Bust the Bullies

1. Bust the Bullies Slurs… Name Calling… Sexual Banter… How To Stop It And Why! Educational Equity Compliance Office Julie Hall, Coordinator (213) 241-7682 www.lausd.k12.ca.us\lausd\offices\eec

2. To increase knowledge of state and federal nondiscrimination laws that apply to students as they relate to bullying To recognize and prevent discrimination, harassment and bullying To create educational excellence through safe and equitable school environments Objectives:

3. What is Bullying???

4. Bullying is defined as: • Being habitually cruel to others weaker or perceived to be weaker than oneself. • Also defined as aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of real or perceived physical or psychological power among those involved. Typically, the behavior is repeated over time and includes the use of hurtful words and/or acts.

5. One or more individuals inflicting • Physical • Verbal • Nonverbal • Emotional (Psychological) • Cyber Bullying

6. Verbal Bullying • Hurtful name-calling, teasing, gossiping, making threats, making, rude noises, or spreading hurtful rumors

7. Nonverbal Bullying • Posturing, making gang signs, leering,staring, stalking, destroying property, using graffiti or graphic images, or exhibiting inappropriate and/or threatening gestures or actions, destroying property, using graffiti or graphic images, or exhibiting inappropriate and/or threatening gestures or actions

8. Physical Bullying • Hitting, punching, pushing, shoving, poking, kicking, tripping, strangling, hair pulling, fighting, beating, biting, spitting, or destroying property

9. Emotional Bullying • Rejecting, terrorizing, extorting, defaming, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, manipulating friendships, isolating, ostracizing, using peer pressure, or rating or ranking personal characteristics

10. Cyber Bullying • Sending insulting or threatening messages by phone, e-mail, Web sites, or any other electronic or written communication

11. For both boys and girls the most common form of bullying is … Teasing

12. What distinguishes a bully from someone who teases occasionally? A pattern of repeated physical or psychological intimidation Bullies purposely choose actions that will hurt or intimidate the targeted victim

13. Physical abuse for boys and social ostracism for girls Is the second most common form of bullying

14. According to the National Association of School Psychologists • Approximately one in seven school children is a bully or a victim • The problem affects about five million elementary and middle school students in the U.S. • For fourth through eighth graders, 22 percent report academic difficulties resulting from peer abuse

15. What are the Effects of Bullying? • May have attendance or discipline problems, fail at school, drop out, develop school phobia, abuse alcohol/drugs, or become suicidal, retaliatory, or violent • About 160,000 students in the US miss school every day due to fear of being attacked/intimidated • One out of ten students drops out of school • Two-thirds of school shootings were directly correlated to bullying (US Secret Service)

16. What are the Effects of Bullying? • Targets are more likely to be depressed and far more suicidal • Loss of sense of security which affects learning • Expending energy to avoid harm at school rather than to learn • May come to believe bullying is acceptable

17. What are the Effects of Bullying? • Bullies are at risk for learning deficits • Bullies attend school less and are more at risk of dropping out • Without support or intervention, bullies will continue to bully and may engage in other types of antisocial behavior and crime

18. What are the Effects of Bullying? • Sixty percent of males who bullied in Grades 6-9 were convicted of at least one crime as adults • Bullies are more likely to commit child abuse and domestic violence as adults

19. What are the Effects of Bullying? • Academic achievement and safety are compromised • Potential for litigation • Potential for serious acts of violence • School climate is adversely affected

20. School environment also influences the development of bullying behavior • Larger schools report a greater percentage of violence • Schools with clear rules of conduct enforced by the principal report less violence • Principals that include teachers and students in decision making report less violence

21. Students cannot learn effectively if they fear for their safety Troubled students, both bullies and victims need a supportive environment to learn and grow

22. Factors that contribute to less violence • Small class size • Schools where students mention that they are in control of their lives • Cohesiveness among the staff and the principal

23. Research on school climate suggests The principal is the single most important person to have involved

24. How Can You Make a Difference? • Know the laws and policies that prohibit unlawful harassment • Identify and respond to all incidents of bullying and harassment • Know complaint procedures • Report bullying incidents to the school complaint manager

25. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Race, color, national origin Title IX of the Ed. Amendment of 1972 Gender/sexual harassment ADA/Section 504 Disability (physical/mental) Federal Laws and Regulations

26. State Laws and Regulations • The School Safety and Violence Prevention Act of 2000 (AB537, Ed. Code §220)

27. District Policy • Sexual Harassment Policy • Non-Discrimination Policy • Uniform Complaint Procedure

28. Working Definition of Hostile Environment Harassment 1. Unwelcome 2. conduct that targets a protected category 3. is so severe or pervasive 4. that it limits one’s ability to participate in a program or activity.

29. You can: • Survey students and staff to find out where the hot spots are for bullying • Establish school-wide as well as classroom rules that prohibit bullying and harassment • Have clear sanctions and enforce school rules equitably • Know and post who your complaint managers are • Have confidential reporting systems and investigative procedures

30. Immediately put a stop to slurs or bullying behavior in your classroom or anywhere in your school. It all hurts.

31. What else can we do? • Challenge stereotyped messages in the classroom. • Model appropriate interactions. • Provide opportunities to develop good interpersonal skills. • Institute cooperative learning to reduce social isolation. • Reward students for positive, inclusive behavior. • Use school/class activities to recognize uniqueness and develop mutual understanding of differences.

32. You can also ... • Set up bully boxes where students can put notes if they are too worried to speak openly about bullying • Have a special “no-bullying day” campaign • Older students can discuss bullying issues with younger students • Implement Second Step • Refer students for mental health services and other appropriate resources

33. Anything else?... • Make sure students receive bi-annual orientation • Invite speakers to address students regarding bullying, harassment and discrimination prevention • Empower students via conflict resolution, peer counseling and assertiveness training • Implement curricula, books, videos and role play

34. As Educators, We Must: • Notify all students of their right not to be discriminated against • Provide students with opportunities to talk about and define bullying and harassment • Inform students of the complaint processes available to them

35. And we must: • Immediately intervene and report All Types of suspected harassment to the site administrator or School Complaint Manager • Increase adult supervision at key times and in key areas • Identify bullies and confront them privately. Let them know what they did was wrong • Have separate parent conferences with parents of the bully and the victim

36. If you receive a complaint from a student… • Give the student your immediate attention, if possible • Be a good listener • Make no preliminary judgments • Take students seriously • Support the victim • Let victims know it is not their fault • Immediately notify School’s Complaint Manager if you suspect harassment has occurred • Provide a buddy system if necessary

37. For more information call: • Educational Equity Compliance Office, (213) 241-7682 • Health Education Programs Office/Project 10 Office, (213) 633-7810