POLICE ASSOCIATION OF NOVA SCOTIA 147 Kids Help Phone created a bully awareness program, this year, to help kids take the initiative to stop bullying in their schools. Schools in Halifax were invited to try the pilot program for free. Fourth-year Saint Mary's University psychology major, Lianne Nixon, volunteered to put on the program. She says being bullied in high school inspired her to get involved in this project. Although not many schools signed up to take part, Nixon says the response from the six schools that did sign up has been positive. “All the students and teachers involved, have said it's a great program,” says Nixon. "It's a really good feeling to reach these kids." Workshops run during school hours, usually from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Nixon tries to build a trust with students quickly, by sharing her experience of being teased at school. "Teasing is fine, but when someone is hurt by teasing, that's bullying," says Nixon. "It goes on more than most students realize." Defining and recognizing bullying Dartmouth high school student Alex Harper, 16, says he thought he knew what bullying was before he walked into the four-hour workshop, held on Mar. 30. "I didn't think about it in depth. People get teased all around me, all the time. I never thought of that as bullying before." Harper says he does a double take now when he sees someone being bullied at his school. He says taking the workshop made him feel empowered to help stop bullying. "Bullying is a big problem and it's only going to get bigger. School boards and teachers need to look at it," says Harper. Nixon says that in discussions with students, she's learned that teachers often don't recognize bullying either. Students tell her that teachers will break up a scuffle, but they don't take it any further than that. "The bullies just start again when the teacher's not looking." Student leaders best-suited for workshop Grade 12 student Tanya Cole is part of a committee planning a youth symposium on bullying at Dartmouth High on Apr. 27. She says she was picked to take part in the bully workshop to help prepare for the symposium. "It was great. There's a lot of discussion and brainstorming. There's so much information and it just goes by so quickly," she says. Cole and Harper were two of about 15 students picked by teachers to participate in the workshop last Tuesday. They are what Nixon refers to as "student leaders," students who have influence at their school. "We tried working with a group of delinquents and bullytypes, but it was a complete waste of time," says Nixon. "They didn't care, they didn't want to be there." "Student leaders are best-suited for this workshop." Nixon hopes the report she's going to compile at the end of the school year will help the Kids Help Phone get another grant, so their bully awareness program can go on next year. "I've already told them (Kids Help Phone) if the program runs again, I'll be glad to help in the fall," says Nixon. Halifax schools host bully-awareness program By: Marie MacDonald As originally published on novanewsnet.ukings.ns.ca Facts based on Kids Help Phone calls in 2002-2003 • 12 per cent of calls report acts of violence • 28 per cent of calls on violence were from children under 12 • 50 per cent of these children were experiencing bullying • 76 per cent of calls were from females • 46 per cent of callers had not discussed the problem with anyone prior to calling KHP How widespread a problem is bullying? • 1 in 4 children experience bullying • Bullying occurs once every 7 minutes on the playground • Bullying occurs once every 25 minutes in the class room • 1 out of 5 children admit to being a bully or doing some bullying Source: Kids Help Phone
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