bullying

As a part of our class expectations in the band handbook, there is an anti-bullying statement.

Bullying:

● Music is internationally understood as an art form that brings people of diverse backgrounds and opinions together. We are a family!

● Bullying in the band program is unacceptable. Name calling, exclusion and other forms of bullying are simply not allowed. We expect you to do your best to resolve simple disagreements on your own.

● Issues that are unresolved should then be brought to Mrs. Iken.

I personally tend to see music students as some of the most caring and accepting individuals in the school community. With that being said, it is still important to know that bullying does exist in our community. If you are not a bully and you are not being bullied, then maybe you are a bystander. Stick up for friends who are being bullied.

Below you will find some images and links to help you better understand bullying. Please see an adult you trust if you have questions or if you are in crisis.

Click HERE for information from the national bullying website.

Do any of the images below look familiar???

Can we agree to?

Listen to one of these

"Don't Laugh at Me" (anti-bullying song found on youtube)

2 versions recorded by Baby Jay and Mark Willis

"NOT acceptable" (public service announcement with Glee's Jane Lynch)

Promote Diversity

1. Be mindful of your language and expressions. Avoid stereotypical remarks and most of all, challenge those made by your friends and families.

2. Speak out against jokes and slurs that target people or groups. Silence sends a message that you are in agreement.

3. Be knowledgeable. Provide as much accurate information as possible to reject harmful myths and stereotypes.

4. Read and encourage your students to read books that promote understanding of different cultures as well as those that are written by authors of diverse backgrounds.

5. Invite your friends with backgrounds different from your own to experience the joy of your traditions, customs, and culture.

6. Stereotypes are obstacles to all forms of social, academic, and intellectual growth and development which jam the lines of interracial, intercultural, inter-generational, and international communication.

Pyramid of Hate

(acts are listed in reverse order, most common acts listed first)

Acts of Subtle Bias

Subtle, quiet acts or thoughts which show a predisposition about a group of people. These biases, while possibly unknown to the person are often seen or felt by people in the target group

Examples:

  • A white woman crosses the street to avoid walking past a person of color due to her conscious or unconscious fear of people of color.

  • Saying "That's so gay" when referring to something in a negative context.

  • Discounting others opinions, not allowing them to speak their mind, or shunning someone based on the group to which you perceive they belong.

Acts of Prejudice and Bigotry

Conscious acts or thoughts based on a negative stereotype of a group of people. (Not necessarily illegal acts)

Examples:

  • Name calling based on a person's real or perceived racial, gender, sexual orientation status.("Spic, Nigger, Fag")

  • Student not wanting to sit with the special education students on the school bus for a school field trip.

  • No marriage or civil unions allowed for gay and lesbian citizens.

Acts of Discrimination

Conscious acts or thoughts based on a negative stereotype of a group of people that are usually illegal. (The protected class can be real or perceived.)

Examples:

  • Not renting to people of a protected class.

  • Not giving loans to people of a protected class.

  • Denying students the right to have a school club.

  • Not allowing students to be on teams.

Acts of Violence

Minor or lower level illegal acts against persons of a protected class or property owned by people of a protected class. (The protected class can be real or perceived.)

Examples:

  • Graffiti or hate language on lockers.

  • Vandalism

  • Physical assault

Acts of Extreme Violence

Extreme assault, murder or rape of a person due to the person's real or perceived protected class status.

Examples:

  • James Byrd's murder in Jasper, TX.

  • Matthew Shephard's murder in Laramie, WY

  • Murders of Arab-looking people after 9-11

Genocide

Mass murder of a group of people due to their real or perceived protected class status

Examples:

  • The Holocaust

  • Rwanda