Robbinsdale Schools Address Bullying with Their Youngest Students

Keshari is a third-grader at in Golden Valley. She's barely 10 years old, but she says she knows what it feels like to be picked on.

"When I was in kindergarten, a boy teased me a lot," she said. "And it was just because I was a girl."

It might seem insignificant in light of the stories making national news from the Twin Cities, but educators say identifying bad behavior early is key to stopping it down the road.

Orange shirts lined the halls of Noble Elementary School on Wednesday, as Keshari and her classmates celebrated "Unity Day" as part of National Bullying Prevention Month.  Most of the Robbinsdale schools are participating in similar events.

"The kids at this school are awesome," said Principal Lori Sundberg, who just started her eighth year at Noble. "But even our school needs to identify potential problems and catch kids early enough to nip some of those behaviors in the bud."

The issue of bullying has become a national talking point, and the Twin Cities metro has been the center of plenty of media coverage. Back in September, the New York Times reported on the ongoing lawsuit brought by six students against the Anoka-Hennepin School District contending that school officials have failed to stop relentless antigay bullying. And just yesterday, a CNN report focused on how Minneapolis schools are working to end bullying.  

A recent report by Minnesota Public Radio concluded that the state isn't going far enough to address bullying in schools. But Robbinsdale says it's an exception. It implemented a program two years ago called PBIS - Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports. 

"Bullying prevention is a seamless fit with PBIS, as PBIS takes a proactive approach to behavior, so that the negative behaviors aren't exhibited," says Tia Clasen, communications director for the district.

The goal is to take the lessons learned with PBIS and implement them into everyday life in the classroom, but also in places where bullying is more likely to occur—like the playground, the school bus or even at home.

"We're not just teaching them what as children," Sundberg said. "These are lifelong skills."

Students throughout the are learning the technique "stop, walk and talk." A student verbally says no to a bully or someone being bullied, walks away and then tells a teacher or an adult.

A bulletin board in the main hallway is covered with pledges signed by students.  They promise not to engage in bullying and to stand up for others.

"The role of the bystander is very important," said Matt Phelps, a teacher who works to implement PBIS in Robbinsdale schools. "If you see it or hear it, it's not OK to let it go. Kids are learning that it's not tattling when they come to a teacher about it."

Even 9 and 10-year-olds can see the bigger picture.

"Nobody feels good if they're bullied, but a bully probably doesn't feel good, either," Keshari said. "I want everybody to feel better about everybody else."

And ultimately, teachers say it's about getting rid of distractions.

"Creating a positive learning environment is important," said Phelps.  "We want kids to succeed, and this is one way of doing it."