Be Nice. Be Safe. Work Hard.
The opening paragraphs on the https://www.stopbullying.gov/ website provides a good summary of the ways in which we respond to reports of bullying/harassment at Merton Williams:
“When adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior they send the message that it is not acceptable. Research shows this can stop bullying behavior over time.”
It’s important that students report any act of bullying and/or harassment to a supervising adult. For instance, if in a classroom, the supervising adult would be the classroom teacher. If on the athletics field, the supervising adult would be the coach or assistant coach. If on a field trip, the supervising adult would be the chaperone, etc. This will ensure swift intervention and timely support.
Parents, families, school staff, and other adults in the community can help kids prevent bullying by talking about it, building a safe school environment, and creating a community-wide bullying prevention strategy.
When staff at school get a report of harassment and bullying we:
Identify - by watching signs and behaviors and listening to student concerns;
Report - to the DASA Coordinator and/or the student’s Assistant Principal an incident that could potentially rise above what could be considered normal conflict between two individuals and fall into the category of harassment/bullying;
Investigate - by interviewing the alleged victim, alleged offender, and any others involved as needed, such as staff/student witnesses of the bullying/harassment;
Respond - develop an action plan moving forward that serves to support students, teach prosocial behaviors, restore relationships, and attempt to “stop further harassment and prevent any retaliation against the person who made the complaint (or was the subject of the harassment) or against those who provided information as witnesses.” ~The New York State Dignity for All Students Act: A Resource and Promising Practices Guide for School Administrators & Faculty.
Students may want to let you know about how others are treating them at school. If this happens, Peggy Moss, a vocal advocate for bullying prevention, offers the following advice:
Look for signs. While the following could be signs of bullying, they could also be symptoms of something else going on with your child. Examples include, but are not limited to:
Self harm
Refusal to use the bathroom at school
Fear of attending school
Listen in a non-judgemental way about your student and about the student being accused of teasing without trying to solve the problem. Ask questions such as:
What happened?
How did that make you feel?
Provide your student with the time, space, and support to develop solutions to the problem. You might ask questions like:
What do you think you’re going to say/do next time? What do you think might work?
What do you think will happen if you do/say that?
If your student will not talk with you, you might find someone who your student connects with and get them together. Your child may need to speak with someone so it’s important to find the right person. This could be a family member such as an aunt or uncle, or could be a teacher, counselor, or coach.
If your child is reporting that the bullying has continued, consider partnering with school staff in problem-solving together. Do not assume that the school knows what is going on, but rather work to communicate what your student is reporting and encourage your student to be communicative with school staff as well.
If there is a threat of violence, notify the school and potentially call law enforcement.
Communicate to your student that they can have a strong impact on peer dynamics by speaking up and condemning bullying that they see others doing, communicating to those around that the behavior is not acceptable to everyone. Your child can speak up and set boundaries for how others treat them and support others being mistreated.
The purpose of the Dignity Act is to foster civility in public schools and to prevent and prohibit conduct which is inconsistent with a school’s educational mission and Cadet Intentional Values. Our District’s Board Policy mirrors the Dignity For All Students Act language and provides a springboard for how we respond to acts of discrimination, harassment, and/or bullying behaviors.