HIB: HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION, &

BULLYING

Sussex County Technical SchoolAda Guarcello: Anti-Bullying Specialist

Debbie Keiper: Anti-Bullying Coordinator

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional and that involves an

imbalance of power. Most often, it is repeated over time.

WHAT IS BULLYING?

Includes but not limited to: Punching, shoving, and other acts that might

cause physical harm Spreading rumors (including email, text

messaging and Face Book, My Space, Tumblr, Formspring)

Excluding people from a “group” or isolating someone in a classroom or gym class

Teasing in a mean way, name calling, or making gestures and or sounds to belittle a student

Getting other people to “gang” up on another student

Damaging or writing obscene or inappropriate comments on lockers, notebooks etc.

WHO IS INVOLVED?

Bully:AggressorFollower

Bystander:Part of the problemPart of the solution

Victim:Passive

Provocative

BULLY Intends to harm Not remorseful Behavior is repeated over time Lack empathy and compassion Sometimes, popular students

wielding their power Sometimes, those who have been

bullied by others Cyber bullying is often done by

students who are otherwise considered ―good kids

BULLYNEGATIVE IMPACTS

Children who display bullying behavior are far more likely as adults to:Have a criminal recordEngage in drug useCommit hate crimesUse weaponsCommit domestic abuseBullying behavior is also linked with sexual

harassment and physical aggression.

VICTIM Students whose first language is not

English Students with learning disabilities Students from economically

disadvantaged homes Racial and ethnic minorities Students perceived to be gay Students who are obese

EFFECTS OF BEING BULLIED Lower self esteem‐ Depression & anxiety Absenteeism & lowered

school achievement Thoughts of suicide Suicide Illness Poor peer relationships

BYSTANDER

"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.”

--Elie Wiesel

BYSTANDER Do not repeat gossip Do not reinforce the bully Support the victim! Support the victim privately Support the victim in

front of the bully Inform those who are responsible

Spend time with victims Invite victims to get

involved with group activities

Encourage victim efforts and accomplishments

Be a good listener Talk to the bully privately Do not support the bully Ask the bully to stop

HOW SERIOUS IS THE PROBLEM? A 2009 and 2010 study by the US

Departments of Justice and Education reported: 32% of students aged 12 to 18 had been bullied in the

previous year. 25% of the responding public schools indicated that

bullying was a daily or weekly problem More 8 to 15 year olds worry about teasing and

bullying than about drugs, alcohol, AIDS, and pressure to have sex. (Kaiser Family Foundation)

Top years for bullying are from 4th to 8th grade Each month, around 282,000 students are being

victimized by bullying in the US

HOW SERIOUS IS THE PROBLEM HERE?

School climate survey administered to all students 2011-2012 & 2012-2013 Overall results in 2012-2013

THE GOOD NEWS…

A systematic review of 44 school-based bullying prevention programs indicates, that, on average, anti-bullying programs reduce bullying perpetration by 20 – 23%, and victimization by 17 – 20% (Farrington & Ttofi, 2010).

Source: Rutgers SDFSC Project - Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying Prevention and Intervention Strategies

SCHOOL CLIMATE – WORKS FROM THE

A positive school climate helps to foster healthy relationships, thereby reducing conflict and bullying Adult to Adult Student to Adult Student to Student

Adults need to be role models!!! Model mutual respect, professionalism, and

collaboration

DOWN

TOP

WIN/WIN: SCHOOL WIDE APPROACH TO CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Rules: Treat others with respect

No put-downs or blaming Listen with an open mind No interrupting, negative faces, or body language Attack the PROBLEM, not the PERSON Work together toward a fair solution Tell the truth

HOW TO IMPROVE SCHOOL CLIMATE?

Preparation and Planning: Creating the foundation – Curriculum

Identification of data sources and analysis of data – Surveys

Evaluation of activities – End of year Re-evaluation and beginning of new cycle –

Adjusting curriculum

ANTI-BULLYING BILL OF RIGHTS HIB: New Jersey Harassment, Intimidation, & Bullying Law passed by

the legislature for the 2011 – 2012 school year. The law continues to apply for the 2012 – 2013 school year.

Definition:

The law defines harassment, intimidation or bullying as “any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic…. that takes place on school property, at any school –sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds… that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students, and that a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage his property.”

ANTI-BULLYING BILL OF RIGHTS:KEY POINTS

This law significantly strengthened the existing laws The law calls for the school to appoint an anti-bullying specialist:

Ada Guarcello The law calls for the school to appoint an anti-bullying

coordinator: Debra Keiper The law states that there must be training for these positions

and there are very strict timelines to follow; staff must also receive training

The law also covers bullying that takes place on school property, at any school sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds and includes cyber bullying on any social network

Parents of Tech students and the students will have to sign an anti-bullying agreement similar to the social agreement at the beginning of the school year

SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL HIB POLICY

Course of Action: Requires all school employees, volunteers and contracted service providers who have

contact with students report alleged HIB incidents to the Principal or Anti-Bullying Coordinator/Specialist

ABS informs principal on SAME DAY; parents of all parties involved are notified A report shall be provided in writing to the principal within 2 school days Formal investigation conducted by Anti-Bullying Specialist and administrator shall

begin within one school day; allowed 10 school days to complete Results of investigation shall be reported to the superintendent within 2 school days

of the completion of the investigation; shall be reported to the board Parents of pupils who are parties to the investigation shall be provided with

information regarding investigation within 5 school days of being reported to the Board

Nature of investigation, whether the district found evidence of harassment, intimidation, or bullying, or whether consequences were imposed or services provided to address the incident of harassment, intimidation, or bullying

Parent may request hearing before the Board of Education after receiving information

SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL HIB POLICY: IMPORTANT TO KNOW…

Incident must meet very specific criteria to be substantiated as HIB Any (MUST include ALL factors):

Gesture, act, or electronic communication Single incident or series of incidents Motivated by a distinguishing characteristic (real or perceived) On or Off school grounds Substantially disrupts or interferes with the operations of the school and/or the

rights of a student or group of students. AND that (any ONE of these):

Reasonable person would know would cause physical or emotional harm or damage to property (or would cause fear of such)

OR Insults or demeans a person or group of people

OR Creates a hostile environment by interfering with education OR severely

or pervasively causing harm.

SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL HIB POLICY: IMPORTANT TO KNOW… Parents:

Once words “harassment”, “intimidation”, or “bullying” are used, investigation must be initiated

Report must be investigated REGARDLESS; even if report clearly indicates conflict or other non-bullying situation

Expect a phone call if you are a parent/guardian of the “victim” or “bully”

Understand that phone call does NOT mean that the school is accusing your child of being a bully

ABS/ABC/Administration must follow protocol for EVERY report

SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL HIB POLICY: IMPORTANT TO KNOW…

Parents:Do not be discouraged if your HIB report does not

meet HIB criteria!DOE’s definition differs from widely accepted

definition Incident will be addressed, regardlessViolation of code of conductRemedial or disciplinary action given

SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL HIB POLICY

Possible Consequences/Disciplinary Actions ABE Program Deprivation of privileges Classroom or administrative detention Referral to disciplinarian In school /Out-of school suspension Police intervention

SUSSEX COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL HIB POLICY

Remedial Measures Behavioral assessment or evaluation/referral to Child

Study Team Assignment of leadership responsibilities Pupil

counseling/treatment/therapy Parent conferences Alternative placement Essay writing

WHAT WE ARE DOING

10/07/13 – 10/11/13: Week of Respect● Anti-bullying lessons infused in all academic classes● Anti-bullying slogans/posters● Green Dot Persuasive Speech● Green Dot Banner

School Safety Team● Anti-Bullying Specialist, Anti-Bullying Coordinator, administrators, security, maintenance, teachers, parent● Work together to develop and maintain a positiveschool climate ● Review and strengthen policies in order to preventand intervene with HIB of students

WHAT YOU CAN DOParents of Victimized

Students Parents of Bullying Students

LISTEN! Don’t minimize Acknowledge their

feelings & concerns Show appreciation Say you’re sorry it

happened Refer when needed Genuinely care

LISTEN! Acknowledge their

feelings & concerns Don’t judge or blame Don’t be adversarial Share positives about

their child Have facts & clear

policies

REFERENCES Horne, A.M., Orphinas, P. (2009). Family and

school interventions for persistent bullies. University of Georgia. Springer, J. (2011). Bullying prevention. Ceceilyn Miller Institute

for Diversity and Leadership. Riese, J. (2011). Bullying prevention: Top ten most effective

school-based strategies. The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program.

Harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention and intervention strategies for administrators. New Jersey Department of Education. Retrieved from http://www.state.nj.us/education/parents/bully.htm

HELPFUL RESOURCES New Jersey Coalition for Bullying Awareness and Prevention:

http://www.njbullying.org Cyber bullying Research Center: http://www.cyberbullying.us/ Stop Bullying.Gov: http://www.bullyinginfo.org U.S. Department of Justice, Computer Crime & Intellectual Property

Section: http://www.crybercrime.gov Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbian and Gays:

http://community.pflag.org/Page.aspx?pid=194&scrid=-2 New Jersey State police: http://njsp.org/ Fight crime: Invest in Kids: http://www.fightcrime.org/ New Jersey Department of education, Keeping our Kids Safe, Healthy and

in School: http://www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/ http://www.state.nj.us/education/students/safety/behavior/hib/

Garden State Equality: http://www.gardenstateequality.org/