Values of democracy Values of democracy and and

positive school environment positive school environment in prevention of violencein prevention of violence

Diāna Strause, LatviaDiāna Strause, Latvia

IntroductionIntroduction In my presentation I am going to use the term In my presentation I am going to use the term

“mobbing”. Both terms - “bullying” and “mobbing” “mobbing”. Both terms - “bullying” and “mobbing” appeared practically at the same time – by the end of appeared practically at the same time – by the end of eighties of the 20th century. eighties of the 20th century.

Being expressions of violence, “bullying” more Being expressions of violence, “bullying” more concerns individual forms of violence while by concerns individual forms of violence while by “mobbing” specialists characterize group violence. “mobbing” specialists characterize group violence.

We have a wonderful material prepared by our Italian We have a wonderful material prepared by our Italian colleagues about bullying. Therefore I will more deal colleagues about bullying. Therefore I will more deal with mobbing.with mobbing.

What is mobbingWhat is mobbing

A long term negative influence on a personA long term negative influence on a person

A way how a bully reduces his negative A way how a bully reduces his negative energyenergy

A hidden conflictA hidden conflict

Scientific publications on violence describe numerous Scientific publications on violence describe numerous theories characterizing types of violence, its causes, theories characterizing types of violence, its causes, how to deal with different expressions of violence.how to deal with different expressions of violence.

But the fundamental principle was defined in But the fundamental principle was defined in UNESCO statement as one of four pillars of UNESCO statement as one of four pillars of

education - education - learning to live together.learning to live together.

Instrument for implementing this principle into Instrument for implementing this principle into

practice I would call - practice I would call - values of democracy. values of democracy.

Values of democracyValues of democracy

Tolerance and coexistence:Tolerance and coexistence: Ability to accept that people are different.Ability to accept that people are different. Tolerance to diversity: social, religious, Tolerance to diversity: social, religious,

cultural.cultural. Accept and respect other people’s opinions Accept and respect other people’s opinions

and diversities.and diversities. Each person has the rights to be what he is!Each person has the rights to be what he is!

Role of the schoolRole of the school

At school pupils are taught not only physics, At school pupils are taught not only physics, mathematics and other subjects but also how mathematics and other subjects but also how to live together.to live together.

School is not a survival game!School is not a survival game! School should focus attention in School should focus attention in 3 directions:3 directions:

1. Creating positive school environment 1. Creating positive school environment

2. Preventing emergence of mobbing2. Preventing emergence of mobbing

3. Making visible mobbing if it already exists.3. Making visible mobbing if it already exists.

1. What is positive school 1. What is positive school environment:environment:

Educational activities/discussions about tolerance, Educational activities/discussions about tolerance, mobbing un human rights.mobbing un human rights.

Educational activities on conflict resolution in Educational activities on conflict resolution in civilized way,civilized way,

Group building activities (class lessons, adaptation Group building activities (class lessons, adaptation courses)courses)

Interesting, encouraging, safe environmentInteresting, encouraging, safe environment Organized activities during the breaks – indoor Organized activities during the breaks – indoor

games, creative activities and competitions, sports games, creative activities and competitions, sports activities, recreation rooms, e.t.c.activities, recreation rooms, e.t.c.

2.How to prevent mobbing2.How to prevent mobbing Information and educational discussions about mobbing Information and educational discussions about mobbing

for teachers, parents, pupils.for teachers, parents, pupils. Class lessons, discussions, games to change Class lessons, discussions, games to change

pupils’attitude towards mobbing.pupils’attitude towards mobbing. Stimulating pupils’emotions (work sheets, unfinished Stimulating pupils’emotions (work sheets, unfinished

sentences, emotion journalssentences, emotion journals Clear behaviour rules for everybody.Clear behaviour rules for everybody. Not allow degrading comments.Not allow degrading comments. Consistent and obvious adults’attitude facing mobbing. Consistent and obvious adults’attitude facing mobbing. Supervised activities during the breaks – indoor games, Supervised activities during the breaks – indoor games,

music, magazines.music, magazines. Integration of freshmen in the class.Integration of freshmen in the class.

How to discover mobbingHow to discover mobbing Anonymous questionnaires.Anonymous questionnaires. Teachers observations during the classes and Teachers observations during the classes and

breaks.breaks. Observation of shy and quiet children.Observation of shy and quiet children. Discussions, talks with children.Discussions, talks with children. Mobbing team work.Mobbing team work. A group of pupils, who inform about their A group of pupils, who inform about their

observations.observations. A box for confidential letters.A box for confidential letters. Parents information and notes.Parents information and notes.

Mobbing teamMobbing team

School teamSchool team, who deals with cases of mobbing :, who deals with cases of mobbing : 1. School support personel : 1. School support personel : social pedagogue ,social pedagogue , school psychologist,school psychologist, school medical nurse.school medical nurse. teachers (class teacher, subject teachers).teachers (class teacher, subject teachers). representative of administration.representative of administration.

In case mobbing continuesIn case mobbing continues

Parents are informed and the case is carried forward Parents are informed and the case is carried forward to to a team of professionalsa team of professionals which is established on which is established on the initiative of the local community.the initiative of the local community.

Team of professionals consists of:Team of professionals consists of: School teamSchool team Municipality social worker Municipality social worker Representative of the custody courtRepresentative of the custody court Representative of the policeRepresentative of the police Representative of the juvenile inspectionRepresentative of the juvenile inspection

School self - government help School self - government help to prevent mobbingto prevent mobbing

Educational activities:Educational activities: Seminars, discussions, role plays, drama Seminars, discussions, role plays, drama

shows, art competitions, tolerance, mobbing shows, art competitions, tolerance, mobbing and human rights games.and human rights games.

Break activities:Break activities: Indoor games, music, magazines, recreation Indoor games, music, magazines, recreation

place.place. Area for spending free time.Area for spending free time.

to discover mobbingto discover mobbing

Help teachers discover cases of mobbing Help teachers discover cases of mobbing

QuestionnairesQuestionnaires

A box for confidential letters.A box for confidential letters.

Mobbing questionnaireMobbing questionnaire

The aim is to discover cases of mobbingThe aim is to discover cases of mobbing

(Pupils age is important):(Pupils age is important): What kind of mobbing exists at school,What kind of mobbing exists at school, How many pupils suffer from mobbing,How many pupils suffer from mobbing, In which places it happens.In which places it happens.

Sample questionnaireSample questionnaire

How do you feel at school/in your class?How do you feel at school/in your class? Do you have friends in your class?Do you have friends in your class? Do you feel lonely?Do you feel lonely? Have you ever suffered from bullying?Have you ever suffered from bullying? Are you a bully?Are you a bully? Has anyone treated you badly?Has anyone treated you badly? Do you treat other pupils badly?Do you treat other pupils badly? Is there anyone in your class a victim of bullying?Is there anyone in your class a victim of bullying? Where bullying happens most often?Where bullying happens most often?

Sample of unfinished sentencesSample of unfinished sentences Being treated as guilty without reason, I.................Being treated as guilty without reason, I................. When people don’t believe me, I.............When people don’t believe me, I............. When stronger school mates offend me, I......................When stronger school mates offend me, I...................... Being disgraced, I..................Being disgraced, I.................. Being lied to, I.................Being lied to, I................. I hurt others, when...................I hurt others, when................... I DON’T WANT TO HURT OR OFFEND ANYONE.I DON’T WANT TO HURT OR OFFEND ANYONE. For this I should:For this I should: 1...........................1........................... 2. ........................2. ........................ 3. .........................3. ......................... A PERSON WHO I WOULD LIKE TO A PERSON WHO I WOULD LIKE TO

APOLOGIZE ..............................................................APOLOGIZE ..............................................................

Sample of Sample of “Emotion “Emotion

sheet”:sheet”:

When mobbing happensWhen mobbing happens

Find out the factsFind out the facts Step 1.Step 1. Individul discussion with the victim of Individul discussion with the victim of

mobbing.mobbing. Step 2Step 2. Confrontation of persons provoking . Confrontation of persons provoking

mobbing, individul discussions the same day.mobbing, individul discussions the same day. Step 3.Step 3. Repetition of the discussion with all Repetition of the discussion with all

persons involved after some days.persons involved after some days. Step 4.Step 4. Involve parents. Involve parents. Step 5Step 5. Give assistance to victim/ provoker.. Give assistance to victim/ provoker.

Step 1.Step 1.Individul discussion with the victim.Individul discussion with the victim. Choose a quiet place for the discussion.Choose a quiet place for the discussion. During the discussion find out:During the discussion find out:

-What has happened?-What has happened?

-Who is the provoker?-Who is the provoker?

-When/how long and where it happens?-When/how long and where it happens? Promise not to tell the information to the Promise not to tell the information to the

provokers.provokers. Never talk in the presence of the Never talk in the presence of the

classmates.classmates.

Sample of conversationSample of conversationIndividual conversation with the victim of mobbingIndividual conversation with the victim of mobbing-How do you feel?-How do you feel?-Normal.-Normal.-Is everything O.K.?-Is everything O.K.?-It seems so...-It seems so...-I heard that Peter is insulting other pupils in your class. Is it -I heard that Peter is insulting other pupils in your class. Is it

true?true?-Mmm... yes...-Mmm... yes...-Has he insulted you?-Has he insulted you?-Yes.-Yes.-I promise that nobody will know about what you have told -I promise that nobody will know about what you have told

me.We are going to speak with Peter and other bullies to me.We are going to speak with Peter and other bullies to avoid such things in future. If they try to insult you again, avoid such things in future. If they try to insult you again, plese, let me know.plese, let me know.

Confrontation of the persons Confrontation of the persons involved in mobbinginvolved in mobbing

Ask to come for conversation each person seperately.Ask to come for conversation each person seperately. Two adults should be present during the conversation with Two adults should be present during the conversation with

pupil.pupil. How to make confrontation during the conversation:How to make confrontation during the conversation:

• -I got to know that you called Edgar bad names. Is it true?-I got to know that you called Edgar bad names. Is it true?

Encourage the pupil himself to want to change the Encourage the pupil himself to want to change the situation.situation.

Finish the conversation with declaration that mobbing is Finish the conversation with declaration that mobbing is not acceptable.not acceptable.

Warn, that bullies will be observed and the conversation Warn, that bullies will be observed and the conversation will be repeated after some days.will be repeated after some days.

It is important:It is important:

Not to be angry or aggressive.Not to be angry or aggressive. To encourage pupils to think about the To encourage pupils to think about the

consequences of their behaviourconsequences of their behaviour• How do you think to change the situation?How do you think to change the situation?• When do you think you can start to change your attitude towards When do you think you can start to change your attitude towards

Edgar?Edgar?

Respect and listen to the pupil’s point of viewRespect and listen to the pupil’s point of view Encourage the pupil to try to change the Encourage the pupil to try to change the

situation himself.situation himself.

Sample of conversationSample of conversation Do you know why we want to talk with you?Do you know why we want to talk with you? No.No. We have noticed, that your classmate Edgar is being insulted.We have noticed, that your classmate Edgar is being insulted. Well, sometimes.. It’s a joke.Well, sometimes.. It’s a joke. We know that last week you spoiled his notebook. Is it true?We know that last week you spoiled his notebook. Is it true? But I didn’t do it alone, other boys also took part.But I didn’t do it alone, other boys also took part. Yes, we know that and we will speak with each of you. But now we are Yes, we know that and we will speak with each of you. But now we are

talking with you. The fact that you are insulting other pupils is a serious talking with you. The fact that you are insulting other pupils is a serious offence and we will not allow suchbehavoiur at school. It is called mobbingu offence and we will not allow suchbehavoiur at school. It is called mobbingu and it shall not repeat. What can you do to stop mobings against Edgar? How and it shall not repeat. What can you do to stop mobings against Edgar? How do you think to change the situation?do you think to change the situation?

I will not insult him any more.I will not insult him any more. It sounds good. We believe you. What else can you do to improve your It sounds good. We believe you. What else can you do to improve your

relationships?relationships? I can tell other pupils to stop mobbing Edgar.I can tell other pupils to stop mobbing Edgar. We will observe you and your mates and we hope that mobbing will not We will observe you and your mates and we hope that mobbing will not

repeat.repeat. Yes, I will try.Yes, I will try. O.K., we will talk with you next week to see if the situation has improved.O.K., we will talk with you next week to see if the situation has improved.

With what to begin?With what to begin?

Teacher training.Teacher training. Planning. Planning.

Long term strategic planning combined with Long term strategic planning combined with everyday activities to prevent mobbing at school.everyday activities to prevent mobbing at school.

Systematic activities and motivation.Systematic activities and motivation.

Together we can change the situation!Together we can change the situation!