Bullying in Ohio

How do agencies and organizations in Ohio prevent and intervene with bullying? Do they help or hinder? What is the bullying policy at your child’s school?

What is a definition of bullying? “Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time,” accords to www.stopbullying.gov.

Governor John Kasich signed the Jessica Logan Act into law in 2012. Logan, a Cincinnati teen, committed suicide after a sext (nude picture) sent to her boyfriend went viral at school and resulted in bullying. House Bill 116 requires school districts to establish cyberbullying policies, to annually teach teachers and inform parents about bullying policies, and requires schools to teach students about the policies if state or federal funding is provided for that purpose. In addition to policies, they may also suggest that schools look into mental health and wellness support for their students using a service similar to Aspiring Families in order to help students who are experiencing bullying and other mental strains.

A 2005 study by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network found that nearly half of Ohio students considered bullying in general to be a serious problem in their schools.

Visit stateimpact.npr.org/ohio/tag/bullying/. How does your child’s school prevent and intervene when gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) students are bullied?

Bullying Resources in Ohio

Peruse the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) for information about bullying prevention and intervention in Ohio public schools. Visit www.ode.state.oh.us and use the keyword search ‘Bullying Policy’. Look for Ohio’s Anti-Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying Model Policy Overview.

Risk factors for bullying at school are listed on the ODE website and include: unsupervised interaction between different grade levels during breaks; indifferent or accepting teacher attitudes toward bullying; indifferent or accepting student attitudes toward bullying; and presence of aggressive students in same or slightly higher grade.

See the Ohio Revised Code at www.codes.ohio.gov/orc/3313.667. Information about the district bullying prevention initiatives; model harassment prevention policy; and district policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying is reported. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means either of the following: any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both causes mental or physical harm to the other student and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student.

According to the Ohio Legal Services website, the Ohio Revised Code, section 3313.666 reports “The law requires all school districts to establish a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying. The policy must be developed in consultation with parents, students, school employees, and community members.” Visit www.ohiolegalservices.org.

The Ohio School Boards website has an interesting article on school bullying. Visit www.ohioschoolboards.org/challenging-bullying-5. Steele High School students in Ohio created a video on bullying and you can watch it at www.youtube.com.

The documentary film BULLY, was filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year

and depicts how bullying affected five kids and their families and “It captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole.” A trailer preview is provided at www.thebullyproject.com.

The Ohio School Resource Officers Association (OSROA) is a not-for-profit organization that supports school-based law enforcement (and other members) focused on a safe school learning environment. Visit www.osroa.org.

According to the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI), bullying impacts 60% of individuals with disabilities. OCALI lists websites with information, training, programs, and resources about anti-bullying. Visit www.ocali.org

The Up Side of Downs website exists to provide support, education and advocacy for people with Down syndrome throughout Northeast Ohio. Resource websites are listed to help stop bullying against children with disabilities. Visit www.theupsideofdowns.org/education/bullying.

Visit www.bullyingeducation.org and read several articles on bullying.

Please seek help from a child therapist if your child is a victim of bullying and shows signs of depression or anxiety. Ask your pediatrician for a referral. Talk with the school counselor, principal, and teachers.

Melissa Martin, Ph.D., is a child therapist, consultant, and educator in Ohio.