Melissa Graham is the Director of Break Through Bullying creating products for schools and organisations that help to promote positive anti-bullying behaviours.
Melissa is dedicated to empowering individuals to stand up for themselves and others against violence and bullying to create harmony in our communities. She has a Bachelor of Education and has twenty years teaching and educational experience.
Bullying and cyberbullying for the 'always on' generation
This month we are delighted to announce the first of a series of articles by Melissa Graham the Director of Break Through Bullying creating products for schools and organisations that help to promote positive anti-bullying behaviours.
Break Through Bullying is about how to prevent and manage bullying in the early childhood environment.
Break Through Bullying was established in 2003, by Melissa Graham to 'bring light' to bullying issues in our communities. The organisation aims to raise community awareness of bullying and support the teaching and learning of positive anti-bullying strategies for children of all ages.
Navigating the Maze: cybersafety and wellbeing solutions for schools was the focus of the fourth National Centre Against Bullying (NCAB) Conference held in Melbourne over two days in April 2010. Bullying affects everybody and there is a need for a national commitment to increase cybersafety and reduce bullying across the community.
The conference brought together a group of experts in the field of bullying to draw national attention to the issue of bullying at school, work, in the community and at home.
Cyberbullying and cybersafety were high on the agenda as the latest research has shown an increase in cyberbullying in our community. Possible solutions were posed for how our communities can address these issues with particular emphasis on everyone needing to take social responsibility for the appropriate use of technology in our lives and have a vision for harmonious communities that do not condone bullying.
Cyberbullying is bullying that involves the use of technology such as mobile phones and computers through text messaging, instant messaging, chat rooms, social networking sites, uploading photos and video footage. The issue of bullying now extends to cyberbullying where children are using these technologies to connect and communicate with friends, source information, share experiences, create profiles and form new friendships.
The 'Always-on' generation, a term coined by Canadian Educator Bill Belsey founder of bullying.org, refers to the fact that these children are connected and ready to interact at all times using the variety of technologies available to them. This is a very important part of their world and it is crucial that these children learn about cybersafety and be aware of cyberbullying so that they are prepared to deal with the problems that can arise from using these mediums.
The Hon Alastair Nicholson, Chairman of the NCAB founded in 2002, opened the Navigating the Maze conference by referring to the fact that the issue of bullying now extends well beyond the school grounds. This has presented problems for educators, parents and authorities in determining where responsibilities lie in terms of controlling and preventing cyberbullying.
He suggested that there has been a general decline in school bullying around the world. In Australia, this decrease could be because of the positive anti-bullying approaches that many schools have adopted over the past years and government initiatives such as the soon to be revised National Safe Schools Framework.
In contrast incidents of cyberbullying appear to be on the increase, with children online or using mobile phones for significant amounts of time every day encountered bullying behaviours in cyberspace.
The Hon Julia Gillard MP, Deputy Prime Minister, addressed the conference by saying, "Happier and safer schools are better schools; and happier and safer students are more successful students"¹. By addressing issues of bullying and cyberbullying, our Australian schools can become safer places for children to report incidents and seek helpful support from educators who are informed in these areas.
A call was made for pre-service teacher education programs to include a mandatory component, which addresses awareness and skills for preventing and managing bullying situations. The Deputy Prime Minister outlined the ways in which the government is currently addressing the problems of bullying and cyberbullying, with funding for research projects, the implementation of initiatives supporting the safe usage of technologies, education for teachers and assistance for those in domestic violence situations. Also mentioned was the importance of a change in school culture and community support for standing up against bullying. In these ways we can develop from a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Well Being.
One of the outcomes of the conference was to investigate Early Intervention, the need to identify early those children who may have peer relationship issues and implement appropriate programs. Michel Boivin, Professor of Psychology and Canada Research Chair, has completed extensive research in this area and presented evidence to suggest that the earlier that intervention occurs for children with peer relationship issues the more likely behaviours can be modified². This is a valuable research finding that can inform policy and practise in child care facilities, kindergartens and schools.
With parents and carers working in partnership with teachers, educational consultants and medical professionals, our children have a better chance of receiving the interventions that they require early in life, helping them to adapt more easily to a variety of learning environments and social situations.
Another important outcome of the conference was to recognise our young people of Australia as being part of the solution. This means that young people can be involved in policy development, parent education and the development of multi-media education materials. Our youth are essential to the solution of bullying and cyberbullying. It is not the technology that is to blame here as cyberbullying is about people not technology.
Our young people are very competent users of technology and a key factor here is to get them involved in the promotion of positive behaviours online and teaching them to become responsible Digital Citizens. As adults we need to model and demonstrate these behaviours too, however if we do not understand how social networking sites, blogs or chat rooms operate, we will not be equipped to assist the children in our care who interact in these ways daily.
By making our young people part of the solution to bullying and cyberbullying, we can work in partnership, learning together to deepen our understanding of what works and know the things that young people will not engage in.
From a legal perspective, bullying is not against the law at this stage in Australia as there are no laws defining or outlining bullying as a criminal offence. There are laws relevant to bullying behaviours such as stalking or harassment but these can be difficult to prove in some circumstances. There is a need to clarify the role of the criminal and civil law in relation to bullying and cyberbullying. Cases involving bullying behaviours have been brought to courts overseas and we are now seeing similar cases in Australia.
It can be frustrating for victims and families if an appropriate legal framework is not in place to offer justice and restoration to all involved. The NCAB conference highlighted the need to legally define the rights and responsibilities of schools in responding to bullying and cyberbullying situations. In order for our schools to be safer, laws in this area would establish a wider community framework that school policies and procedures would reflect.
Navigating the Maze of bullying and cyberbullying can be easier if we work together, united in partnership with each other to make our communities safer places for all. Everyone can contribute to the solution if they are given a voice.
By striving to be free of bullying and the damaging effects that it can have particularly on our young people today, surely we will see more of our young people grow into confident individuals with a sense of justice for all . By understanding the problem, raising awareness and being proactive in our own environments, positive change can occur and the maze may not seem as daunting.
The National Centre Against Bullying is an initiative of The Alannah and Madeline Foundation that works to advise and inform the Australian community on the issues of childhood bullying and the creation of safe schools and communities. The NCAB is made up of a number of experts and works closely with school communities, governments and industry. For more information visit ncab.org.au or go to amf.org.au
¹ Address to the National Centre Against Bullying April, 2010 The Honorable Julia Gillard MP ncab.org.au
² Research conducted by PREVNet National Network of Canadian Researchers – Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence. The Early Onset, development and consequences of peer relation difficulties in childhood prevnet.ca
Break Through Bullying products can be displayed in Child Care centres, OSHC facilities, Prep classes, Primary and Secondary schools and colleges. Products can be used in teaching and learning situations in these settings. Other support is also available for these facilities to ensure safe environments for children.
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