constitutes bullying versus disrespectful, rude behavior and the actions all stakeholders can take in helping keep our schools safe from such harmful effects. Texas Education Code 37.0832(a) & LOISD Policy FFI (Legal) – P: Definition: “Bullying” means engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or “physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district, and that: * Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property; or * Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student. This conduct is considered bullying if it: □ Exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and □ Interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school. Bullying can take place through a variety of actions. Bullying may be physical, verbal, emotional, and sexual in nature and can even be demonstrated in the cyber world of technology. Keeping the definition for bullying in mind when addressing concerns will help us all respond in an appropriate manner. Research and experience suggest that comprehensive efforts that involve teachers, administrators, students, parents, and community members are likely to be more effective than purely classroom-based approaches alone. Bullying Statistics: According to “How-to-Stop-Bullying.com,” recent school bullying statistics show that: 1 out of 4 kids is bullied. 77% of students are bullied mentally, verbally and physically. 1 out of 5 kids admits to being a bully, or doing some “bullying”. Each day 160,000 students miss school for fear of being bullied. 43% fear harassment in the bathroom at school. A school bullying statistics and cyber-bullying statistics poll showed that 282,000 students are physically attacked in secondary schools each month.
Refuse to join in if a bully tries to get you to tease someone. Get a teacher, parent, or another adult to come help. You won’t be snitching; you’ll be taking a stand against bullying. Talk to the person being bullied and try to get them to talk to an adult. Offer to go with them. Report the bullying to an adult you trust. ©Copyright 2004 National Center for Victims of Crime All Students You may have used some of the following excuses: “I didn’t really mean to.” “He made me do it”.” “I was only teasing.” “She did it first”. Bullies also use these excuses. Think carefully if you often use these excuses, are you hurting others. What makes a bully? Bullies can be boys or girls, big kids or little kids. Some bullies use words to hurt the feelings of their victim and some like to hurt people physically. Here are some of the things bullies might do: They try to make you think they are popular or cool. They often pick on younger or smaller kids; those who might be different in some way; or kids who don’t have many friends. They often involve others to help them gang up on the victim. They can use teasing, name-calling, harassment and violence against their victim. They may spread stories or rumors about their victim. They may try to turn everyone against that person by like ignoring them. They may hide, damage, or take their victim’s things.