STOP Bullying NOW!

Duplin County Schools is committed to:

O Creating an environment that is free of bullying, harassment, or intimidation so that schools are safe places in which to learn

O Prohibiting verbal, physical, or written (including electronic) bullying, harassment, or intimidation of any person on school property, on school buses, or at school-sponsored functions

O Prohibiting retaliation against individuals who report acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation, or who are victims, witnesses, or others with reliable information

What is Bullying?2009 Session Law 212 (“School Violence Prevention Act”)115C-407.5. Bullying and harassing behavior

“bullying or harassing behavior” is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic, or verbal communications, or any physical act or threatening communication, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and that:

(1) Places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or

(2) Creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits.

Types of Bullying

O DirectO PhysicalO Verbal

O IndirectO SocialO Relational

O Cyber

Examples of Physical Bullying

O Hitting, kicking, shoving, pushing, & other acts that cause physical harm

O Taking or destroying property

Examples of Verbal BullyingO Name-callingO TeasingO Mocking,

threatening, insulting, intimidating behavior

O Making racist, sexist, or sexual comments

Examples of Social/Relational Bullying

O Destroying relationshipsO IntimidationO Ruining reputationsO Humiliation and

embarrassmentO Spreading rumors

Types of Cyber BullyingO Cyber bullying includes

threatening, insulting, harassing and/or spreading rumors through cell phones, instant messaging, videos, pictures, e-mail, chat rooms, blogging, and/or social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Kik, SnapChat, etc.

O Sending mean text, e-mail, voice-mail, or instant messages

O Posting nasty pictures or messages about others in blogs, on websites, and/or social networking sites

Bullying Research tells us:• Nearly 1 in 3 students (27.8%) report being

bullied during the school year (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2013).

• More than half of bullying situations (57 percent) stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied (Hawkins, Pepler, and Craig, 2001)

• American Justice Department reports 1 in 4 children will be bullied before they turn 18

• 1 in 7 Students in Grades K-12 is either a bully or a victim of bullying.

• Harassment and bullying have been linked to 75% of school-shooting incidents.

• Bullying statistics say revenge is the strongest motivation for school shootings.

Characteristics of bullies may include:

O Lack of empathy for othersO Hot-tempered, easily angered, and

impulsiveO Need for power – bullying makes

them feel, stronger, smarterO High self esteemO More likely to engage in other

problem behaviors later in life, such as criminal activity or substance abuse

Do you bully others?

You’re a bully if….

O There’s a student whom you've repeatedly shoved, or punched or physically pushed around in a mean way just because you felt like it

O You had someone else hurt someone you don't like.

O You've spread a nasty rumor about someone, in conversation, in a note, or through email or instant messaging

You’re a bully if….O You and your friends have regularly kept one

or more kids from hanging out or playing with you. Examples: at your lunch table at school, during sports or other activities, or activities that are a part of a club or other kind of group activity

O You've teased people in a mean way, calling them names, making fun of their appearance, or the way they talk or dress or act

O You've been part of a group that did any of these things - even if you only wanted to be part of the crowd

Effects of BullyingO Academic Problems

O Lowered grades and reduced learningO Skipping or even dropping out of school

O Mental Health ProblemsO Withdrawal from friends and family O Lowered self esteem, lowered self confidenceO Depression, loneliness, anxietyO Suicide

O Health ProblemsO Loss of appetite, loss of sleepO Stomach aches, vomitingO Headaches

Are You being Bullied?O Always tell an adult –

teacher, SRO, parent, relative

O Stay in a group O If you are being bullied

on-line, don't reply and block them

O Join clubs or take part in activities where you'll meet other people

If you are being bullied DON’T:O think it's your faultO fight back or bully a person backO keep it to yourself and just hope the

bullying will “go away” O skip school or avoid clubs or sports

because you're afraid of being bullied. O think that you're “tattling" or “a snitch”

if you tellO hurt yourself

Do you witness bullying?Are you a bystander?

O Support someone who is being bullied by reporting to a teacher/SRO/Parent

O Don’t participate by laughing, pointing, gossiping or instigating

Bullying WILL NOT be tolerated!

Violations can result in:O Short term suspensionsO Long term suspensionsO Potential legal charges

IT IS THE LAW!

Assault On Another StudentWhen a student attempts to strike, spit, shove, slap,

hit, kick, bite, push, or to cause physical injury.

Level 3 offense:

Severe misconduct that supports long-term suspension. Mitigating factors related to the offenses may support a reduction to short-term suspension of ten (10) days or less.

Assault on a School Employee

O No student shall assault or attempt to cause physical injury to any school employee or behave in such a manner as could reasonably cause physical injury to any school employee.

Level 3 offense:

Severe misconduct that supports long-term suspension. Mitigating factors related to the offenses may support a reduction to short-term suspension of ten (10) days or less.

Bullying/Harassment

O Level 2:Short term suspension of up

to five (5) days. Aggravating factors involved may support a short-term suspension of up to ten (10) days or recommendation for long-term suspension

QUESTIONS?????