Introduction to
School District Policy
5.002: Prohibiting Bullying and
Harassment
Kim Mazauskas
Rick Lewis
Department of Safe Schools
(561) 982-000
Purpose of this Vodcast
Provide you with information on the
requirements of the:
 “Jeffrey
Johnston “Stand Up For
All Students Act”
 New
School Board Policy 5.002
 Direct you to additional resources
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Requirements of the Law
 Definition
of bullying and
harassment
 Intervention processes and time
frames
 Publication of policy and
requirements for anonymous
reporting systems
 Mandated education for staff
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Definition of Bullying
“Bullying means systematically and
chronically inflicting physical
hurt or psychological distress on
one or more students or
employees.”
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Definition of Bullying,
con’t.
“unwanted
and repeated written,
verbal, or physical behavior, including
any threatening, insulting, or
dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or
a student, that is severe or pervasive
enough to create an intimidating,
hostile, or offensive educational
environment; to cause discomfort or
humiliation; or unreasonably interfere
with the individual’s school
performance or participation.”
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“It may involve, but is not limited to:”

(Unwanted) teasing

Social exclusion


Threat
Sexual, religious, or
racial/ethnic harassment

Public humiliation

Damaging or Destruction of
property
Intimidation

Stalking

Physical violence


Theft

Placing a student in reasonable
fear of harm to his or her
person or property

Cyberbullying

Cyber-stalking
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Characteristics of Bullying
Was the behavior committed
intentionally to inflict harm on the
other?
 Was there an imbalance in the physical,
social, or emotional power between the
students?
 Was the behavior inflicted repeatedly?
Is there a pattern to this behavior or
situation?

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Olweus Clip
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Recognizing Bullying
Physical Aggression
pushing, shoving, hitting, kicking,
defacing property, stealing,
demeaning and humiliating,
locking up, violence against
family/friends, using weapons,
inflicting bodily harm
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Recognizing Bullying
Verbal Aggression
mocking, name calling, taunting,
teasing (clothes, appearance),
verbal threats against property,
possessions, verbal threats of
violence or of inflicting bodily
harm
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Recognizing Bullying
Intimidation
threatening to reveal personal
information, graffiti, publicly
challenging, defacing property or
clothing, taking possessions,
extortion, coercion, threatening
with a weapon
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Recognizing Bullying
Social Alienation
gossiping, embarrassing, rumors,
ethnic slurs, public humiliation,
exclusion, social rejection,
malicious and premeditative
behaviors, rumor mongering,
threatening total isolation
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Cyber-bullying and Cyber-stalking
“Use of electronic communication or
technological devices to include, but
not be limited to, e-mail messages,
instant messaging, text messaging,
cellular telephone communication,
internet blogs, social websites,
internet chat rooms, internet postings,
digital pictures or images, and
defamatory websites to engage in acts
of bullying and harassment.”
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New addition re: cyber-bullying
“The physical location or time
of access of a computerrelated incident cannot be
raised as a defense in any
disciplinary action initiated
under this section.”
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What is Harassment?




Harassment: Threatening, insulting, or
dehumanizing gesture, use of computers, or
written, verbal,or physical conduct directed
against a student or school employee that
causes reasonable fear of
harm to person or property; substantially
interferes with a student’s educational
performance,opportunities, or benefits; or
substantially disrupts the orderly operation
of a school.
Also includes cyber-bullying.
Adult reporting number: (561) 357-5999
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Costs: For Victims








Low self-concept
Depression
Anxiety
Somatic complaints
Social withdrawal, isolation and nonacceptance
Absenteeism
Aggression
Loss of Hope
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Costs: For Aggressors
 Moral
disengagement
 Delinquency
 Early alcohol use
 Drug use
 Sexual harassment
 Correlation with imprisonment
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If you should come across bullying/harassing
behavior:



Never ignore a situation that involves intimidation.
Immediately interrupt the bullying or harassing
comments and/or behavior on the spot!
Model respectful verbal and body language
Make it clear that the behavior is unacceptable and
it violates school and workplace policy
• Name and identify the behavior(s).
• Label the specific behavior you witnessed, and
repeat the specific words you heard and use
them.
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If you should come across bullying/harassing
behavior, take these steps:



Support the victimized student(s) and/or
colleague to regain self-control and save
face. Address the behavior in front of all
the bystanders. Don’t allow the aggressor to
make excuses.
Determine the severity of the incident.
Assess the safety of all the participants.
Determine if this incident has the potential
to continue and/or escalate. Inform
administrators unless you have reason to
believe the incident was truly minor.
Follow up in private with all involved.
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New requirements



Must include this policy in adult and
student handbooks
Must post notices
Must establish anonymous reporting
methods
• Assign a school phone number to be checked
for messages
• Secondary schools: drop boxes?
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Resource Guide

Go on http://safeschools.palmbeach.
k12.fl.us/bullying
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Protecting Students
National School Board Association
“Research indicates that creating a
supportive school climate is the most
important step in preventing harassment.
A school can have policies and procedures,
but those alone will not prevent
harassment. Good preventive and proactive
mindset is what we need to help ensure that
our schools provide a safe and welcomed
environment for all students.”
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