This Presentation is made available to you to be used as a refresher. All (new hires/hires missing harassment) still have to attend the schools Diocesan training.

Office of Catholic Schools and Centers July 2012

 Across this nation, harassment and bullying have been an issue in the workplace and in schools  Laws have been enacted to protect victims

What you need to know

Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act Written into law on April 30, 2008  Title XLVIII of the K-20 Education Code - Fs  “Bullying” means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve:  1. Teasing;  2. Social exclusion;  3. Threat;  4. Intimidation;  5. Stalking;  6. Physical violence;  7. Theft;  8. Sexual, religious, or racial harassment;  9. Public humiliation; or  10. Destruction of property Office of Safe Schools. "Florida Department of Education." Bullying Prevention. Florida Department of Education, n.d. Web. 26 July

The following information on Bullying was taken from STOPBULLYING.GOV  "Bullying Definition." Home. StopBullying.gov, n.d. Web. 26 July

 Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.  Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

 Aggressive Behavior  Imbalance of Power ◦ Real or Perceived ◦ Such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or status  Repetition ◦ Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

 Saying or Writing mean things ◦ Teasing ◦ Name-calling ◦ Inappropriate sexual comments ◦ Taunting ◦ Threatening to cause harm  This includes CYBERBULLYING ◦ Bullying that takes place use electronic devices.

 Involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships (also called Relational bullying). ◦ Leaving someone out on purpose ◦ Telling other children not to be friends with someone ◦ Spreading rumors about someone ◦ Embarrassing someone in public

 Hurting a person’s body or possessions ◦ Hitting/kicking/pinching ◦ Spitting ◦ Tripping/pushing ◦ Taking or breaking someone’s things ◦ Making mean or rude hand gestures

Must be reported in WRITING as follows:

 Complete the Bullying Complaint Form  Provide report to Teacher, Principal, Director, Dean of Students, School Counselor, Pastor, District Superintendent, or Superintendent  This process and policy is in the process of being defined.

Not all Peer Conflict is Bullying

History, Policy and Reporting

Title VII, Section 703 of the Civil rights Act of 1964 and the June 1998, US Supreme Court ruling have given employers guidance to establish policy for the safeguarding of employees and other persons against harassment.

The Civil Rights Act serves to protect a specific population of a protected status ◦ race, ◦ national origin, ◦ color, ◦ sex, ◦ age, ◦ disability, ◦ Religion, ◦ and many more! Diocese of St. Petersburg/ OCSC revised June

1997- Priest Policy on Harassment Employee Policy on Harassment Task Force established to develop Policy on Harassment in Non-employment Situations Approval of policy by DOSP Presbyteral Council

Promulgation by Bishop Robert N. Lynch Training of school administrators, etc to presentTraining of all school staffs and volunteers

 Racial  Ethnic  Cultural  Religious  Sexual  Intellectual  Provocative

 Unwelcome conduct is so sever or pervasive as to change the condition of the environment.  Legal harassment involves an individual in a protected status.

 Student to student  Student to teacher  Student to parent/volunteer  Parent/volunteer to teacher  Parent/volunteer to aide, office staff, maintenance Diocese of St. Petersburg/ OCSC revised June

 Harassment can result from a single incident or from a pattern of behavior involving verbal, written or physical conduct or communication.  Harassment encompasses a broad range of behaviors, which could include, but are not limited to:

 Physical, mental or verbal abuse  Insults, jokes, or derogatory slurs based on one or more of and individual’s protected status  Unwanted forced involvement in activities (e.g. physical, religious, etc.)  Coercion of religious styles or personal beliefs upon participant  Intimidation in front of a group or forced personal sharing in groups  Inappropriate media or music use which would violate this policy.

 The school, classroom or workplace environment becomesIntimidatingOffensiveHostile

 Unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature such as ◦ Sexual advances ◦ Sexual favors ◦ Physical conduct ◦ Verbal conduct  When submission or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individuals employment.  When unreasonable behavior interferes with an individuals work performance creating a hostile or offensive work environment.

 Unwelcome sexual advances or touching  Implicit or explicit requests for sexual favors  Unwanted sexual comments (serious or humorous)  Unwanted sexually suggestive telephone calls, letters, s, etc.  Comments or jokes based on issues of modesty and developing social awareness

 The Diocese of St. Petersburg requires that each parish, Catholic school, or early childhood center establish and adopt this policy that prohibits any form of harassment by any individual.

 The Diocese of St. Petersburg strives for the establishment of a Christian, professional and supportive educational environment for all person engaged in or involved with religious education programs, schools and early childhood centers, and parish youth ministry programs in non-employment situations.

 No parish, school or early childhood center will be responsible for off campus harassment, unless it occurs at a parish, school, or early childhood center sponsored event.

1. That each individual is free from physical, psychological or verbal intimidation and harassment in schools, early childhood centers, religious education and youth ministry 2. That each individual involved in schools, early childhood centers, religious education and youth ministry programs maintain and further develop attitudes and behaviors which express respect for others and are reflective of each person’s God – given dignity. 

Must be reported in WRITING as follows:

Schools  Report to Principal, Director, Dean of Students, School Counselor, Pastor, District Superintendent, or Superintendent ◦ Administrators will be informed of allegations ◦ Investigation will be conducted promptly  Investigation will not be delayed if administrator can not be contacted

Ministries  Religious Education ◦ Report to Director of Religious Ed (DRE), Catechetical Leader, Pastor, Diocesan Director of Evangelization and Faith Formation.  Youth Ministries ◦ Report to Youth Minister, Pastor, Diocesan Director of Youth Ministry.

 If any individual is uncomfortable reporting to the above persons, the report should then be made to the Diocesan office of the Secretary of Christian Service and Formation.

 Be sensitive to others, be professional, treat your co workers as you would want to be treated  Don’t assume your behavior is acceptable because no one has objected  Never assume friendliness equals sexual interest - be realistic!

 If you feel safe and comfortable, tell the harasser to STOP  Keep documentation (names of witnesses, incidents, perpetrator)  Report to your administrator, guidance counselor or the Office of Catholic Schools and Centers

The right to confidentiality, both of the complainant and of the accused, will be respected to the extent possible, but will be consistent with legal obligations and with the necessity to investigate allegations of misconduct and to take corrective action when this conduct has occurred.

BullyingHarassment  Aggressive behavior  Imbalance of power ◦ Perceived or real  Repeated or has the potential to repeat  Protected class  race, national origin, color, sex, age, disability, religion  Unwelcome conduct  Severe, pervasive, or persistent  Creates a hostile environment.