1. Definition of Bullying… Repeated negative behaviors intended or perceived to frighten or cause discomfort. Harassment may be verbal, physical or suggested. Also transmission of any electronic communication made through the use of a computer or Phone with the intent to coerce abuse, torment, intimidate, frighten, harass, embarrass, or cause emotional distress.

2. Louisiana Law Against Bullying 2001 La. Acts, H.B. 364, Act 230 Requires local school boards to adopt policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation and bullying by students and protecting students and employees who report such incidents. Authorizes local school boards to adopt zero tolerance policies for fighting in schools and requires students expelled for fighting to pay for and attend conflict resolution classes with their parents.

3. School Rules in Handbook Bullying/Harassing Classmates- Repeated negative behaviors intended or perceived to frighten or cause discomfort. Harassment may be verbal, physical or suggested. 1 st Occurance 2 days ISS 2 nd Occurance 2 days OSS 3 rd Occurance Indefinite suspension pending a hearing at the school board.

4. Harassment If a person is uncomfortable with your actions and tells you they are uncomfortable you should stop the behavior. To continue could be considered harassment. If you falsely report bullying, this also could be considered harassment. Adding to an incident of harassment by encouraging the harasser in any way would also be considered harassment.

5. Cyber Bullying is a Crime in Louisiana. Law provides that cyber bullying is the transmission of any electronic textual, visual, written, or oral communication of any kind made through the use of a computer online service, Internet service, or any other means of electronic communication, including a local bulletin board service, Internet chat room, electronic mail, or online messaging service with the intent to coerce, abuse, torment, intimidate, frighten, harass, embarrass, or cause emotional distress to a person under the age of 18. 1st conviction can lead to a $500 fine, six months in jail, or both. 2nd conviction can lead to a $2,000 fine, one year in jail, or both. 3rd conviction can lead to a $5,000 fine, up to three years in jail, or both. Younger offenders will undergo a hearing with the FINS Board.

6. Beauregard Parish Rule Against Cyber Bullying The term “Cyber bullying” is defined to mean harassment, intimidation or bullying of a student by another student using a computer, mobile phone, or other interactive or digital technology while off school property and the actions have an effect on the student when the student is on school property. School employees are required to report any notification of harassing, bullying, cyber bullying, etc.

7. Examples of Bullying: Flaming - Flaming refers to a brief, heated exchange between two or more individuals that occurs via any communication technology. Cyber bullying - cyber harassment generally is viewed as a unique form of cyber bullying that involves offensive messages sent to a target. Denigration - Denigration is information about another that is derogatory and untrue. Impersonation - the perpetrator poses as the victim, most often by using the victim's password to gain access to his or her accounts, then communicating negative, cruel, or inappropriate information with others as if the target himself or herself were voicing those thoughts. Outing and Trickery - Outing refers to sharing personal, often embarrassing information with others with whom the information was never intended to be shared. Exclusion/Ostracism - Whether in the online or offline world, children often perceive that they are either in or out. If they are not in the "in-group," then they are in the "out-group.“ Cyberstalking - refers to the use of electronic communications to stalk another person through repetitive harassing and threatening communications.

9. Bullying Cases EXAMPLE: Phoebe Prince, MA – Phoebe died by hanging herself after ongoing bullying at her high school. Three 16 year-old girls were charged with felonies including violation of civil rights and stalking. Three other students, ages 17, 17, and 18, were charged with felonies as adults.

10. What does bullying look like? Boys are more likely than girls to use physical tactics such as: hitting, kicking, tripping, spitting, pushing, invading personal space, and other physical threats. Girls are more likely than boys to use social isolation to exclude their targets through spreading rumors, ridiculing, manipulating, name calling, and inflicting psychological harm.

11. Who is a bully? Bullies can be girls or boys, tall or short, rich or poor, young or old. They come in all shapes and sizes. They do have something in common – They try to make themselves feel better by maintaining power over others. They blame their targets for the bullying incidents.

12. Who is a target? Targets may have some characteristic that makes them stand out from the crowd, such as large or small size, a unique way of walking or talking, a disability, different way of dressing, a lack of confidence, etc. that the bully will ridicule. Sometimes, children become targets for aggressive social networking reasons, and sometimes they become targets just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time

13. Victims of Bullycide

14. Who is a bystander? Anyone who witnesses a bullying incident is a bystander. These bystanders are not “innocent bystanders” because they play a part in continuing the cycle of bullying. Bullies like to have an audience – the bystanders. They may want to be on the bully’s side because the bully is powerful, or they may be afraid of becoming a target. If these bystanders would tell the bully to stop, the bullying would end at least half the time.

15. GET INTO GROUPS

16. Discussion Question #1: If you think you’re not bullying another person, but that person thinks you are, who’s right?

17. Discussion Question #2: Why do people bully?

18. Discussion Question #3: Why does bullying need to stop? Why does bullying need to stop?

19. 3 Ways to look at a Situation: 1. My interpretation – What I think happened and why 2. Your interpretation – What you think happened and why 3. The facts – What really happened

20. Fun Activity

21. What Should I do if I am being bullied. 1. Tell the person who bullied you to stop. Then go report the situation to a teacher, counselor, or principal. Be sure and note other students who heard/saw the incident. 2. If it happens again report it to an adult. The second time someone bullies or harasses you, the harasser will be referred to the office.

22. How to deal with Cyber Bullying Do Not Respond to attacks. Do not fight back or seek retaliation. Do Not Delete messages sent to you by bullies. (all items sent over phones and internet are traceable and the police can trace your attacker) Keep evidence you have such as hard copies of emails, pictures, written notes, etc. Do not contact the parents of the cyber bully. Report Cyber Bulling to Parents and Police and Phone provider. Report cyber bullying incident to the sender’s internet provider. Here is an example: abuse@hotmail.com