Bullying
Kindness, Empathy, and Compassion as a Proactive Approach to Bullying
Interestingly, when most of us see the words kindness and compassion we often think of how the world should treat each other. For now, I want to focus attention on our circle of control. As Stephen Covey explains Victor Frankl’s quote, we have the ability to create a space between a stimulus and a response, and in between is our freedom to choose. While this concept is inspiring; practicing it can be quite difficult. It requires self-discipline and attention to our choices.
Our students are supported to practice and develop skills of curiosity, perseverance, and compassion. These traits help our students live out the 7 Habits which include developing skills necessary for self-compassion and firm boundaries. They have the opportunity at Village Tech to learn more about who they are (character) while they are at school each week. We are supporting people (with the tools and knowledge) to build themselves.
Many traditional approaches to bullying focus on the negative behaviors of bullying. Instead, at Village Tech, we choose to focus on the positive attributes of kindness, empathy, and compassion to combat meanness and bullying. Susan Kaiser Greenland, an expert teacher of mindfulness to children, studies and writes about the importance of self-compassion in our children and adults states, “teaching strong, personal boundaries always begins with self-compassion.” This is an antidote to bullying.
Some of the tools are learning the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and learning and practicing social-emotional learning skills. To punctuate this learning we engage in experiences through our academics, Forge, and campus activities Every February, we celebrate Kindness Week, join us in celebrating and discovering more about acts of kindness, empathy toward others, and compassion for others as well as ourselves.
Staff Training & Education
VT engages in several staff development experiences to build the bandwidth in all staff to identify, intervene, and stop bullying. VT provides training for all school staff, including, but not limited to, teachers, aides, and support staff, on preventing, identifying, and responding to bullying.
Bully Prevention Training for Administrators, Teachers, and Staff
Kognito online modules are available to staff. Counseling Services provides yearly training to staff on prevention and how to minimize impact through social-emotional competencies.
Bullying Resources
Bullying: Harassment Complaint Form
Bullying Prevention
