Hazing and Bullying

FILE: JFCF

Basic

 HAZING AND BULLYING

General

The New Franklin R-I School District prohibits all forms of  hazing, bullying and student intimidation. Students participating in or encouraging inappropriate conduct will be disciplined inaccordance with JG-R. Such discipline may include, but is not limited to, suspension or expulsion from school and removal from participation in activities. Students who have been subjectedto hazing or bullying are instructed to promptly report such incidents to a school official.

In addition, district staff, coaches, sponsors and volunteers shall not permit, condone or tolerate any form of hazing or bullying or plan, direct, encourage, assist, engage or participate in any activitythat involves hazing or bullying. District staff will report incidents of hazing and bullying tothe building principal. The principal shall promptly investigate all complaints of hazing and bullyingand shall administer appropriate discipline to all individuals who violate this policy. District staff who violate this policy may be disciplined or terminated.

The district shall annually inform students, parents, district staff and volunteers that hazing and bullying is prohibited. This notification may occur through the distribution of thewritten policy, publication in handbooks, presentations at assemblies or verbal instructions by the coach or sponsor at the start of the season or program.

Definitions

Hazing -- For purposes of this policy, hazing is defined as any activity, on or off school grounds, that a reasonable person believes would negatively impact the mental or physical health orsafety of a student or put the student in a ridiculous, humiliating, stressful or disconcerting position for the purposes of initiation, affiliation, admission, membership or maintenance ofmembership in any group, class, organization, club or athletic team including, but not limited to, a grade level, student organization  or school-sponsored  activity.

Hazing may include those actions that subject a student to extreme mental stress including, but not limited to, sleep deprivation, physical confinement, forced conduct that couldresult in extreme embarrassment or criminal activity, or other stress-inducing activities. Hazing may also include, but is not limited to: acts of physical brutality; whipping; beating;branding; exposing to the elements; forcing consumption of any food, liquor, drug or other substance; forcing inhalation or ingestion of tobacco products; or any other forced physicalactivity that could adversely affect the physical health or safety of an individual.

Hazing may occur even when all students involved are willing participants. Hazing does not occur when a student is required to audition or try out for an organization when the criteriaare reasonable, approved by the district and legitimately related to the purpose of the organization.

Bullying -- For purposes of this policy, bullying is defined as repeated and systematic intimidation, harassment and attacks on a student or multiple students perpetuated by individuals orgroups. Bullying includes, but is not limited to: physical violence, verbal taunts, name-calling and put­ downs, threats, extortion or theft, damaging property, or exclusion from a peergroup.

Adopted:             February 11,2004

Cross Refs:     AC, Nondiscrimination  and Anti-Harassment

GCPD, Suspension and Dismissal of Professional Staff Members GDPD, Suspension and Dismissal of Support Staff Members

IGD, District-Sponsored Extracurricular  Activities                                                                 (

IGDJ, Interscholastic Athletics

New Franklin R-I School District, New Franklin, Missouri