Parents of JEC Lower School students had an opportunity to explore the issue of bullying recently as Dr. Norman Blumenthal, the Zachter Family Chair in Trauma and Crisis Counseling at OHEL, and Director of the OHEL Miriam Center for Trauma, Bereavement and Crisis Response, presented an informative and engaging discussion on the topic.

Dr. Blumenthal defined different types of bullying and explained that bullying is frequently under-reported. He differentiated between what bullying looks like in elementary school versus middle school and advised parents to get involved when they believe their child is the victim or the bully.

He outlined how the bystanders, who witness the behavior, are the critical players when it comes to preventing and stopping bullying. “According to Dr. Blumenthal,” recapped Dr. Rebecca Mischel, head of guidance for the JEC Lower School and organizer of the event, “Bullying stops within 10 seconds when a peer intervenes. Educating and empowering students, as we do here at the JEC, about what to do if you encounter a situation where someone is being bullied is a big part of creating a bully free zone.”

Dr. Blumenthal also explained that the term “bullying” is used too widely, despite its very specific definition and suggested that not all exclusion and rejection is bullying, and that there is a normal amount of aggression in typical interactions between children. Furthermore, he advocated that if one’s child is being picked on or teased, parents should consider what aspect of their child is causing them to be a victim and seek out social skills groups or other relevant interventions. He also reminded parents that their children are like sponges and they pick up on the behaviors of those around them. “It is important,” he counseled, “to model inclusive behavior that focuses on respecting all others, even those we don’t agree with, or who we may even dislike.”

“Even on a weeknight we had an amazing turnout,” shared Dr. Mischel. “Parents were impressed with Dr. Blumenthal’s expertise and appreciated his guidance about this important topic. Similarly, they were thrilled to see the JEC proactively addressing bullying and conflict in our school.”