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Summary

Bullying prevention and cyber bullying prevention as well as internet and social networking safety is a very important educational issue for 4-H and FACS. The 2013 National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) questions on bullying revealed that 64% of students who were bullied did not tell adult.

Situation

One recent study of more than 15,000 students found: • While 97% of school staff said they would intervene if they saw bullying, 43% of middle school students and 54% of high school students reported they had seen adults at school watching bullying and doing nothing. • While 87% of school staff think they have effective strategies for handling bullying, 58% of middle schools students and 66% of high school students believe adults at their school are NOT doing enough to stop or prevent bullying. • While only 7% of school staff think school staff make things worse when they intervene, 61% of middle school students and 59% of high school students believe that teachers who try to stop bullying only make it worse. • In another study of 13,000 students asked those students who reported being bullied from a moderate to very severe level if they reported to an adult at school and whether, after reporting, things got better, stayed the same, or got worse.5 o In elementary schools (K-5), 46% of students did not tell an adult, 29% told an adult and things got better, 17% told an adult and things stayed the same, and 11% told an adult and things got worse. o In middle schools (6-8), 68% did not tell an adult, 12% told an adult and things got better, 8% told an adult and things stayed the same, and 12% told an adult and things got worse. o In high schools (9-12), 76% did not tell an adult, 7% told an adult and things got better, 8% told an adult and things stayed the same, and 9% told an adult and things got worse.

Response

4-H and Family and Consumer Science educators have the responsibility of teaching teens and adults about Bullying and Cyber Bullying prevention, as well as internet and social networking safety. However, educational materials and leadership were needed for this effort. Working with a committee from North Carolina State University and The University of Georgia , a new publication on 4-H and bullying has been researched,, compiled and evaluated, and is now available from the National 4-H Mall. In addition, research has been compiled and shared from the Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit which was held in Washington, D.C. 4-H serves as a National partner in the Great American No Bull Challenge and a Georgia 4-H faculty member was chosen to represent National 4-H on the advisory Board of the No Bull Challenge. Working in partnership with Cyber Savvy, Embrace Civility in the Digital Age, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Web Wise Kids, Stop Bullying Now, and the National No Bull Campaign, lesson plans, videos, and numerous other resources for teens, kids, parents / guardians, educators have been developed and shared with state and county use across the state through the 4-H curriculum preview day as well as webinars and numerous other presentations.

Impact

Over fifty personal presentations have been presented in schools across the state as well as workshops at state and national conferences on this topic including the National Military Partnership Conference. Over 8,322 youth and adults have been reached. Over 25 counties are now using the bullying prevention materials in 4-H club settings. A bullying prevention class taught with materials specialized for Georgia 4-H was also conducted at the statewide Junior 4-H conference reaching over 800 young people. The materials and curriculums have been shared with each Extension district and made available for county use. In addition, the 4-H Specialist began the 4-H Bully Busters Ambassador Program with 25 youth becoming certified 4-H Bully Busters. A new partnership was formed with the Safe and Supportive Schools program here at the University of Georgia on bullying prevention. The 4-H specialist is once again representing National 4-H on the board for the Great American No Bull Challenge to prevent Cyber Bullying and presented two workshops at the National No Bull Conference and served as a member of the expert panel. She also served as a co-writer for the National 4-H Bullying prevention publication. In addition, she worked with Nancy Willard, author of the first published book on cyber bullying, to develop and personalize a bullying prevention message and curriculum for the Statewide Junior 4-H Conference that is now available to all Georgia counties. She is also working with internet safety lawyer, Parry Aftab, to develop a program for National 4-H and the Wired Teens website and organization. The 4-H specialist was also recruited to become a certified volunteer for Wired Safety.

State Issue

Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Youth

Details

  • Year: 2013
  • Geographic Scope: National
  • County: Clarke
  • Program Areas:
    • 4-H Youth
    • Family and Consumer Sciences

Author

  • Varnadoe, Cheryl R.
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