The Anti-Bullying and Teasing Program: The Museum Perspective—Part 1

• In Event: Roundtable Session 23
  In Roundtable Session: Innovative Replicable Early Childhood Anti-Harassment, Intimidation, Bullying, and Teasing Programs: School and Museum Settings

Abstract

The museum’s objective in implementing the current study was to expand its exhibits and programs to meet the needs of teachers and their young students in preschool, kindergarten and grades one and two. The museum had an “evidence-based” program in place for grades three to eight, utilizing college student and community docents. The museum has an ongoing relationship with faculty in the Psychology Department and specific departments within the School of Education. The exhibits, environments, and programs developed by museum personnel under the auspices of the grant will provide classroom teachers and out-of-school-time personnel with adaptable, replicable, literacy-based lessons and activities that foster prosocial behavior and further the museum’s mission. Kidsbridge focuses on respect, victim empowerment, tolerance, appreciation of diversity, development of positive self-esteem and conflict resolution skills, and non-violence.

Studies conducted by the Wellesley Centers for Women and Educational Equity Concepts show that teasing and bullying are frequent occurrences in grades K-3 (4-6 incidents were observed every 3 hours in classrooms in NY and MA.) Source: ABTB page 11. Essentially, bullying characteristics and behaviors manifest themselves at age two. Formally addressing – and correcting -- these behaviors by replacing them with more appropriate responses to various situations is the way to go. A Pre-K through second grade in-classroom program, along with a Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum program geared toward children ages 4 to 6 is our plan.

Overarching Goals
For Students: To develop some of the skills and understandings listed above as a result of engaging in activities and participating in lessons at The Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum, as a follow-up to the implementation of or continuation of the integration of the anti-HIB (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying) strategies in the Anti-Bullying and Teasing Book for Preschool Classrooms into the ongoing curriculum of the center.

For Adults: Pre-service and in-service teachers will observe and reflect on developmentally appropriate anti-HIB lessons and activities. They will support bystanders learning to be “UPstanders,” victims learning participation strategies, as well as bullies learning new skills; leading to more harmonious group interactions. They will review and begin to utilize relevant international research on bullying to help them every day in their early childhood classrooms.

Using all the lessons learned in piloting the program that has made it so successful at the Howley School, a program was launched in the fall semester of 2012 at the Children First Academy. This program uses primarily the Spanish version of the book, as the target population is young English- and Spanish-speaking children 3-5 years old in attending this Abbott school and their teachers. The design of the scripts and exhibits will be discussed in Rebecca Erickson’s paper.

Based on teacher, docent and children’s comments and written responses, Phase II was successful. We learned a lot about our assumptions and presentations. Phase III is required, as we better target our content presentation and collect data that will help to guide the museum program as we move forward.

Authors

• Lynne Azarchi, Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum

• Meg Palladino, Kidsbridge Tolerance Museum