Needs Assessment Developmental School Counseling and Pupil Services In determining schools effective counseling practices, school counselors have a responsibility in showing that their programs are effective. A needs assessment will determine what works and which areas need improvement. Measuring results is crucial in determining success from failure. Evaluating counseling programs holds counselors accountable and allows them to do their work effectively. The assessment is designed to identify the major issues, concerns and challenges facing students who are being bullied. Particular emphasis is being placed on how these students’ educational needs are being affected as a result of being bullied. The results will be used as follows: (1) to help guide the counseling programs towards developing effective intervention for bullying in schools (2) to examine the nature and causes of bullying (3) to implement bullying policies that outlines consequences and (4) to create a safe environment for students. Victims of bullying often benefit from interventions that are designed to increase their self-esteem which protects them from future bullying (Kaiser & Rasminsky, 2003). Bullying can take many shapes; it can be in the form of hurtful teasing, physical violence, threats, humiliation as well as destruction of student’s personal property. These things can cause students to be unhappy to the point where it affects their academic performance and interest in school. The most effective way of addressing bullying in schools is through a comprehensive school counseling program (Atlas & Pepler, 1998). The needs assessment will target middle school students. A survey will be given to students in grades 6 through 8. The purpose of targetin... ... middle of paper ... ...rs that addresses intervening in bullying incidents, conferences with parents of student who bullies, counseling high risk students and creating a learning environment for children to learn and grow. References Atlas, R.S., & Pepler, D.J. (1998). Observations of bullying in the classroom. Journal of Educational Research, 92(2), 86-99. Banks, R. (2000). Bullying in schools. ERIC Review, 7(1),12-14. Retrieved August 15, 2010, from http: //ericcass.uncg.edu/virtuallib/bullying/1036.html Kaiser, B., & Rasminsky, J. S. (2003). Challenging behavior in young children: Understanding, preventing, and responding effectively. Boston: Pearson. National Resource Center for Safe Schools. (2001). New study reveals prevalence, harm of bullying. The Safety Zone, 3(1), 1-2. Retrieved August 15, 2010, from http://www.safetyzone.org/publications/zone8_story1.html
Bullying has become a major problem facing the United States today. The American Psychological Association reports that roughly 40% to 80% of children are involved in bullying on some level during their time in school. (APA, 2014) The magnitude of the problem can be observed in the statistics. In the United States, a total of 4,080,879 children between the ages of five and 18 have been the victims of bullying compared to 3,892,199 who have reported that they have engaged in bullying someone else. Additionally, 851,755 said that they have been both the victim and the bully. That's a whopping 8,824,833 people in the United States that have been involved in bullying behavior on one level or another. (High, B., 2000 Census)
When defining what bullying is one must take into consideration the thoughts and feelings of a child; this is because a child’s perception of bullying may be completely different from that of an adult’s perception. Therefore, it is imperative that initiatives are taken to grasp an adolescent’s view about the mechanisms involved in bullying in order to provide and/or create better prevention and intervening plans as well as programs (Frisén, Jonsson, & Persson, 2007). In conjunction in defining what bullying is, one must also determine who are the victims of bullying as well as who are more likely to become and/or are bullies. Once these factors are determined, an evaluation of the long-term effects of bullying can be established and a prevention plan can also be created and implemented.
Bullying is an act by one or more individuals who pick on or treat another in a hostile manner (Barnardos , 2015). It is also described as physical or verbal abuse that occurs repeatedly and involves a power imbalance (Bazelon, 2013) . In the process of this essay, we are going to discuss bullying and all of the factors that this entails. We will discuss the developmental domains in psychology and how they are affected by bullying. The prevalence of bullying will then be discussed followed by what the parent can do if they spot signs of bullying and this will be followed up by the impact of bullying on adolescent development and the effectiveness of anti-bullying interventions.
Throughout this generation, and various others before, have endured many forms of bullying, not only inside the walls of an educational building, but even out on the city streets. It has advanced, both negatively and positively over the many years. But what has it done to society, or even the people? There has been countless attempts to endorse and prevent the act of bullying, but it just seems to either worsen, or not work out whatsoever. Despite the downsides, it is easy to see that the acts of bullying have indeed evolved.
Counselors have large shoes to fill. They not only administer assessments, but are also involved in group counseling, individual counseling, and have to plan and implement comprehensive school guidance programs. A counselor must know and be competent in all realms of their position. School counselors work with all children, including children with disabilities in various settings within the school (Villalba, Latus, Hamilton, & Kendrick (2005 p 449). As stated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), school counseling services must be made available to all students in special education programs as part of their right to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) (Bowen & Glenn, 1998; Clark, 1998). School counselors are to take on this role in the educational and personal-social well being of students in special education programs. Federal law does require that children, who receive special education services, and do not display appropriate behavior have a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) team (Villalba, Latus, Hamilton, & Kendrick (2005) p 449). This team constructs a BIP. Since counselors should be active on the FBA team, there is a need here that must be addressed because this article defines a lack of knowledge present with practicing counselors. With that, counselors do receive relevant training throughout their program. There are only so many classes and hours of instruction that the pre-counselors receive. The curriculum that is generated encompasses what counselors need, but could their be a few gaps and missing pieces? This study was conducted to determine counselors awareness, knowledge, and role in the Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA) process (Villalba, Latus, Hamilton, & Ken...
Neimen, Samantha, Brandon Robers, and Simon Robers. “Bullying: A State of Affairs.” Journal of Law & Education (n.d.):n. pag. Print.
Samara,Muthanna, and Peter K.Smith.” How Schools tackle Bullying and the use of Whole School Policies-Changes over the last Decade.” Educational Psychology.28.6(2008): 663-676.ERIC.EBSCO.Web.28 Feb.2011
Everyone has been bullied or encountered someone being bullied at some point of their life. Whether it would be physically or verbally both can be exceedingly traumatizing and can have a long-term psychological influence on children’s development. Majority people may define bullying in a more physical term; nevertheless that’s not always the case. The act of bullying can occur in several ways and in reality affect the individual in the same way. Bullying is generally defined as repeated, negative, and harmful actions focused at target throughout a course of time, exhibiting a sense of power difference between the bully and the victim (Olweus, 1993; Limber & Mihalic, 1999 as cited from Douglas J. Boyle, 2005). A survey was conducted in the United States estimating that over six million children, about 30% in grade six through ten have experienced frequent bullying in a school environment (Nansel, 2001 as cited from Douglas J. Boyle, 2005). Many people might debate that bullying is something that every child goes through and is simply a part of growing up, although there are several damaging consequences that happens to the child’s brain. Bullying causes the child to feel upset, isolated, frightened, anxious, and depressed. They feel like they reason they are being picked on is because there is something wrong with them and may even lose their confidence feel unsafe going to school (Frenette, 2013 as cited from Douglas J. Boyle, 2005) Anthropologically, sociologically, or psychologically, bullying can be analyzed through different perspectives and several questions can be asked based on the topic:
... Bullying." Digital Directions 13 June 2012: 8. Educators Reference Complete. Web. 27 Mar. 2014.
Bullying is something that is not something new and is actually something that society continues to face. Over the years, bullying has been looked at as being so ordinary in schools that it is continuously overlooked as an emanate threat to students and has been lowered to a belief that bullying is a part of the developmental stage that most young children will experience then overcome (Allebeck, 2005, p. 129). Not everyone gets over the extreme hurt that can come as an effect from bullying, for both the bully and the victim. Because of this, we now see bullying affecting places such as the workplace, social events and even the home. The issue of bullying is not only experienced in schools, but the school environment is one of the best places
Bullying has always been present within the United States. Although the issue has been around for a long time, it continues to grow and become more of problem. It is said that about 160,000 children within the United States are refusing to go to school because of bullying. Another statistic is that within American schools alone, there are an estimated 2.1 billion bullies and 2.7 billion victims (Dan Olewus, MBNBD). The numbers presented here are outrageous and although there are organizations to stop bullying, obviously there needs to be a new set of solutions. Any type of bullying presents problems to children, “Suicide, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, trouble with the law, poor performance in school and work, and lack of involvement in socially accepted activities are some of the difficulties resulting from bullying (Austin, Reynolds, Barnes, Shirley). Of course, there is more than just a single type of bullying. Feeding ground for bullies can range anywhere from text-message or cyberbullying to physical bullying in schools. Also, bullies can begin to strike at a young age and could also be; teenage, middle-age, or even the elderly. Even though there are these many versions of problematic bullies, the largest bullying problems take place within the school setting: a place that is supposed to be safe for children rather than harmful. Although it seems impossible to completely get rid of bullying, these are a few suggested solutions; making the school informed on bullying issues, schools implementing rules on bullying, and having students positively use electronics to stop bullying.
The long-term effects of school bullying are numerous, and can include sensitivity, anxiety, and depression. Recent statistics suggest that the majority of students will experience bullying at some point in their academic careers. “In the early 21st century, increasing attention has been given to the importance of teachers and parents understanding and recognizing the signs of bullying (among both bullies and victims), and being equipped with strategies and tools to address school bullying.” (Edmondson, 2011, p38). Bullying is a common occurrence in most schools. "40% to 80% of school-age children experience bullying at some point during their school careers." (Edmondson, 2011, p38). In classes I have learned that bullying does not discriminate on the basis of grade level, socioeconomic status, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. Bottom line bullying can happen to anyone. However, “various studies point out that students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds are more bullied than students from higher ones.” (Edmondson, 2011,
In recent times bullying has become a national issue, notwithstanding the fact that it has been in existence for many years. Traditionally, bullying has been seen as horseplay, but with the increase of harassment in schools and suicides; parents and schools are now forced to take action to prevent bullying in schools. Bullying is an unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance which has the potential to be repeated over time. Strategies to prevent bullying in schools are grouped into identifying the causes of bullying, creating policies and rules, building a safe environment and educating students and staff.
Bullying is an unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real perceived power imbalance (“Bullying”). Bullying can be extremely harmful both physically and emotionally to any individual. It can be so insensitive to the point where it can make people feel embarrassed, uncomfortable, sad and angry. It can also be painful to the body if the bully attacks the individual causing bodily harm such as bruises, cuts or even broken bones. Studies have been found that bullying may cause depression, absenteeism, poor academic performance, or all of these (“Bullying”) because they are contently over thinking the situation and the possibility of being harmed. Approximately 32 percent of students report being bullied at school, leading students to most likely bring a weapon to school (“School Administrators”) because they think that is the only way they have of...
Sharp S, P. K. Smith, & P. Smith, (2002) School bullying: Insights and perspectives, London: Routledge.