Most States are taking legislative action to address bullying in schools. Our society has finally reached the bullying “crossroads” and has decided to address bullying with legislation. The legislation requires schools to take certain steps to mitigate bullying in schools. The legislation usually includes the following points: 1) Definition of bullying, 2) A point person or coordinator, 3) Reporting and the appropriate metrics, 4) Who at the school needs to be trained to recognize and deal with bullying, and 5) Training.

Such training may include, but not be limited to, (1) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying among students in school and outside of the school setting, (2) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop bullying, (3) information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying, students against whom such acts of bullying are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying, and (4) research findings on bullying, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for bullying in the school setting.

SAM is designed to address the TRAINING portion of the legislation (developed and passed) to take on the BULLYING disease. Here is a brief description of SAM and how the curriculum speaks to the points above.

(1) Developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying among students in school and outside of the school setting.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators how to: (A) be proactive about personal safety and to minimize the risk of being a victim, (B) practice and master skills to use when threatened, (C) manage fear and anxiety during stressful situations, and (D) evaluate threats and possible options.

(2) Developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop bullying.

SAM teaches students, teaches and administrators how to: (A) use non-verbal and verbal communication and paralanguage, (B) not show fear during the confrontation, (C) set appropriate limits and consequences that are applicable to school policies and procedures.

(3) Information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying, students against whom such acts of bullying are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators how to: (A) step in and assist the student who is being bullied.

(4) Research findings on bullying, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for bullying in the school setting.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators on: (A) the difference between male and female bullies, (B) the difference between male and female victims, (C) the effects of being bullied, (D) how to manage physical bullying such as holds, physical assaults with personal weapons including knives and guns, and (E) what to do if there is an active shooter on campus or in a classroom.

SAM is a Training Program that addresses bullying in our schools. Please let us know if you think this type of Training Program would be beneficial in mitigating bullying in your educational environment.

Bullying –physical, verbal and emotional — is present in schools, colleges, workplaces, healthcare facilities, law enforcement agencies, correctional agencies, state and federal agencies. All workplaces experience some form of bullying. Bullying is aggressive behavior.

MOAB — Management of Aggressive Behavior — founded by Roland W. Ouellette in 1983 to address and reduce violence in the workplace, has been used worldwide and proven effective in many diverse settings. Since its inception, more than 5,000 agencies have benefited from MOAB’s highly researched, state-of-the-art programs. SAM is rooted in the same sound principles of the highly acclaimed Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB®) program.

In 2006, the resulting tragedy of the Amish school shootings in Pennsylvania prompted Roland to turn his expertise specifically to the education community. Together with his daughter Ellen van Olden, former Vice President of MOAB® Training International and current President of SAM Training, LLC, created SAM Training, LLC to address the rising threat of violence, bulling, and active shooter risk directed at educators in classrooms and on campuses nationwide.

Violence in our schools is a modern reality that requires serious attention. SAM’s comprehensive curriculum stresses preparedness and prevention, empowering individuals with excellent verbal, nonverbal and physical skills to effectively respond to threatening and potentially violent encounters.

Training Objectives: The SAM program will teach individuals the techniques to resolve bulling conflicts decisively and diplomatically regardless of age, size or strength, providing valuable skills and strategies to prevent and diffuse aggressive behavior.
Participants in SAM’s program will:

Learn how to identify a potential problem by recognizing the warning signs and know when an attack is imminent;

Prepare mentally to allow for appropriate and automatic responses during various situations;

Learn how to manage the stages of conflict, anxiety as well as verbal and physical aggression.

Aggressive behavior can be effectively dealt with using the principles subscribed to by SAM. To find out more information on how SAM and the SAM Programs can help your school, please visit our website.

Teachers and police will confront and deal with violent students regardless of age. This is important to know given that teachers are the victims of over 400,000 violent crimes each year (according to SERAPH, a specialized consulting and training firm). One of the biggest reasons for so many violent crimes in our schools is because of the culture in the United States. As a result of our culture and the way we are wired, approximately 20% of the population uses aggression as their primary form of communication. This aggressive behavior provides an outlet for them to express their desires, needs, wants, and frustrations. It is not the last but the first tool they turn to. (Dr. Turner, Violence in Medical Settings).

Assault is assault, regardless of age. The youngest person to kill a police officer was seven years old while the oldest was ninety-seven. In the video below, an eight year old boy in Lakeland, Florida was pepper sprayed by the police to prevent serious physical injury to teachers. Serious physical injury is classified as “Deadly Physical Force.” The police used reasonable physical force, which is the least amount of force they could use to rectify the situation. Frankly, they would have been justified in using a baton or taser in this case.

Video: Eight year old was pepper sprayed to diffuse his aggressive behavior in school

Teachers need to be able to manage aggressive behavior before the police arrive. SAM’s comprehensive training program provides educators, administrators, security personnel and students with the proper tools and knowledge to effectively address aggressive behavior, like bullying, and/or violent situations. It may be more important to understand non-verbal cues versus listening to verbal dialogue. SAM can help you better understand non-verbal communication.

Since our email went out a week ago there has been another shooting involving a 22 year old student and his instructor. The student was upset and left the classroom and came back to the classroom with a semi-automatic gun and shot and killed his instructor. Would you have accurately assessed his non-verbal communication? Do you know what to do if you are confronted by an active shooter?

SAM Programs were developed to address this disheartening trend. SAM’s comprehensive curriculum addresses preparedness and prevention, empowering individuals with practical safety skills. These skills will allow an individual to deal with aggressive behavior, bullying, violence and an active shooter.

On March 17, 2011, SAM is holding a one-day Instructor course. The course is being held at the University of Hartford and will be taught by Roland Ouellette (Director of Training, SAM) and Mike Kaselouskas (University of Hartford). The course will provide the necessary skills and training to allow an Instructor to go back to their community and provide training to all those that may confront aggressive behavior.

Unfortunately, aggressive behavior in our schools is only going to get worse. Be prepared to address this trend — sign up today for SAM.

SAM Programs

The escalation of aggressive behavior and outright violence in our schools is alarming. Everyone is subject to a certain amount of risk: students, teachers, security and administration. Nationally, teachers are subject to over 400,000 violent crimes a year and students, ages 12 through 18, are subject to over 250,000 crimes a year.

SAM Training was developed to address this disheartening trend. SAM’s comprehensive curriculum addresses preparedness and prevention, empowering individuals with practical safety skills. These skills will allow an individual to deal with aggressive behavior, bullying, violence and an active shooter.

On March 17, 2011, SAM is holding a one-day Instructor course. The course is being held at University of Hartford and will be taught by Roland Ouellette (Director of Training, SAM) and Mike Kaselouskas (University of Hartford). The course will provide the necessary skills and training to allow an Instructor to go back to their community and provide training to all those that may confront aggressive behavior. For more information and details see below.

“He/she didn’t fit the profile.” Don’t let this be your excuse — let SAM (www.samprograms.com) teach you how to be proactive against this alarming trend.

Thank you.

Roland Ouellette
Director of Training
SAM Training, LLC
P.O. Box 970067
Coconut Creek, FL 33097
954-255-6300
www.samprograms.com

It was aired today in the New York metro area that Mayor Bloomberg is continuing with his crusade on non-legitimate gun sales. It was reported on CBS 880 that New York City sent two investigators to Phoenix fifteen days after the Tuscon shootings to buy hand guns. The two investigators informed the seller of the guns that they would probably fail a background check for the two semi-automatic pistols. The seller was OK with their disclosure and sold the guns to the two investigators. Clearly money was more important to the seller than the safety of his fellow citizens.

The availability and access of guns today makes the Active Shooter scenario a real possibility. Although Mayor Bloomberg has made it his mission in his last administration, this issue is not going away anytime soon. Until the Federal government steps in and passes laws with real teeth in them to restrict the sale of guns to non-legitimate buyers, the Active Shooter will be a very real scenario in many educational environments.

Please Note: Image provided by Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images

Unfortunately, we have all heard about the horrible situations of school violence at Columbine(CO), Virginia Tech(VA), Omaha(NE), Marinette(WI), and yesterday in Gardena(CA). “We’re shocked”, “No one can believe this could happen here”, “This is such a quiet community”, He seemed like such a nice boy”, ” He didn’t fit the profile”. SCHOOLS SHOULD EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL VIOLENCE.

“When then” planning vs. “If then” planning is the question to be answered so the proper “path” to preparedness can be put into place. Given the number of situations and the nationwide distribution, the most prudent planning would be a “When then” plan based on the premise that at some point an act of violence is going to happen in your school.

When a gunman is on campus; when someone points a gun at us; when there is random shooting in the classroom — we [administration, student body] will respond this way . . . THIS IS OUR PLAN!. All schools should have a written plan, supported by training and drills, that are understood and available for staff and students in a crisis situation. The training should be reinforced with drills to provide proper physical and mental preparedness so that you don’t “freeze” at the moment of crisis — but instead, let instinct and muscle memory provide the optimal reaction. Give the administration and student body a fighting chance in the face of an active shooter on campus.

Roland Ouellette has over 35 years of experience with law enforcement and aggressive behavioral training. With SAM Training he and his staff are looking to make a difference in the way our schools approach bullying, aggressive behavior and active shooters. Take a look at the SAM website and decide whether or not your school needs instruction to help mitigate aggressive behavior.

You know what to do if there is a fire: stop, drop and roll.  Those three words and the associated actions have been ingrained in us since childhood — we don’t have to think about it if we face a fire.  What do you do in the case of an ACTIVE SHOOTER and you can’t get away?

The “physical” technique that may save your life is the following (clearly, this is a technique that assumes you can’t escape the gunman):

1. Go to the floor/ground and get onto your side in a fetal position. If there is a wall or barrier available put your back against it.  If a desk or table is available go under the desk or table in a fetal position.

2. If you are on your right side, place your left elbow over your ribs and your left hand over your neck.  With your right hand place it over your left ear and point your face into the floor.

3. This position protects the central nervous system and the vital organs of the body in the event you are hit by a bullet.

This “physical” technique can save the victim’s life and provide a credible option when no other options are available.  Learn more about dealing with an ACTIVE SHOOTER and SAM Training at our site.