Bullying Referral & Resources

Bullying: What we can all do

(AR DESE Bullying Prevention Guidance)

Arkansas Code Ann. § 6-18-514 defines bullying as, “the intentional harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that may address an attribute of the other student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated and that causes or creates actual or reasonably foreseeable:

a) physical harm to a public school employee or student or damage to the public school employee’s or student’s property;

b) substantial interference with a student’s education or with a public school employee’s role in education;

c) a hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students or public school employees due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act; or d) substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment.”

What is Bullying?

What is bullying…

Bullying is intentional.
Bullying is initiated by a student and is directed toward:
- Another student; or
- A public school employee.
Bullying involves using harassment, intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence.
Bullying is in the form of a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act.
Bullying may or may not address an attribute of the person being bullied, or a person with whom the bullied person is associated with.
Bullying causes or creates at least one of the following:
- Physical harm to student or public school employee o Damage to student’s or public school employee’s property o Substantial interference with a student’s education
- Substantial interference with a public school employee’s role in education
- Hostile educational environment for one (1) or more students due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act
- Hostile educational environment for one (1) or more public school employees due to the severity, persistence, or pervasiveness of the act
- Substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the public school or educational environment
- Bullying includes cyberbullying.

Cyberbullying is bullying in the form of an electronic act. An electronic act is a communication or image transmitted by using an electronic device such as a telephone, wireless phone or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager. If a communication or image is used to harass, intimidate, humiliate, ridicule, defame, or threaten a student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated; or incite violence to a student, public school employee, or person with whom the other student or public school employee is associated, it is cyberbullying.

Bullying isn't:

single episodes of social rejection or dislike
single episode acts of nastiness or spite
random acts of aggression or intimidation
mutual arguments, disagreements or fights.

Common questions regarding bullying…

Is it bullying if my teacher humiliates me in front of the entire class?

No. Ark. Code Ann. § 6-18-514 defines bullying as an act that is initiated by a student. If you are being intentionally humiliated by your teacher, you should contact your principal or the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Professional Licensure Standards Board (PLSB) to file a complaint.

Are the popular kids the only ones who can bully?

No. There is no stereotype for a bully. A bully can be a popular or unpopular student. You should not be looking for a physical attribute to determine if someone is a bully, instead you should be looking at an individual’s actions and behaviors.

Is it bullying if another student threatens me while I am waiting at my school bus stop?

Yes. Bullying is not allowed in school, on school equipment or property, in school vehicles, on school buses, at designated school bus stops, at school sponsored activities, or at school-sanctioned events.

Is there a difference between conflict and bullying?

Yes. It is normal for two people to disagree with each other at times. When you are in a conflict, even though you might disagree, you are still able to express your own views and not have a fear of being hurt or harmed. When someone bullies, they have a disregard for your feelings and intentionally want to humiliate or intimidate you.

I like to tell jokes, but sometimes I am afraid that I might be labelled as a bully?

Everyone appreciates someone with a good sense of humor. Laughter is contagious and at times can make other people feel better regardless of what they are going through. As in any situation, you should always be respectful of your audience and look for warning signs to see if you should change your behavior in order to create a friendly atmosphere for all students and public school employees.