A BRIEF OVERVIEW Bullying

House Bill NO.7, or the School Bullying Prevention Act, was created to provide a safer learning environment for students attending public schools, including charter schools in the state of Delaware and for the staff members of those institutions.  The General Assembly recognizes that safe learning environments are necessary for students to learn and to achieve high academic standards  It is the intent of the General Assembly to provide safe learning environments for all students and for all public education employees.

Bullying  As stated in DE House Bill No.7, bullying means any intentional written, electronic, verbal or physical act or actions against another person that a reasonable student, school volunteer, or school employee under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:

Bullying  Placing a person in reasonable fear of substantial harm to his or her emotional or physical well being or substantial damage to his or her property  Creating a hostile, threatening, humiliating or abusive educational environment due too the pervasiveness or persistence of actions or due to a power differential between the bully and the target; or  Interfering with the student having a safe school environment that is necessary to facilitate educational performance, opportunities or benefits; or  Perpetuating bullying by inciting, soliciting, or coercing an individual or group to demean, dehumanize, embarrass or cause emotional psychological or physical harm to another person

Bullying  In common terms bullying is:  Intentional unwanted aggressive behavior among school aged children  Involves a real or perceived power imbalance  The behavior is repeated or has the potential to be repeated over time

Bullying  Includes actions such as :  Making threats  Spreading rumors or writing nasty things about others  Attacking a person physically or verbally  Purposely excluding a person from a group and persuading peers to do the same  Taking or damaging another student’s possessions  Sending offensive messages to others via computer or cell phone

Cyber Bullying Includes actions such as:  Sending someone threatening s, texts messages, or instant messages  Tricking someone into revealing personal or embarrassing information and sending it to others  Breaking into someone’s or phone account to send cruel or untrue messages while posing as that person  Creating web sites to make fun of another person  Using websites to rate others as prettiest, ugliest, etc

Why cyber bullying is different? Cyber bullying can happen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and reach a kid even when he or she is alone. It can happen any time of the day or night. Cyber bullying messages and images can be posted anonymously and distributed quickly to a very wide audience. It can be difficult and sometimes impossible to trace the source. Deleting inappropriate or harassing messages, texts, and pictures is extremely difficult after they have been posted or sent.

Bullying Bullying is not:  a single incidence of teasing  two children having a fight or an argument Bullying can:  Occur face to face  Occur behind one’s back  Come from both boys and girls

NOT CONSIDERED BULLYING REQUIRE DIFFERENT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE STRATEGIES Other Types Of Aggression

Other types of aggression Peer Conflict  It is not bullying when two students with no perceived power imbalance fight, have an argument, or disagree  Conflict resolution or peer mediation may be appropriate for these situations

Other types of aggression Teen Dating Violence  Partner violence that occurs between two young people who are or were in a relationship

Other types of aggression Hazing  Use of embarrassing and often dangerous or illegal activities used by a group to initiate new members

Other types of aggression Harassment  Under federal civil rights laws, harassment is unwelcome conduct based on a protected class (race, national origin, color, sex, age, disability, religion) that is severe, pervasive, or persistent and creates a hostile environment

Other types of aggression Stalking  Repeated harassing or threatening behavior such as following a person, damaging a person’s property, or making harassing phone calls.

Other types of aggression Early Childhood  Young children may be aggressive and act out when they are angry or don’t get what they want, but this is not bullying.

WARNING SIGNS Bullying

Signs a person is being bullied: Unexplainable injuries Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch. Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicid e

Signs a person is bullying others: Get into physical or verbal fights Have friends who bully others Are increasingly aggressive Lacks empathy and doesn’t sympathize with others Have unexplained extra money or new belongings Blame others for their problems Doesn’t accept responsibility for actions Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity

Why kids don’t ask for help: Bullying can make a child feel helpless. They may fear being seen as weak or a tattletale. Kids may fear backlash from the kid who bullied them. Bullying can be a humiliating experience. They may also fear that adults will judge them or punish them for being weak. Kids who are bullied may already feel socially isolated. Kids may fear being rejected by their peers. Friends can help protect kids from bullying, and kids can fear losing this support.

DISTRICT POLICIES Bullying

Before deciding how to respond to an incident, review the district’s policies and procedures located on page 42 in the Student Code of Conduct Handbook. Bullying is considered a Level III Offense for k-12 students.

Bullying Grades K – 5 Level III Offenses  First Offense- Required  Detention and or suspension (1-3 days)  Parent/guardian notification  Parent guardian conference  Police notification, when necessary  DOE Student Conduct Report will be filed as required by law  Optional  Behavior support plan

Bullying Grades K – 5 Level III Offenses  Subsequent Offenses -Required  Detention and or suspension (2-5 days)  Parent/guardian notification  Parent guardian conference  Behavior Support Plan  Police notification, when necessary  Recommendation to counseling or appropriate social service agency  DOE Student Conduct Report will be filed as required by law

Bullying Grades 6 – 12 Level III Offenses  First Offense- Required  Detention and or suspension (1-3 days)  Parent/guardian notification  Parent guardian conference  Police notification, when necessary  DOE Student Conduct Report will be filed as required by law  Optional  Behavior plan/contract

Bullying Grades 6 – 12 Level III Offenses  Subsequent Offenses -Required  Detention and or suspension (2-5 days)  Parent/guardian notification  Parent guardian conference  Behavior plan/contract  Police notification, when necessary  Recommendation to counseling or appropriate social service agency  DOE Student Conduct Report will be filed as required by law

Contact Information for Meredith Middle School There are several ways to contact someone about a possible bullying incident. 1. Call one of the Interventionists at EMMS-Mr. Phillips or Mrs. Johnson. 2. Anonymously report bullying through our website at Look for the section titled “Bullying Free Information” or “S.O.S.-Save our Schools.”

Resources cyberbullying cyberbullying