Be the ONE

1. Be the ONE Allen ISD Anti-Bullying Initiative Fall 2011

2. The Overview

3. Definition of Bullying • General Definition in Board Policy and SCC - Bullying is engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:

4. Definition of Bullying, cont. • (1) 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; or (2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.

5. Further Consideration for the Definition of Bullying • Conduct described above is considered bullying if that conduct exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school. Bullying occurs when a student, while at school, intentionally assaults, batters, threatens, harasses, stalks, menaces, intimidates, extorts, humiliates, or taunts another student.

6. Further Consideration for the Definition of Bullying • Bullying also occurs when a student or a group of students organize a campaign of shunning against another student or when a student or group of students maliciously spread rumors about another student. In most circumstances, bullying does not include a mutual fight between students of roughly equal strength who are angry with each other. Such fights are subject to discipline as a violation of school rules prohibiting fighting. If severe enough, a onetime event can be categorized as a bullying behavior.

7. Effects of Bullying • Physical and emotional impact of bullying – anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, low self-esteem, headaches, stomach aches • Truancy - 160,000 children each day missschooldueto fear of an attack or intimidation by other students. • Decrease in academic performance

8. Bullycide Definition: A suicide caused by the effects of bullying.

9. National Bullycide Examples Phoebe Prince – “new girl” bullied by “mean girls” after dating a popular boy. January 2010 (15 year old female) Phoebe Prince Story Megan Meier – a mom created a fake Myspace.com page and led Megan to Believe she was an adolescent boy. October 2006 (13 year old female)

10. Taking a deeper look at… Bullies Victims Bystanders Who is a Bully?

11. The Aggressive Bully • Physical aggression • Impulsive, hot-tempered • Angry, belligerent, quick to use force • Fearless • Motivated by power • Sees hostility when none • More popular to less • Little empathy • Have more family problems than usual • May suffer physical and emotional abuse at home • Create resentment and frustration in peer group

12. The Passive Bully • Insecure • Less popular • Less aggressive • Low self-esteem • Unhappy home lives • Difficulty focusing at school • Violent temper tantrums or outbursts • Tend to hang back and wait for a bullying situation to present itself rather than initiate one • Align themselves with a more aggressive bully

13. The Passive Victim • Does not directly provoke the bully • Appear nervous in new situations • Have fewer friends in comparison to their peers • Easy target • Socially withdrawn • Anxious • Depressed or Sad • Fearful • Poor self-concept • Lonely

14. The Provocative Victim • Behaviors that irritate or annoy other children • Disruptive to the classroom environment • Socially rejected by peers • Restlessness and off-task behavior • Hostile • Low levels of toleration for frustration • Socially anxious • Feel disliked by others • Low self-esteem • May have a disability of some sort • Perform self-destructive behaviors

15. Potential Signs of Victimization • Depression • Suicidal ideation • High levels of anxiety • More actual and perceived health problems • Poor appetite, repeated headaches and stomach aches (esp. in the morning) • Restless sleep • Absenteeism • Run away from home • Enduring mental health problems • Fear • Low self-esteem • Avoidance • Loss of interest in school work

16. The Bystander • The majority of students fall into the category of Bystanders. This group includes everyone (other than the bully and the victim) who is present during the bullying incident. • May be afraid to associate with the victim for fear of either lowering their own status or of retribution from the bully and becoming victims themselves • Fear reporting bullying incidents because they do not want to be called a "snitch," a "tattler," or "informer" • Experience feelings of guilt and helplessness for not standing up to the bully on behalf of their classmate • Be drawn into bullying behavior by group pressure • Feel unsafe, unable to take action, or a loss of control Bystander PSA

17. Examples of Physical Bullying • Biting • Hitting • Kicking • Punching • Scratching • Spitting at/on • Tripping • Hair pulling

18. Example of Social/Emotional Verbal Bullying * Abusive telephone calls * Extorting money or material possessions * Intimidation or threats of violence * Name-Calling * Racist remarks * Spiteful teasing * Sexually suggestive or abusive language * Making cruel remarks * Spreading false/malicious rumors

19. Examples of Social Emotional Non-verbal Bullying * Rude gestures * Ignoring * Excluding * Isolating * Sending hurtful or mean notes * Encouraging other students to dislike someone * Making faces for the purpose of intimidation or control

20. Additional Examples of Bullying Damage to property * Ripping clothes * Damaging books * Destroying property * Taking property * Hiding property * Playing “keep away”

21. Cyberbullying “Using the Internet or other mobile devices to send or post harmful or cruel texts or images to bully others.” (Nancy Willard, Director, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use)

22. Examples of Cyberbullying • Harassing text messages • Creating fake profiles • Spreading rumors or gossip online • "Sexting" • Posting mean or hurtful messages on social networking sites • Forwarding hurtful messages to others

23. Campus Procedures • Campuses and the District have defined procedures in place that will be followed. • Reports will be made by anyone who is made aware of alleged bullying behavior. • Bullying and bystander behavior will be addressed according to policy. Consequences for students other then your child will not be shared due to FERPA Law. • Documentation and reports will be completed - Bullying Incident Report • Training will be provided to staff, students and parents.

24. Your Role as a Parent/Guardian • Attend any training provided by district. • Listen to your child’s concerns. • Ask your child questions. • Assure your child you will work with them to help find a solution. • Encourage your child not to respond with violence. • Encourage your child to ask for help and report incidents of bullying as soon as possible. • Communicate any concerns to school personnel and work together to find a solution.