From: Tessa Michaelson <tmichaelson>
Date: Tue, 18 Mar 2008 12:04:35 -0500

As a children?s advocate and the author of several children?s books (/My Secret Bully/, /Just Kidding/, /Sorry!/ and /Trouble Talk/) that are being used in schools? anti-bullying curricula nationwide, I?d like to put in my two cents here.

Up until the early 1990?s, bullying research has been quite limited, and how our schools and government addressed it was sorely lacking as well. The numerous schools shootings in the USA and the U.S. Secret Service findings that about 75% of school shooters were long-term bullied or harassed was a major wake-up call that how we addressed bullying in our nation?s schools in the past was obviously not working. Major strides have been underway to address bullying and help create safer school environments?with many states passing house bills which redefine bullying to encompass physical, verbal and relational aggression, in addition to cyberbullying, and making schools legally accountable to protect the safety of their students.

There are a lot of bullying programs that don?t work because bullying isn?t being consistently addressed from classroom to classroom, in the school bathrooms and hallways, on the playgrounds and on the buses. Reducing aggression in schools requires a systematic, comprehensive approach which includes setting clear standards for acceptable behavior, implementing consistent consequences for actions that are likely to hurt others, and providing education about bullying to every student. It?s a community problem in which _everyone_ in the school community needs to be on board?from parents and students to educators and administrators to playground/lunch monitors to school bus drivers and custodial staff. Two very resourceful books for schools wanting to make a positive difference in their students? lives are: /Schools Where Everyone Belongs: Practical Strategies For Reducing Bullying/ (Research Press, 2005) and /Empowering Bystanders In Bullying Prevention /(Research Press, 2007/)/?both by Stan Davis. They are chock-full of practical advice of what works and doesn?t work in schools when it comes to addressing bullying. Other great resources are /The Bully, The Bullied, and the Bystander
/(HarperResource, 2003) by Barbara Coloroso, /Bully-Proofing Your School: A Comprehensive Approach for Elementary Schools/ (Sopris West, 2000) by Carla Garrity, et. al.,/Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats/
(Research Press, 2007) by Nancy Willard.

Jim Elliot, in his recent email, questioned whether children?s literature can really make a difference when it comes to addressing bullying and making a positive difference. Children?s literature is obviously not the sole ?cure-all? for addressing bullying. However, studies indicate that bibliotherapy (the use of literature to address social/emotional issues) has proven to be an effective adjunct tool for teachers, counseling professionals, practitioners and parents in helping children connect with and discuss tough issues like bullying in a safe social environment. Books open the doors to instill critical thinking skills in children and help to foster empathy and perspective taking.

With that said, I?d like to add to your list /The Hundred Dresses/ by Eleanor Estes; /Nobody Knew What To Do: A Story About Bullying/ by Becky McCain; /Simon?s Hook; A Story About Teases and Put-downs/ by Karen Gedig Burnett; /Thank You Mr. Falker/ by Patricia Polacco; /Say Something/ by Peggy Moss;/ Hot Issues, Cool Choices: Facing Bullies, Peer Pressure, Popularity and Putdowns /by Sandra McLeod Humphrey; /The Skin I?m In /by Sharon Flake; /Crash, Stargirl, Loser,/ /Maniac Magee
/and /Wringer/?all by Jerry Spinelli; /Drowning Anna/ by Sue Mayfield;
/Lord of the Flies/ by William Golding; /The Book Thief/ by Markus Zusak.

-Trudy Ludwig,

Children?s Advocate & Author

**Ludwig Creative, Inc.**

//Making a Difference in Kids' Lives,//

//One Book at a Time //// //?

www.trudyludwig.com <http://www.trudyludwig.com>
Received on Tue 18 Mar 2008 12:04:35 PM CDT