Kidpower Urges Schools to Turn Bullying Prevention Policies

www.kidpower.org.nz

MEDIA RELEASE

04 April 2011

For Immediate Release

Kidpower Urges Schools to Turn

Bullying Prevention Policies into Positive Actions

National child empowerment organisation Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower Trust NZ says controlling bullying behaviour can have positive outcomes.

Kidpower’s National Centre Director Fiona Bryan says as schools consider the effectiveness of their bullying prevention policies, in light of recent cases of bullying that have hit the media, they need to think carefully about the outcomes of those policies.

“It’s not in our children’s interest to have a knee-jerk reaction to the media publicity. There are ways that bullying behaviour can actually be managed to have positive outcomes for the children who are bullying as well as the potential victims.”

Fiona Bryan says this is the time to take the opportunity to teach social skills to children who are bullying.

“When schools are re-thinking their bullying policies, as the Prime Minister has recommended, they need to have the most up-to-date knowledge of the psychological triggers and proven ways to turn this negative behaviour around.

“There are bullies in business, employment and most branches of life, but adults are more capable of dealing with them if they have to, and avoiding them if they do not. Child victims need help.”

“We have to be careful that as schools and parents reacting to these shocking incidents, we look at ways that have longer-term positive outcomes, not just punitive rules to stop bullying.

As caring adults we all run the risk of becoming complacent or going in with new policies that don’t address the core issues of why bullies do what they do, and how they, as children in need of help, can be turned around to become less aggressive.”

Fiona Bryan says constructive bullying prevention policies need expert advice. We urge schools to seek expert advice to help with their bullying prevention policy review process. It may take more time, but there are techniques that expert groups such as Kidpower Teenpower Fullpower Trust have, that can turn this difficult process into positive and effective action.”

Over the past 19 years, Kidpower has been running programmes internationally that have been proven to help children, teens, and adults to protect themselves from most bullying and abuse and to help them build healthy relationships.“

“We also find positive ways for young people to manage impulses that might tempt them to bully someone else,” Fiona Bryan says.

Research shows that school-based programmes, such as Kidpower’s Safety Skills Programme, can help prevent bullying and give children the social skills they need to protect themselves.

“Feedback from the schools we have run our programmes through is extremely positive, and has resulted in the establishment of ongoing and regular programmes with them,” Fiona Bryan says.

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