Preventative Strategies | Not in Our Town

Preventative Strategies

  Students at Watchung Hills Regional High School in New Jersey were fascinated when they heard about an Orange Out Against Bullying in Marshalltown, Iowa. When they got together, they decided to create their own "White-Out to Erase Bullying" event. The campaign took on the flavor of their community. Even the weather cooperated, blanketing the town with snow as high school leaders tied white ribbons on snow-laden trees and students led activities pledging not to be silent in the face of bullying at their high schools, middle schools and elementary schools. Even the mayor and city council members joined the effort. Closed captioning available for this film. To turn on closed captioning, hit play and go to the bottom right-hand corner and click "CC." This film is a great way to spark discussion as part of a schoolwide campaign. Click here to get the Not In Our School Anti-Bullying Campaign Quick Start Guide.  
  Estudiantes líderes de la escuela secundaria  Del Sur en Lancaster, California visitan una escuela primaria local y enseñan a estudiantes de 4º y 5º grado cómo ser defensores. A través de dramatizaciones y actividades interactivas dirigidas por los chicos de secundaria, los alumnos de primaria aprenden el significado del término “defensor” o “upstander” y cómo intervenir de manera efectiva, buscar ayuda y apoyar a un compañero que está siendo acosado. Este proceso puede ser una herramienta efectiva para utilizar en el salón de clases con los estudiantes. Por favor siga las siguientes instrucciones y revise la “Nota de cautela” para asegurar que sea una experiencia positiva y productiva. Nota: El proceso completo puede durar de 1 a 3 clases o reuniones de los estudiantes Instrucciones:
This skit can be used as part of the Not In Our School Student-Led Assembly Guide to launch an anti-bullying program in your school.
Here is an example of a student-led assembly at Peralta Elementary School in Oakland, CA. This assembly launched their schoolwide anti-bullying campaign. The students did a skit and talked about how to be an upstander as they took the lead in addressing bullying and intolerance. Students also learned how to be upstanders who work toward an accepting and identity safe school environment.  Not In Our School developed a guide and sample skit for a similar assembly at the middle and high school levels. Click here for the student-led assembly kit.
In 1995, Azim Khamisa's 20-year-old son, Tariq, was delivering a pizza when he was shot to death by a 14-year-old gang member. Experiencing the pain, grief, frustration, and anger that a parent would, Azim decided that the only way he could better the situation was to use the tool of FORGIVE to ensure that this type of tragedy happens less frequently in the future. After meeting with the father of the boy who shot Tariq, Azim decided that he would bring his message of forgiveness and mutual respect to groups of young people all over the country. The foundation in his son's memory, the Tariq Khamisa Foundation, raises awareness and engages youth to resist a culture of violence and learn to live in harmony with one another. This lesson addresses the following SEL strategies and you can have students look for these issues and examine them in themselves.
In this new video geared toward elementary schools, students from Grimmer Elementary School in Fremont, CA explore the impact of bullying and ways to be an upstander.  After intermediate students share personal experiences, they decide to take action and invent the "Leaving a Positive Footprint" activity, where the pupils paint blue footprints with positive messages "walking" though their campus. Later, they work with first grade buddies to discuss bullying and speaking up, and together they make paper footprint cut-outs and create their own upstander messages to post around the school. Download the full PDF version of the lesson plan by clicking here.
  SUGGESTED QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS AFTER READING THE CHRISTMAS MENORAHS, VIEWING NOT IN OUR TOWN, OR VIEWING OR PERFORMING PAPER CANDLES. By Janice I. Cohn Fighting Bullies         The residents of Billings stood up to bullies despite the risks. Why did they do that? Do you think that would have happened without the help of people like Chief Inman and Margaret MacDonald? Do you think that would have happened if Tammie Schnitzer had not “gone public” with what happened to her family? What were the risks these people took by taking a stand? What can each of us do in our own lives if we must confront − or someone we know must confront − bullying? Would you attempt to help another person who is being bullied or treated badly? Why? What factors would affect your decisions? What would you want to do, and how would you want to do it? What would be helpful to you in these situations Fighting Hatred And Intolerance •    Do you think the events that happened in Billings could happen in any town? Why?
 Description: This video provides a brief overview of the purpose and goals of NIOS. It includes brief interviews with Patrice O’Neill, founder of NIOT and other NIOS leaders and offers examples from schools that have taken action to end bias, harassment, bullying and create safer school environments.   Directions: After viewing the video, engage students in a discussion using some or all of the following questions:   •     What do you notice about NIOS and how it works?   •     How do you think NIOS can be used to address bullying or intolerance in a school community?   •     Do you agree with the idea that it is human nature to categorize and stereotype other people? If so, how do we stop ourselves from acting on our stereotypes or biases?   •     Do you agree with the statement “silence equals acceptance” in the face of bias or bullying? Why or why not?   •     What student activities on film drew your attention?   •     How could you see implementing NIOS in our school or district?