North Zulch ISD

Texas definitions of bullying and cyberbullying:

Bullying:

Texas Education Code (TEC) §37.0832 identifies bullying as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct and that

  • has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property;

  • is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;

  • materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school, or infringes on the rights of the victim at school.

Cyberbullying:

Cyberbullying is bullying that involves the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet-based communication tool.

Be An Upstander!!! Not A Bystander

Help others who are being bullied or treated unkindly. Be a friend, even if this person is not yet your friend. Go over to them. Let them know how you think they are feeling. Walk with them. Help them to talk to an adult about what just happened. (Just think for a moment about how great this would be if someone did this for you when you were being picked on or hurt!)

Four ways for students to be an UPSTANDER versus a bystander when they see bullying in order to take a positive stand on bullying is...

  1. Be a buddy

  2. Interrupt the bully

  3. Speak out about bullying

  4. Tell someone at school about the bullying.

The following links provide support services to students:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (outside source) (888) 333-2377

Mental Health America (outside source) (800) 969-6642

National Domestic Violence (outside source) Hotline (800) 799-7233, (800) 787-3224 (TTY)

National Runaway Safeline (outside source) (800) 786-2929

National Victim Center (outside source) (202) 467-8700

Trevor Helpline for Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth (outside source) (866) 488-7386

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Child Welfare Information Gateway (outside source)