At the urging of the school board, St. Luke Parish School in River Forest is trying out an internationally-recognized, researched-based program this year that addresses bullying.
The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program has components at the community, school, classroom, and individual levels, according to the website Violence Prevention Works. The program aims to reduce existing bullying among students, prevent the development of new problems and achieve better peer relations at school for students, age 5-15.
The initiative was approved last school year and started at the beginning of this one, said program coordinator and Assistant Principal Maryanne Polega. The administration felt the school needed some type of program in place to address bullying, and school board member Jennifer Riggs said this program fit in well with the Catholic identity of the school. After some research by the board and two days of training, led by former Oak Park police commander Phyliss Howard and John Williams, director of Oak Park and River Forest Township Youth Services, the program was put in place.
Olweus calls for weekly class meetings, which provide the opportunity for students to comfortably discuss any issues they feel are ongoing. All students from third through eighth grades are involved in learning about bullying and how to prevent it.
“It gives bystanders the skills and the language to step in if they can,” Riggs said.
Students are also being taught to tell an adult at school and at home if they see bullying going on. Parents need to reinforce the same message at home so students can get the lessons there as well, Riggs said. The program recommends that community organizations get involved as well.
The program lays out four rules students should follow, Riggs said. Don’t bully others, help those who are bullied, include students who are left out, and tell adults at home and at school if you know someone is being bullied. Those rules are now posted all over the school.
Polega and Riggs said the program has nothing to do with the resignation last year of former principal Barbara Rasinski, who some parents alleged was forced out because she did not do enough to stop bullying in one classroom. Polega said the implementation was already planned when she and the new principal, Therese Craig, started this year.
Polega added that the program has the students discussing a different subject every week, like how to handle anger, peer pressure and treat others with respect. For the younger kids, the topic is brought down to a level they can understand.
Riggs said students will take a survey every year about any bullying they see and when and where it occurs. The results will be used to measure the effectiveness of the program.
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