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Bullying Are you safe at school?
What is “bullying?” • “Bullying” means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee. This harassment may occur by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that causes or creates a clear and present danger of one or more of the following: • Physical harm to a public school employee or student or damage to the public school employee’s or student’s property; • Substantial interference with a student’s education or with a public school employee’s role in education; • A hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students or public school employees due to the severity persistence, or pervasiveness of the act; • Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment.
“What’s done to children, they will do to society.” - Karl Menninger • Do you believe this quote? What does it say about children who are bullies and children who are bullied?
Though violence is generally seen as an unacceptable type of behavior, more people accept bullying as a normal part of life. • Bullying can have a long-term effect on the bullying and victim. • There is a strong linkage between bullying behavior during childhood and subsequent risk of criminal behavior/offending in the future.
60% of boys identified as bullies were convicted of a crime by age 24. • 40% of bullies had 3 or more convictions by age 24. • Increase rates of vandalism, fighting, theft and truancy. • This impacts all of us-socially and economically.
Anti-Bullying LawACA § 6-18-514 (2011) Bullying means the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that causes or creates a clear and present danger.
Bullying will not be accepted: • While in school • On school property • In school vehicles and buses • School bus stops • Sponsored activities and events • By electronic act that results in the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school
Hazing: HAZING, ACA § 6-5-201 (2011) Arkansas law defines as: • Any willful act on or off school property by 1 or more students against another student for the purpose of intimidating by threatening the target with social or other ostracism or submitting to shame or disgrace. • The playing of abusive or truculent tricks on or off school property by 1 or more students to frighten or scare the target. • Any willful act on or off school property by 1 or more students for the purpose of humbling the pride, stifling the ambition, or impairing the courage of the target or to get the target to leave school. • Arkansas law makes hazing a Class B misdemeanor and upon conviction, a student “shall” be expelled from educational institution of attendance.
It is the policy of the District to maintain a learning environment that is free from harassment. Prohibits any and all forms of harassment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, religion, disability or protected activity. It is a violation to harass a student through conduct of a sexual nature or regarding race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, national origin, religion, disability or protected activity as defined by this policy. This applies to any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel of the District.
What is “harassment?” Racial or Color Harassment Racial or color harassment includes unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at the characteristics of a person’s race or color, such as nicknames emphasizing stereotypes, racial slurs, comments on manner of speaking and negative references to racial customs. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment consists of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical conduct or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. It also includes conduct that is not sexual in nature but that is engaged in because of the gender of the victim. It includes conduct that is also criminal in nature such as rape, sexual assault, stalking and similar offenses. Under federal law, sexual harassment is prohibited regardless of the sex of the harasser, i.e., sexual harassment may occur even if the harasser and the person being harassed are the same sex.
Sexual Orientation Harassment Harassment on the basis of sexual orientation is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at the characteristics of a person’s sexual orientation, such as negative name-calling and imitating mannerisms. Marital Status Harassment Harassment on the basis of marital status is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at the characteristics of a person’s marital status, such as comments regarding pregnancy or being an unwed mother or father.
National Origin Harassment Harassment on the basis of national origin is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at the characteristics of a person’s national origin, such as negative comments regarding surnames, manner of speaking, customs, language, or ethnic slurs. Religious Harassment Harassment on the basis of religion or creed is unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at the characteristics of a person’s religion or creed, such as derogatory comments regarding surnames, religious tradition, religious clothing, religious slurs or graffiti.
Disability Harassment Harassment based on a person’s disabling mental or physical condition includes any unwelcome verbal, written or physical conduct directed at the characteristics or a person’s disabling condition, such as imitating manner of speech or movement, or interference with necessary equipment.
It’s your job to tell: Any student who is a victim of bullying or who witness or has reliable information that a student has been a victim of bullying should report the incident to the building administrator. The student’s identity will be kept ANONYMOUS if he/she feels in danger of retaliation.
What a bystander can do: A bystander can help by spending time with the person being bullied at school. Simple gestures like talking to them, sitting with them at lunch, or inviting them to play sports or other games during physical education or recess can help a lot. Advise the child to listen to the person being bullied, let them talk about the event. They can call the person being bullied at home to provide support, encourage them and give advice. Bystanders can try sending a text message or going up to the person who was bullied later. They can let that person know that what happened wasn’t cool, and that they’re there for them. A bystander can help by telling the person being bullied that they don’t like the bullying and asking them if he can do anything to help. Bystanders can also help the person being bullied talk to a trusted adult.
Bystanders can tell a trusted adult in person or leave them a note. If bullying is occurring, bystanders can go find, or ask a friend to find, a trusted adult as soon as possible. Perhaps they can help stop it from continuing. Remind children who witness bullying not to get discouraged if they’ve already talked to an adult and nothing has happened. They can ask a family member if they will help, and make sure the adult knows that it is repeated behavior. Try talking to as many adults as possible if there’s a problem—teachers, counselors, custodians, nurses, parents—the more adults they involve the better.
Need Help? If there has been a crime or someone is at immediate risk of harm. Call 911. If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide. Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline online or at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in our national network. These centers provide 24-hour crisis counseling and mental health referrals.
If someone is acting differently than normal, such as always seeming sad or anxious, struggling to complete tasks, or not being able care for themselves. Contact any Central counselor. If a child is being bullied in school. Contact the: Teacher School counselor School principal School superintendent State Department of Education
If the school is not adequately addressing harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or religion. Contact: School superintendent State Department of Education U.S. Department of Education U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division
Consequences for children who bully: Consequences for Violation of This Policy by Students in Grades 6-12 First Offense: The student or students who are the perpetrators of bullying must participate in Behavior Modification/Conflict Resolution Program or other programs, as determined by District personnel. At least one parent or guardian will be required to attend a conference with the principal or his/her designee concerning the student’s bullying offense. Second Offense: The building administrator will determine the appropriate disciplinary action as listed for Category One offenses in the “Student Handbook.” The student must complete a unit of study on bullying, empathy and anger management. The parents/guardians will be required to attend a conference with the principal or his/her designee concerning the student’s bullying offense. Third Offense: If the third offense occurs within one school year, the student will receive a short-term out-of-school suspension. Additional behavior interventions will be required.
Resources • Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) • Stopbullying.gov • Criminal Justice Institute (CJI) Safe School Initiative Division • National Crime Prevention Council • Iowa Department of Education • LRSD Student Handbook • Journal of Safe Management of Disruptive and Assaultive Behavior • Indicators of School Crime and Safety-Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics
