

NewBridge believes that teaching students empathy and tolerance along with resiliency skills is the most effective approach to reducing bullying.

"When you empower children, they are less likely to become a victim of bullying," said Mary Vineis, coordinator of prevention services at NewBridge. "As good as it is to have school officials and parents involved, students need to have the self-confidence to treat themselves and others with respect."

"Antibullying efforts cannot be successful if they make teenagers feel victimized without providing them the support to go from a position of victimization to one of empowerment," a September op-ed in The New York Times concluded.

With more than 20 years of experience teaching anti-bullying programs in classrooms, NewBridge works with more than 5,000 children a year to build their self-image so they are less likely to be defined by someone else's opinions. NewBridge works with small groups using best practices, and its approach focuses on social, emotional learning and character development.

NewBridge has also worked with more than 1,000 educators and parents. Educators learn what constitutes bullying and how to identify the signs of both bullies and victims. "Many victims won't come forward because they don't want to be seen as a victim, and bullies are struggling with issues and need help," Vineis said. "Through NewBridge's programs, parents and educators can learn about the latest threats and how best to cope with them."

"Interventions must focus on positive concepts like healthy relationships and digital citizenship," according to researchers Danah Boyd and Alice Marwick, authors of the Times' op-ed. "The key is to help young people feel independently strong, confident and capable without first requiring them to see themselves as either an oppressed person or an oppressor."

Read more by downloading the entire newsletter: Fall 2011 (PDF - 246 kb)

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