Young people have a right to be educated in an environment free from fear and intimidation, whatever their appearance, gender, ethnic background, religion, sexual orientation, health, ability or social background.
At PLS/NU Middle and High School, we are building a caring community that supports individual diversity and encourages each student to take actions that will make our school a better place, and in so doing, make each individual a better person.
Tips and Strategies for Bullying & Harassment Prevention
The words "bullying", "harassment" and "abuse" tend to be used in different circumstances, but they all describe very similar behaviors. Some examples include:
Deliberate isolation from the class group, often accompanied by name-calling and vicious rumors.
Notes, emailing, and instant messenger with negative &/or false comments about a student.
False accusations deliberately spread to discredit someone.
Intimidation involving a dirty trick, taking one’s possessions, coercion, destroying property, or a physical threat.
Sexual harassment involving comments or actions of a sexual nature that are unwelcome and make the recipient uncomfortable.
Racial & cultural (ethnic) harassment involving inappropriate comments or actions.
A person is bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more persons.
Victims
Anyone can be bullied or harassed. It is important to remember that it is not the person’s fault. No person "deserves" to be a target.
Do something about it: talk to someone your trust, be persistent, write down everything that was said or done to hurt you.
Bystanders:
It is estimated that 85% of school kids are bystanders (they see bullying & harassment happening, but chose to ignore it).
Don’t be a bystander who does nothing when they see bullying or harassment occurring . . .take a stand by saying something.
Support your peers.
Don’t laugh at inappropriate behaviors by others.
Bullies
Some kids who bully repeatedly enjoy the sense of power or the attention that making other kids miserable gives them.
Some kids simply like getting their own way and don’t care what happens to others as a result.
Bullying and harassment are wrong, but that doesn’t mean that the kids who do it are "bad" people. They just have not learned how to interact with others correctly.
You should feel sorry for kids that bully and harass because they are not very happy inside. If their classmates would help every bully to be a better person, they would not need to bully anymore.
Suggestions for Parents:
Model appropriate behaviors.
Appreciate and reward caring behaviors.
Be involved in your children’s lives.
Always know where your child is and with whom they are with.
Use nonphysical methods of discipline.
Monitor your child’s involvement with violence in the media.
Communicate with other parents.
Set up a parent network.
Give positive comments to your child.
Never publicly criticize your child.
Teach your child about bullying/ harassment and the importance of taking a stand against it.
Sit down with you child and review rules of appropriate behavior. Work to enforce those rules.
Each day ask your child how their day was and don’t be satisfied with "OK" as an answer.
References
Bullyproofing your School: A Comprehensive Approach for Middle School
, 2000, Sopris West Pub.
Anti-bullying Website: http://www.antibullying.net/ypleaflet.pdf
Students Supporting Students
to Build a Caring Community
Tips and Strategies for
Bullying & Harassment
Prevention