School-wide Approach
No to Bullying and Harassment
- Usually bullying is dealt with on an individual basis.
- This approach ignores the impact of environmental factors such as: school culture, peer and bystander influence, and family dynamics.
- Whole-school approach works to get at underlying problems and address bullying in a comprehensive manner.
“To date, the more frequent approach is to deal with individuals, primarily those who bully and those who are victimized. While this approach addresses the immediate bullying incident and the primary individuals involved, it ignores the impact of environmental factors such as the school’s culture, peer and bystander influence, and family dynamics that can have a huge effect on bullying incidents. Within a whole school approach, a component focusing on individuals identified as at risk for being bullied or for bullying others is useful, but it should not be the exclusive focus of a policy or intervention at the school”
Source: “Bullying Prevention in Schools” (2004), National Crime Prevention Strategy.
A Guide to Structuring Your School-wide Approach
Alberta Education states: “A school-wide approach to positive behaviour supports effectively promotes a safe, orderly and predictable environment for learning and teaching. This approach has significant effects within the school community: it creates a positive school culture that students, parents and staff perceive as safe and caring.”
Source: Supporting Positive Behaviour in Alberta Schools: A school-wide approach, 2008