Greetings,

In the wake of another school shooting in Ohio, the debate has recommenced over how to keep kids safe at school. While much of the attention is focused on the backgrounds of those individuals who commit these crimes, the broader question is often overlooked:

What environment currently exists in our schools that gives rise to these violent events?

Persistent bullying, social ostracizing and the resultant physical and emotional abuse that occurs is a problem that, left unattended, often has destructive consequences in our classrooms. This month we'll delve into these issues, how we arrived at our present state and what is being done to create solutions.

At Academic Success,  we believe that a student's mental and emotional wellbeing is one of the keys to achieving success in their academic lives and future careers.

Please call with any questions at (310) 823 4398 or

All the best,

Jamie

"As much as we need a prosperous economy, we also need a prosperity of kindness and decency."

                                              - Caroline Kennedy

While the extreme, negative impact of bullying is often clearly felt by our special needs students, this penetrating article illuminates the many aspects of the bully-victim dynamic, giving the reader new insight into the problem's causes and possible solutions for all kids.

Successful Intervention Strategies 

Since implementing a school-based intervention program which lowered the incidence of school bullying in Norway by 50% in just two years, psychologist Dan Olweus has since brought his work to the United States. This fascinating piece presents some excellent ideas for creating profound change inside and outside of our classrooms. 

Mental Health Screening  

A predominance of studies show that when students find their school environment to be supportive and caring, they are less likely to become involved in substance abuse, violence and other problem behaviors. This detailed overview of recent research demonstrates that the mental and physical wellbeing of our students is largely predicated on how well they can come together.

Prioritizing Mental Health   

Despite a lack of promised state funding, two of the largest districts in California are moving forward with a major expansion of school health centers. Currently, only 176 health centers exist for around 6 million students. This article offers some hope for mental health advocates working on behalf of our kids. 

  Finding Help When You Need It     

Developing effective, consistent study habits can be an enormous challenge for the most well-adjusted and happy students. For those unfortunate enough to be dealing with the stress and emotional trauma that can result from bullying and other peer-group pressures, it can be close to impossible. A knee-jerk response to this mental burden can often be to attempt to 'go it alone'. While self-sufficiency must be an element of any successful student's makeup, a lack of outside assistance in times of crisis can be hugely detrimental to a student's academic progress, to say nothing of their emotional wellbeing.

There are many different avenues a student can explore to get help. Reaching out to parents is an obvious first step but if parents are not present or don't feel they can provide adequate help, school counselors are an excellent option for kids, as is talking to the student's teacher, who may be able to change a harmful dynamic in the classroom or playground. Finding a local outlet of the Network of Care for Mental/Behavioral Health can be of huge assistance for struggling students as well.

While some stress can't be avoided, students who reach out at an early stage often avoid negative academic and personal consequences down the road.