VB schools tests anti-bullying program

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - Virginia Beach City Public Schools is testing a new anti-bullying program launched this fall called Olweus.

The program, developed in Norway, is being tested this year at Great Neck Middle School . The program focuses on awareness and is implemented at the school, classroom and individual level.

At the school level, the Olweus program seeks to form a "Bully Prevention Coordinating Committee." The committee distributes an anonymous student questionnaire to assess the nature of bullying in the participating school. The committee then develops a system of supervision, creates a school-wide agreement against bullying, holds staff discussion groups and involves parents, while also training faculty and staff members to spot signs of trouble before they get out of hand.

At the classroom level, reinforcement of those rules will occur. Regular meetings are held with students to increase understanding, empathy and awareness of bullying.

Individually, the Olweus program seeks to intervene with the "bully" and the "bullied" by talking it out with parents, students and staff.

Some who participate in the program also implement it at a community level and bring their anti-bullying message and strategies to youth-related activities in the community.

The program is funded in part by a grant and according to Nancy Soscia with Virginia Beach City Public Schools, the guide for teachers costs just $55. Being the program is so new and just in the testing phase, Soscia says there is no definitive amount on how much the program would cost to implement in all city schools.

Virginia Beach has 69,000 students and reports, on average, nearly 200 cases of bullying per year, according to Soscia.

The Virginia Beach School Board plans to monitor the program and determine whether or not it's an effective approach to the problem of bullying in schools.

The Olweus program has proved to be an effective approach to bullying in Norway, as well as other countries.

On the web --

More information about the Olweus program