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In recent years, we have seen alarming images and biased language in schools and universities: name-calling, hate-filled taunts, vandalism, racial slurs and epithets, offensive graffiti on desks and bathroom walls. In addition, many young people—especially those whose identities have been targeted publicly with words and actions—are fearful and worried. Teachers have had to work overtime to console those students and provide resources to get help. Schools must be places where students feel safe, supported and respected, especially in these challenging times. Below are prevention, intervention and education strategies in order to promote inclusive school environments where young people can learn, thrive and become their best selves.
1. Establish clear school policies and reinforce goals
Make sure your school’s anti-bullying, harassment and non-discrimination policies are current, reflect district and state guidelines and include clear definitions and consequences. Establish technology use guidelines and have students/families sign acceptable use agreements. Publicize policies and guidelines in multiple ways. Develop and/or reinforce your school community's goals around respect, civility, regard and care for others, equity and inclusion. If and when incidences of bias occur, make sure you acknowledge publicly that this is unacceptable, taking care not to "out" people engaged in it.
2. Assess your school, classroom and self
This is a good time to assess yourself and your school by reflecting on the current and historical influences that shape your school's culture. Consider the following: school mission and policies, how students interact with one another, the racial and gender dynamics among students, the extent to which parents and families are involved and engaged, how celebrations are approached, the curriculum and instruction materials, etc. From there, develop meaningful action plans that maximize existing strengths, address areas of improvement and develop goals to create positive change by applying principles of anti-bias education. Further, encourage individual staff to do their own self-assessments of their anti-bias approach and principles.
3. Be public and purposeful about being inclusive
Find ways to let everyone in the school community know that school is a safe place, all are welcome and that biased words and actions are unacceptable. Being intentional, public and loud about it sends a strong message that this is a priority for your community. Some examples include: a clear sign/statement at the entrance to the building, a public letter to the school community, a wall mural featuring the diversity of your student body or language about being inclusive, an updated mission statement, social media posts, announcements on the public address system, and school-wide events honoring diversity. Involve the school community in coming up with these ideas and think about ways to do different activities throughout the year.
4. Encourage reporting
Many bias and bullying incidents go unreported. In fact, as children get older, they are less likely to report bullying to the adults in their lives. Establish safe and confidential reporting mechanisms for bullying incidents and clear procedures for investigation and response. Make sure students are aware of these procedures and encourage them to tell a trusted adult about threatening or harassing behavior that they experience or observe. Find ways for adults to be more approachable (see #5).
5. Be more approachable
Students often suffer in silence and don’t tell anyone about the bias, harassment or bullying they experience. They often believe it won't help and may even make things worse. One way to increase their openness to talking with adults is to be more approachable. You can do this in a variety of ways: take the issue seriously, invest the time and space to listen before moving into problem-solving mode, stay in the present and do not harp on the past, and be a role model by not engaging in stereotyping, name-calling and bullying.
6. Teach about bias
What happens in the classroom is valued and important. At the onset, teachers should engage students in a process to create an anti-bias learning environment. Take the time to teach about bias, either by doing direct instruction or by integrating anti-bias education into the curriculum. Use current events, literature, social studies and other subjects to address bias, diversity, bullying and social justice. Also, address the critical issue of identity-based bullying so that students are not targeted based on core aspects of their identity.
7. Involve parents, family and community members
Parents and family members are vital members of the school community. If everyone conveys the same message about bias, hate and discrimination, young people will get that message. Work with the school's PA/PTA to host a parent education workshop. Get everyone on the same page about school policies, goals, language and how to be an ally. In addition, partner with local youth organizations to organize events that promote respect for differences.
8. Provide support to targets
Ensure that the crisis intervention team, school counselors and social workers have the skills and knowledge to support students who have been targeted. Assist the target and the target's family in coping with the impact of the bullying and building skills for dealing with such problems in the future. Make sure not to inadvertently make the target feel responsible for the bullying in any way, or to unintentionally punish the target by limiting access to activities or technology. In addition, make sure counselors understand the fears that many children have as a result of the election, particularly children whose identities were targeted during the campaign, and provide comfort and resources they may need.
9. Teach civics
Now more than ever, teaching young people about civic engagement is critical. Helping students understand the First Amendment, their rights and freedoms, government, how legislation works and their role in it, the rule of law, current events, advocacy and activism are all components of being engaged in government and making a difference. While civics education has generally become less of a priority in schools, it needs to be brought to the forefront as much as possible.
10. Inspire ally behavior
One of the most effective tools we can give young people is how to be an ally when faced with bias and bullying. It can be as simple as encouraging them to reach out to someone targeted by sending them a supportive text message or saying hello to them. Young people can also learn how to safely stand up and tell aggressors to stop; for example challenging bigoted and offensive words. In addition, reporting the behavior to an adult and actively not participating are good ways to act as an ally. Acting as an ally helps the target and also helps the person engaging in allyship feel more powerful by doing something to make a difference.
11. Encourage students to be active
Activism is another way that young people can do something about the bias, discrimination and hate they see in their schools, online community, neighborhood and world—and pro-actively make it a better place. Activism can take many forms: teaching others, advocating for school or legislative policies, demonstrating, creating an online public awareness campaign, writing letters, volunteering, raising money, organizing or signing a petition, etc. Activism is a powerful antidote to feelings of powerlessness and an important part of citizenship.
1. Establecer políticas escolares claras y reforzar los objetivos
Establecer políticas actuales contra el acoso escolar, bullying y discriminación que reflejen las pautas del distrito y del estado y que incluyan definiciones claras y consecuencias. Establecer pautas para el uso de tecnología y hacer que los estudiantes/familias firmen acuerdos de uso.
2. Evalúa tu escuela, tu salón de clases y a ti mismo
Evalúate a ti mismo y a tu escuela (utilizando materiales de ADL) reflexionando sobre las influencias actuales e históricas que conforman la cultura de tu escuela. Considera lo siguiente: la misión y las políticas de tu escuela, cómo los estudiantes interactúan entre sí, las dinámicas de raza y género entre los estudiantes, la medida en que padres y familias están involucradas y participan, cómo se celebran las festividades, los materiales y planes de estudios, etc.
3. Ser inclusivo de manera pública y propositiva
Encontrar maneras para que todos los miembros de la comunidad escolar sepan que la escuela es un lugar seguro, todos son bienvenidos y que las palabras y acciones discriminatorias son inaceptables. Algunos ejemplos incluyen: un mural que muestre la diversidad de los alumnos o refranes que hablen de ser incluyente, una misión actualizada, mensajes en las redes sociales, anuncios en el sistema de megafonía y eventos escolares celebrando la diversidad.
4. Fomentar los reportes
Establecer mecanismos seguros y confidenciales para reportar incidentes de intimidación y claros procedimientos para investigar y responder. Asegurar que los estudiantes conozcan estos procedimientos y animarlos a reportar a un adulto de confianza si experimentan o ven amenazas o acoso.
5. Ser accesible
Una forma de aumentar la apertura de los estudiantes para hablar con los adultos es ser más accesible tomando de forma seria estos asuntos, invirtiendo el tiempo para escuchar antes de pasar a solucionar los problemas, no insistiendo en el pasado y siendo un modelo a seguir no participando en estereotipos, insultos y acoso.
6. Enseñar sobre los prejuicios
Dile a un adulto de confianza lo que sucedió. Permanecer en silencio no mejorará las cosas y puede empeorar la situación. Informar acerca de un problema grave no es lo mismo que "acusar". Los adultos necesitan saber sobre el comportamiento intimidatorio para que puedan apoyar y tomar medidas para detenerlo.
7. Involucrar a padres, familias y miembros de la comunidad
Si todo el mundo transmite el mismo mensaje contra los prejuicios, el odio y la discriminación, los jóvenes entenderán el mensaje. Trabaja con los PA/PTA de la escuela para organizar un taller de educación para padres. Hay que lograr que todos estén en la misma página respecto a las políticas de la escuela, sus objetivos, el lenguaje y cómo ser un aliado.
8. Apoyar a los estudiantes acosados
Asegurar que los consejeros escolares, trabajadores sociales y el equipo de intervención para crisis tengan las habilidades y los conocimientos para apoyar a los estudiantes que han sido objetos de bullying. Ayudar a la víctima y a su familia para lidiar con el impacto de la intimidación y mejorar sus habilidades para afrontar este tipo de problemas en el futuro.
9. Enseñar educación cívica
Hoy más que nunca, es crítico enseñarle a los jóvenes lo que significa ser un ciudadano. Ayudar a los estudiantes a entender la Primera Enmienda a la Constitución, sus derechos y libertades, cómo funciona el gobierno, la legislación y su papel en ella, el estado de derecho, eventos actuales, el activismo y la abogacía son todos los componentes para ser ciudadanos comprometidos.
10. Inspirar comportamiento aliado
Una de las herramientas más eficaces que podemos darle a la gente joven es enseñarles como ser un aliado frente a los prejuicios y la intimidación.
11. Motivar a los estudiantes a ser activos
El activismo es otra manera que la gente joven puede hacer algo contra los prejuicios, la discriminación y el odio que ven en sus escuelas, comunidad, vecindario y en el mundo — y pro-activamente mejorarlo. El activismo puede tomar muchas formas: enseñando a los demás, abogando por políticas en la escuela o legislativas, demostrando en marchas, creando una campaña pública de concientización en línea, escribiendo cartas, siendo voluntarios, recaudando fondos, organizando o firmando una petición, etc. El activismo es un antídoto poderoso a los sentimientos de impotencia y una parte importante de ser ciudadanos.