PUBLICATION:
The Ottawa Citizen Ontario's education ministry is poised to make a major announcement about new anti-bullying initiatives. The announcement, expected later this week, comes less than a year after Queen's Park said it would sink $9 million into safe school plans -- including anti-bullying programs -- at the same time more municipalities are introducing bylaws targeted at stopping bullies as young as 12 years old. In the Alberta town of Rocky Mountain House, four boys and a girl, 13 and 14 years old, were charged under a bylaw in January with inciting bullying after a dispute between students from two schools attracted 11 carloads of teens. The bylaw is not just for the bullies. Those who cheer on taunting, harassment and fights can also face up to $100 fines. Meanwhile, at least one province has made school anti-bullying programs mandatory. Last February in Saskatchewan, only days after 16-year-old Travis Sleeva shot himself after being taunted by other students, the province ordered schools to put programs in place by the end of the school year. Education Minister Andrew Thomson called for changes to the Youth Criminal Justice Act to allow police to deal with juveniles who bully. But the announcement from Ontario's education ministry also comes as a growing body of research demonstrates school-based anti-bullying programs can be ineffective and even counterproductive. A study by University of Ottawa education professor David Smith, published last year in School Psychology Review, analysed 14 studies on anti-bullying initiatives. The programs, popular with educators, are based on a system introduced in Norway almost 30 years ago that focused on the school community and classroom, and not on individual bullies and victims. While whole-school programs were moderately successful in Norway, they produced mixed results elsewhere. The effects of nearly all the programs were small, negligible or negative. One Finnish study on peer-led intervention for Grades 7 and 8 students found that while the girls' bullying attitudes had decreased, the boys' attitudes had increased. Meanwhile, Mr. Smith questions the value of programs that aren't evaluated. He did an Ontario-wide survey of bullying programs at 395 schools and found almost three-quarters had never evaluated their programs. "Schools are investing significant resources into anti-bullying programs, despite scant evidence of program effectiveness," said the study, which has not yet been published. Sinking a lot of money
into unproven programs is like going to a doctor who prescribes an untested
medication, said Mr. Smith. Talking about the failings of school anti-bullying programs touches a nerve in education circles, said Mr. Smith. "I think it's because people take it as a criticism of their hard work or good intentions. Some people may be working very hard. But when you look at the ink on the page and the outcomes, you can't candy-coat it." Bullying has become
politically charged, he said. School boards know bullied students and
their parents can sue. Edmonton was the first North American city to introduce an anti-bullying bylaw in 2003. Since then, 15 municipalities have followed suit, said acting Sgt. Darrell Kushniruk of the Edmonton police. Fines of $250 can be levied on those over the age of 12 who communicate directly or indirectly in a way that makes a minor feel harassed in a public place. Under the bylaw, harassed means "tormented, troubled, worried, plagued or badgered." That definition includes spreading rumours and making inappropriate comments, said Sgt. Kushniruk. About a dozen charges have been laid under the bylaw. The threat of a fine is often enough to end the bullying, he said. Travis Sleeva's mother, Carol, made at least three visits to the school after her son's problems began. Police got involved after Travis sustained a minor concussion at a party last October. After that, the taunting became worse. Things came to a head after one of the youths made a court appearance in the assault case. Travis's suicide note said he could no longer stand the fighting. "If each and every one of us stood up and said, 'We won't tolerate this,' it would go farther than any legislation," said Mrs. Sleeva. But it doesn't work that way, she added. "The only way that these kids can get help is if someone can call the police." |