The Power of Multi-Year Social Aggression and Conflict Resolution Initiatives Educators and administrators have the shared responsibility of creating a school environment that fosters not only academic growth but also emotional and social well-being. Social aggression (often referred to as “bullying) is a prevalent issue in many K-12 schools. It can have a lasting impact on students’ emotional health and academic performance. To combat this, many schools have turned to anti-bullying assemblies, bullying prevention programs, and kindness campaigns. But, what approach truly makes a difference ..read more

The Power of Multi-Year Social Aggression and Conflict Resolution Initiatives Educators and administrators have the shared responsibility of creating a school environment that fosters not only academic growth but also emotional and social well-being. Social aggression (often referred to as “bullying) is a prevalent issue in many K-12 schools. It can have a lasting impact on students’ emotional health and academic performance. To combat this, many schools have turned to anti-bullying assemblies, bullying prevention programs, and kindness campaigns. But, what approach truly makes a difference ..read more

In today’s interconnected world, fostering positive social relationships and addressing social aggression have become critical concerns in educational settings. The traditional punitive approaches to discipline often fail to address the root causes of aggressive behavior and can even exacerbate the problem. However, a paradigm shift towards restorative practices in education has shown promising results in promoting social harmony, resolving conflicts, and reducing instances of social aggression. This article explores the benefits of incorporating restorative practices into educational systems ..read more

Bullying remains a significant concern within educational settings, affecting students’ well-being and academic performance. As school administrators, it is imperative to implement effective strategies to address this issue. Two prominent approaches that often come up in discussions are “anti-bullying” and “bullying prevention” techniques. In this article, we will compare and contrast these two methodologies to help school administrators make informed decisions about the most appropriate approach for their schools. Anti-Bullying Techniques Anti-bullying techniques primarily focus on reactive ..read more

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is the process of acquiring skills and knowledge to manage emotions, establish positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL is essential for students’ success in school and life, and research has demonstrated numerous benefits to this approach to learning. First and foremost, SEL helps students develop emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence involves understanding and managing one’s own emotions, as well as being able to recognize and respond appropriately to the emotions of others. When students are taught emotional intelligence skills ..read more

Bullying is a pervasive problem in schools and communities worldwide. It can take many forms, from physical aggression to verbal abuse, and can cause long-lasting harm to the victims. Resilience education is a promising approach to preventing bullying and promoting well-being among children and adolescents. Resilience is the ability to adapt and cope with adversity, including bullying. It involves skills such as problem-solving, emotion regulation, self-esteem, and social support. Specifically, emotional resilience is the ability to leverage adversity (or adversaries) for psychological growth ..read more

Bullying is a pervasive problem in many schools and communities around the world. The harmful effects of bullying can last a lifetime, leading to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and even suicide. For this reason, many schools have implemented anti-bullying programs in an effort to combat this problem. However, recent research has shown that these programs may not be as effective as we once thought. One study conducted by the University of Texas at Arlington analyzed 18 different anti-bullying programs and found that only one had a significant impact on reducing bullying be ..read more

The Unintended Consequences of “Bullying” If you ever had someone pull the fire alarm, you know the panic that erupts. I remember that some kids at my high school thought it would be funny to pull the fire alarm as a prank. The staff was not amused. While the students thought that it would only cause us to get out of class early, they were unaware of the negative consequences. Not only did everyone evacuate but the fire department responded and after two incidents started sending the school a bill. The “fire alarm kids” wound up costing the school a lot of money and after a few incidents, a r ..read more

How to Intervene When Others are Mean The role of the witness or bystander to aggression, is one that’s often called into question.  Research shows that those who intervene can often stop mean behavior in the moment.  If this is true, what lengths should children go to stop mean behavior and what is the cost?  Is it really their responsibility? So-called anti-bullying experts have long labeled those witnessing aggression as “disengaged onlookers” and “not-so-innocent bystanders”.  William Burroughs says, “There are no such thing as innocent bystanders.  What were the ..read more

How to Handle Aggression from Authority The core definition that constitutes “bullying” is an imbalance of power.  The challenge when we experience aggression from authority, is that a power imbalance is the structure in which professional relationship exists, especially in the case of a manager and an employee. No matter what you do or say, there is a boss to answer to.  When you experience aggression from a superior, you may be tempted to fight back, quit, or go to their boss for support.  If the aggression is extreme and you’re in danger, taking action in this way may be n ..read more