Overview of Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) Definition of HIB The definition of HIB that applies to the use of this guidance is established at N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14 and is provided below. It is important to note that while the statutory definition of HIB might vary from definitions of bullying provided by program professionals, schools are responsible for the HIB definition at N.J.S.A. 18A:37-14. The HIB definition below has been separated into component parts for ease of reading and comprehension. Bold type has been added to emphasize selected provisions. HIB Definition HIB means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that: Is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by an actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic; Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus; or off school grounds, as provided for in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.3, Substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students; and that A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property; or Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student
Conflict vs. Bullying – Bullying is not a phase young people must endure or outgrow. Bullying is not a conflict between students or among groups of students. Conflict is a mutually competitive or opposing action or engagement, including a disagreement, an argument or a fight which is a normal part of human development. Bullying is one-sided, where one or more students are victims of one or more person’s aggression, which is intended to physically or emotionally hurt the victim(s). There generally are four types of bullying behaviors. These behaviors and some examples are identified below: Verbal – Includes taunting, name calling, malicious teasing or making threats (U.S. Department of Justice, 2001); Psychological – Includes spreading rumors, purposefully excluding people from activities, breaking up friendships (U.S. Department of Justice, 2001); Physical – Includes hitting, punching, shoving, spitting or taking personal belongings (U.S. Department of Justice, 2001); and Cyberbullying – Includes using the Internet, mobile phone or other digital technologies to harm others. (DuPage County Anti-Bullying Model Policy and Best Practices, 2011).
The effects of these bullying behaviors on students include: Serious psychological and behavioral effects manifested in low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, suicide, violence and criminal behavior; Physical problems such as headaches, dizziness and stomachaches; or Poor grades (Olweus, 1994). Feeling safe in schools powerfully promotes student learning and healthy development (Devine and Cohen, 2007). Bullying, which is a serious impediment to school safety, negatively affects the atmosphere of a school and disrupts the learning environment in the following ways: Student achievement suffers among the bullied and those who engage in bullying (http://www.stopbullying.gov); Student absenteeism increases. In a national survey, 30% of lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) students reported missing at least one day of school in the past month compared to 8.0% for the general student population (GLSEN, 2009); Teacher morale declines when social dynamics in the classroom interfere with instruction and discipline and contribute to increased employee absences (http://www.stopbullying.gov); Adult-student relationships suffer. Students who witness bullying can become fearful and develop the belief that the adults are not in control or are uncaring (http://www.stopbullying.gov); or
Resources:
https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now
https://www.pbis.org/topics/bullying-prevention
https://www.pacer.org/bullying/