Area students take Steps to Respect

Bullying is an age-old problem in childhood. However, it is no longer a problem that is tolerated. In fact, central Illinois students are now being taught how to deal with bullying through a program offered by the Center For Prevention of Abuse.

The program, entitled Steps to Respect, has been offered in local schools for four years, according to Patti Morris, director of prevention and children’s services for the organization.

“This program is from Committee for Children, which is a nationally recognized curriculum. We have been using this in schools in the three counties that we serve, which are Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford. We have seen over 2,500 children with this program,” she said.

The program teaches students how to recognize, refuse and report bullying. In addition, it teaches faculty what to do should such an event occur, according to Morris.

Dunlap Grade School Principal Jeremy Etnyre is pleased with Steps to Respect. Taught by representatives from the Center For Prevention of Abuse, third and fourth graders in his school have participated in the program.

 “It teaches them how to react if someone is bullying them or how to go and get help if they are a bystander,” said Etnyre.

He said the program is beneficial in that it teaches children what to do should bullying occur.  In addition, he said it focuses on how to react if a child is a witness to a bullying event.

“I think bullying is in all schools and that as long as we respond to it and react to it we are able to deal with it,” he said. “You have to take incidents of bullying that are reported to you seriously and not let it get out of hand.”

Today’s approach to bullying is different than the approach of the past. That’s because programs now focus on a zero tolerance approach.

“In the past, when a child was being bullied they might say ‘please don’t say anything …’ and so the parent wouldn’t,” Morris said. “Today we know better.”

Knowing better means knowing when to intervene. This means parents should step in, according to Morris.

“The effects of bullying do not just stop or go away if parents do not come forward and talk to the teaching staff when it’s happening at school so they can work together to get it stopped,” she said.

Part of the process of intervention and education involves faculty and parent involvement. Steps to Respect teaches this concept, according to Morris.

“This program concentrates not just on the students but the important adults in a student’s life- their parents first of all and their teaching staff… through trainings and updates that are given out on a regular basis,” she said.

Morris said understanding the signs of bullying is essential. One such sign is cyberbullying, which involves using media like Facebook. In addition, parents need to look at text messages, according to Morris.

“If you notice those kinds of comments on their Facebook pages or their texting messages,  that may be a sign that they are bullying others. If your child is receiving such messages — messages that are cruel and critical, it is important for a parent not to ignore those,” she said.

Families also need to understand general signs of bullying. This means looking for telltale behaviors, according to Morris.

“The parents will find the child wanting to stay home from school more frequently, demonstrating a lot of physical illness symptoms,” she said. “Teachers will notice a decline in grades, a decline of interest in school.”

In addition, parents need to know that what they see may not be what is actually happening. Morris said this will look like a reversal of roles.

“Sometimes while the child is trying to defend themselves they look as though they are the primary aggressor or bully,” she said.

It is also important for parents to look for the signs of a child who bullies others. To know this, one must observe social interaction. One social sign is a child who is critical and pokes fun at others through comments or judgmental statements, she said.

Morris also said that community is important. It brings children together, she said.

“We believe it’s important for these children to all join together in order for them to understand the power they have … to help make this a safe place for all children to live and learn and grow,” she said.

In an effort to create community, the Center For Prevention of Abuse will be hosting an antibullying rally. The rally will take place March 29 at the Peoria Civic Center. It will involve nearly 600 children, according to Morris.

“Multiple schools will be attending the event,” she said.

In addition, Tina Meier, a speaker familiar with the topic of bullying, will address the group. She will also speak at the luncheon.

Meier is a nationally known speaker whose daughter Megan took her own life in 2006 as a result of bullying. To read Meier’s biography, visit http://meganmeierfoundation.cwsit.org/tinasBiography.php.