Information sheet
Print
 |
Whole school community |
| |
Building a safe and supportive school and preventing bullying |
| |
Involve staff, parents and students in collaboratively developing and implementing an active whole school plan, involving staff, parents and students, to address bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence |
The primary objective of a whole school plan and procedures is to articulate a common vision and to provide a framework that enables community members to operate purposefully and consistently. An effective strategy is to ensure that staff, students and carers are represented on committees responsible for developing school policies on bullying, harassment, behaviour management and related matters. Brainstorming and seeking consensus on key points helps generate a sense of ownership and commitment to reform within a school community. After the plan and procedures are in place, regular redrafts and reviews are essential as circumstances change.
A whole school approach means ensuring that students learn appropriate messages and skills through the formal curriculum and classroom practices. These must be supported by policy, guidelines and practices in the student welfare and pastoral care areas.
The process or journey a school community undertakes to create this policy
is as important as putting the policy into action.
Students at an urban secondary school established an anti-bullying committee. They initiated and coordinated the development and implementation of the school's anti-bullying policy, staff training, and the development of programs within the school. The student-driven and student-owned approach has created powerful support from the whole school community and encouraged staff, parents, students and the local community to be involved in a wide range of innovative conflict resolution initiatives.
Addressing Bullying Behaviour: It's Our Responsibility
http://www.sofweb.vic.edu.au/wellbeing/safeschools/bullying/
Department of Education, Employment and Training, State of Victoria.
This Victorian government education website provides information and guidelines, teacher and student resource materials including online video clips and examples of school practice.
Bullying in Schools and What to do about it
Rigby, K. (1996)
Camberwell, Melbourne: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Covers a range of topics including consequences of bullying, linking understanding to practice, developing a plan for action, and working with the individuals involved, their families and other students.
Changing Theories and Practices of Discipline
Slee, R. (1995)
London: Falmer Press.
An analysis of recent changes to discipline policies and regulations in Australia in relation to international trends. Focuses on a critical re-examination of the school discipline issue and processes for schools to consider in developing their own responses to challenging classroom behaviour. The development of 'discipline' is distinguished from other concepts such as 'control' or 'punishment'
Racism. No way! website
http://racismnoway.com.au/
CESCEO (2000)
A comprehensive resource that assists teachers and students to address the challenges relating to racism. The website includes information to assist in recognising and addressing racism in schools; teaching strategies and opportunities for teachers and schools to share their approaches; and a large annotated bibliography on topics such as countering racism; cultural diversity and multiculturalism; migration and refugees; and stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination. Developed by Australia's government, independent and Catholic schooling sectors.
Responding to School Violence: an annotated bibliography of resources to
assist schools in responding to School Violence.
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (formerly DEST) (1999)
First published in 1999 by Central Queensland University Press, the online version of the bibliography can be found at the Central Queensland University website http://www.cqu.edu.au/education/assistschool.shtml
The P.E.A.C.E. Pack: A Programme For Reducing Bullying In Our Schools (3rd Edition)
Slee, Phillip T. (2001)
Adelaide: P T Slee
This portfolio contains a 24 page booklet and 7 cards. As well as individual, group and class strategies, the resource encourages attention to the role of social pressure and the school system in encouraging or discouraging bullying behaviour, and what can be improved to discourage bullying and violence.
