Speaking UP a way to report Conflict, Harassment and Bullying

Whenever I go on trips I try to find anything that is free or could possibly work in getting good messages to my students and families.  The New York City metro card that says "if you see something, Say something" sat in my office for a while. I would glance up and see it waiting to be used.  Since we need an anonymous way of reporting bullying and harassment with our new Maine Laws I had students help me devise a way that would work for all students.  We met during lunch to brainstorm ideas about what it should look like, location, language and why a video would be helpful.  We decided to use the saying "if you see something, say something", Speak Up.  Speak Up is also one of our core values.  At the beginning of the year I teach in each classroom a lesson on what "harassment is and what it is not", the laws and the steps taken if harassment is a problem.  The video this year is an added bonus. A sixth grade teacher said it was VERY Powerful...

This is what we came up with.

Speak Up box 

1.  Students, with the direction of my super fabulous intern, made a HOW TO video about the Speak Up box. It is a wooden box that students can drop a note in to report harassment or bullying behavior.

2. The box is in an area that most students go to by the office, so their anonymity is protected.  The box is locked.

3. I check the box daily and keep a binder with details of each report and what happened.

4. In each classroom there is a form for students to pick up if they need one with instructions on what to do. There are also directions on the form.

5. We tried to color code the paper so we could begin collecting some data about each grade level that is reporting.  We thought about who would report most and use the box.

Here is an example of the front and back of the card that is used by students.

[FRONT] Speak Up

If you see something, Say Something!

Conflict is a behavior that happens daily. There can be may conflicts at school that you can solve yourself. But there are times when you need help to problems solve peer, teacher or school conflicts. This is an option for reporting that students have requested. As bystanders, peers sometimes don’t know what to do. They decided to SPEAK UP. The more bystanders who SPEAK UP the less power negative peer conflict will have. We want our school to be a place that is safe for ALL students. This form is a confidential way to report behavior that is unacceptable in our school. 

If you would like someone to follow-up with you please sign your name.

[BACK]  Date:

Circle what the problem is:

Friendship Drama, Unkind words,   

Peer Conflict, Bullying (Physical, Verbal, Emotional, Cyber Bullying, harassment, Sexual Harassment, Other_________________ 

What happened?

Were there any witnesses or bystanders?

What have you tried (circle as many as you tried)?

Told the person to stop, Problem Solving Circle, Told a (teacher, parent, friend, coach), Helped the Person in Trouble, Private Conversation, Team Meeting

Name of the person having a problem or conflict:

We also made a video that I am showing to all the classrooms so students will know what to do to take care of harassment behavior. 

Update: Idea #2 bulletin boards and flags

My welcome back bulletin board found on Pintrest has made the hallway look very inviting.  If you don't know about Pintrest then that is another update that I probably won't do justice to. This was quick but too the point.  We all can be contributors in our own way to school climate. And no one ever pulls the fire alarm that is right in the middle of all my bulletin boards. Sometimes I try to be strategic with disguise. 

September Welcome Back

Since my office is really small I try to add one eye-catching item a year that says what our year at LMS will be about.  This year I found flags that fit "just right above my door".  They give a great message and I have the opportunity to introduce peaceful mindful practice to students who ask.  These flags are called Prayers of Compassion.  They are colorful and I have them on both of my doors.  To enter my small space my cheerful secretary is first and then I am just around the corner.  Notice above my door a great peel and stick that I found at a local DOLLAR TREE.

Update on my office: Idea #1

I am ready to go with a few new fun ideas.  I checked out  a great website, probably from one of the great bloggers out there and ordered the kit for my school.  I like to have as many cards, bookmarks, posters and take aways ready for my middle school students to pick up. The Mean Stinks website has a lot of tips and tools to get their message out.   Rachel Simmons also has supported the campaign with Secret, the deodorant.  She was a speaker at the ASCA conference in June and was spectacular. The newest book she has written, The Curse of the Good Girl, is on my "to-be-read" pile.

1. DIY:  I try to find cheap multi-packages of tissues. Who can use just one?  Then I can send them on their way with my visitor.  I printed out on full page label sheets the Mean Stinks cheat sheet.  Then I cut them out in label format and put the cut out label on the the tissues I give out.  I will let  you know how it works.