About Bullying

WHAT IS BULLYING?

There is a lot of talk about bullying these days…But what is bullying?

Bullying is not…

· Arguments or conflicts

· Bossing kids around

· Choosing one friend over another

· Playful joking, teasing, or horseplay

Bullying may not even be a fight. At times an argument may get out of hand, and a dispute may become physical. One fight, in and of itself, may not be bullying. Bullying is not about anger.

The School Board of the City of Norfolk, recognizing the negative impact of bullying on student health, safety, and on the learning environment, is committed to the provision of school settings that are safe, secure and free from bullying of any kind.

Bullying is about …

· INTENT

People who bully intend to cause harm to another person. The actions are not done accidentally.

· POWER

People who bully perceive themselves as being more powerful or as capable having the ability to wield power over another person. They uses their power to control or harm people who may not be in a position to defend themselves.

· REPETITION

People who bully repeat the same hurtful, harmful behavior. Their actions are aggressive, and happen over and over to the same person by the same person or same group.

Bullying is …

Any aggressive and unwanted behavior that is intended to harm, intimidate, or humiliate the victim; involves a real or perceived power imbalance between the aggressor or aggressors and student who is bullied; and is repeated over time or causes severe emotional trauma.

Bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere.

TYPES OF BULLYING

There are some ways people bully.

PHYSICAL

· Pushing, shoving, hitting, spitting, kicking

· Defacing, damaging property

· Taking items from others

VERBAL

· Teasing

· Name-calling

· Threatening to cause harm

· Inappropriate sexual comments

· Taunting:

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL

· Excluding: telling other kids not to be friends

· Rumor spreading

· Breaking up friendships

· Embarrassing someone in public

SEXUAL BULLYING (includes for both starting rumors about sexual activity or teasing about sexual orientation)

· Homophobic bullying: teasing about sexual orientation or identification

· Heterosexual harassment: brushing up against someone inappropriately and pulling clothing inappropriately

CYBERBULLYING

Another way people bully is by cyberbullying.

CYBERBULLYING is bullying through the use of technology or electronic devices such as telephones, cell phones, computers, and the Internet. It includes, but is not limited to, email, instant messages, text messages, and social media postings.

· Sending cruel or threatening messages or emails

· Posting embarrassing photos or comments

· Posting insults on someone’s social media

· Making up a fake account on social media to ridicule someone

· Spreading rumors about someone online

· Recording someone secretly and sharing it on social media

· Harassing other players in online video games

· Creating a site or page to make fun of someone

BE SAFE ONLINE

· Don’t share passwords or PINS

· Don’t erase mean messages.

· Don’t post personal information online

· Don’t join in. Log-off or hang up!

· Tell a trusted adult.

FOR STUDENTS

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES IF YOU ARE BEING BULLIED

· Tell a trusted adult

· Walk away

· Ignore the bully

· Stay close to other people. Connection is protection

· Say something. Try saying “That’s mean.” Or even “So.” Find something to say to the bully that you are comfortable saying and walk away.

· Make a report at -

(757) 628-1171

The NPS Safe Schools Anti-Bullying Hotline is a safe way to report concerns about bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Reports are routed directly to your school principal and investigated. Someone is available to respond to your hotline call Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

SUGGESTED STRATEGIES FOR STUDENTS WHO WITNESS BULLYING

· Refuse to join in the teasing, joking, or spreading rumors

· Say something. Say, “That wasn’t cool,” or “That was mean,” and walk away with the person who is being bullied.

· Be a friend. Reach out in friendship to a kid who is being bullied, and other kids who are alone. Stand with them. Connection is protection.

· Report it to (757) 628-1171.

Over 50% of the time when students take action to stop the bullying or show they’re against it, the bullying stops within 10 seconds.

Source: Society for Safe and Caring Schools and Communities

FOR PARENTS

Suggested strategies to prevent, and offer support whether your child is bullied or not:

· Talk about what bullying is and how to stand up to it safely. Know who your kids friends are, what they are doing on the internet, and what they are listening to and viewing. Keep the lines of communication open!

· Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.

· Teach your child confident body language, how to breathe when they face fear or anxiety, and positive self-talk. Equip your children with ways to encourage themselves, boost self-confidence, and handle stressful, difficult situations.

· Be consistent about rules and discipline. Establish rules and set consequences.

· Be empathetic. Show compassion.

· Partner with your school. Know your child’s school and division policies and rules on bullying. Establish relationships with your child’s teacher, principal, and other staff. Attend school functions.

· Be aware that bullying can also occur outside of school; for example, sports teams, music, and other activities. Accompany your child to organized events.

· Seek professional help. At times, if your child has been targeted by bullying, you may want to talk to a professional healthcare provider.

· Do not confront the bully. Confronting the bully or his/her parents is not always the best way to solve the problem.

· Report it.

Make a report at

(757) 628-1171

The NPS Safe Schools Anti-Bullying Hotline is a safe way to report concerns about bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Reports are routed directly to your school principal and investigated. Someone is available to respond to your hotline call Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.

FOR SCHOOLS

SUGGESTIONS FOR ALL NPS FACULTY AND STAFF TO PREVENT BULLYING AND SUPPORT STUDENTS AND FAMILIES

· Know what bullying means. Have a clear definition of bullying, and the difference between it and conflict.

· Teach kindness and empathy. Establish your classroom, school, work space a safe space for kids.

· Teach students the difference between tattling and telling.

· Be aware of the susceptibility of vulnerable populations (LGBTQ, physical/learning disabled, isolated, or youth deemed “different”) to bullying.

· Maintain open communication with students. Provide safe and confidential ways for all students to report bullying.

· Acknowledge student and parents reports of bullying, and respond quickly.

· Reinforce Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS). Recognize and encourage positive student behavior.

· Be aware of your professional behavior. The attitudes of teachers and other trusted adults can play a role in encouraging bullying behavior. Be mindful that messaging does not encourage or reward aggressive behavior. Assure that discipline is handed out consistently. Model, kind, appropriate, fair, and mature behavior. A trusted adult is also a role model.

· Support division-wide anti-bullying policy and programming.

· Report it.

Make a report at –

(757) 628-1171

The NPS Safe Schools Anti-Bullying Hotline is a safe way to report concerns about bullying, harassment, and intimidation. Reports are routed directly to your school principal and investigated. Someone is available to respond to your hotline call Monday – Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.