BULLY PREVENTION AND
INTERVENTION
Maple Grove Elementary School
BULLYING STATISTICS



According to the National Association of School
Psychologists, 160,000 students per day stay home
from school because of bullying (Fried & Fried,
2003).
Nine out of ten elementary students have been
bullied by their peers (Stanford University School
of Medicine & Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital,
2007)
Eight year old children who bully are six times
more likely to be convicted of a crime by age
twenty four (Maine Project Against Bullying, 2000)
2
BULLYING PREVENTION AND THE LAW



Bullying is defined for Indiana schools in
House Enrolled Act 1423
Indiana Code 20-33-8-0.2 – “Bullying” means:
Intentional, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures including:
 Verbal or Written communication, or images transmitted
in any manner (including digitally or electronically)
 Physical acts, aggression, or any other behaviors that are
committed by a student or group of students against
another student with the intent to:
 Harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm
the targeted student and to
 Create for the targeted student an objectively hostile
school environment
3
BULLYING IS DEFINED FOR
INDIANA SCHOOLS IN HOUSE ENROLLED ACT 1423
(CONT.)

Indiana Code 20-33-8-0.2 (continued )- an “objectively
hostile learning environment”:
 places the targeted student in reasonable fear or harm
student’s person or property;
 has a detrimental effect on the targeted student’s
physical or mental health;
 has the effect of interfering with the targeted student’s
academic performance; OR
 has the effect of interfering with the targeted student’s
ability to participate in or benefit from the
services, activities, and privileges provided by the
school
DEFINING BULLYING IN SIMPLE TERMS
Real or
perceived
power
imbalance
Unwanted,
aggressive behavior
Repeated or potential
for repeated behavior
5
TYPES OF BULLYING
 Physical
 Verbal
 Social/Relational
 Electronic
or Written Communication
6
PHYSICAL BULLYING
Physical bullying involves hurting a
person’s body or possessions.
Physical bullying includes:
Hitting/kicking/pinching
Spitting
Tripping/pushing
Taking or breaking someone’s things
Making mean or rude hand gestures
7
VERBAL BULLYING
Verbal bullying saying mean
things.
Verbal
bullying includes:
Teasing
Name-calling
Inappropriate sexual comments
Taunting
Threatening to cause harm
8
SOCIAL/RELATIONAL BULLYING
Social bullying, sometimes referred
to as relational bullying, involves
hurting someone’s reputation or
relationships.
Social
bullying includes:
Leaving someone out on purpose
Telling other children not to be friends with
someone
Spreading rumors about someone
Embarrassing someone in public
9
ELECTRONIC OR WRITTEN
COMMUNICATION BULLYING
Electronic or Written Communication Bullying
(including all forms of Cyberbullying) is bullying
that takes place through the use of written
messages or using various forms of electronic
technology.
Examples of Electronic bullying include:
mean text messages or emails,
rumors sent by email or posted on social
networking sites, and
embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake
profiles.
10
WHAT IS NOT BULLYING?

There are many other types of aggressive
behaviors that do not fit the definition of
bullying. This does not mean that they are any
less serious or do not require intervention.
 Peer Conflict, Horseplay, Fighting,
Friendship/Social Skills issues
 Teen Dating Violence
 Hazing
 Gang Violence
 Stalking
11
STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION
•
•
•
•
•
•
Comprehensive school plan and discipline policy to
address reporting incidents of bullying
Appropriate responses/consequences to identified
bullies and targets
Professional development for ALL staff/faculty
Monthly Character Education lessons (teaching
empathy, compassion, respect, kindness) and
School Wide Program on Bullying presented by
police officer
Positive Behavior Supports (PBS), STARS
expectations, and recognizing those students that
are doing the right thing.
Effective classroom management, communicating
behavioral expectations and reviewing them often
with students
12
CENTER GROVE STUDENT
HANDBOOK


Harassing, threatening, bullying, or intimidating another
person. “Harassing” behavior is behavior directed toward
another person without a legitimate purpose after that
person has clearly stated or shown that the behavior is
unwelcome. All threats both verbal and written, will be
considered serious and potentially dangerous. (pg. 12)
Bullying is prohibited when a student is on school grounds,
immediately before or during school hours, immediately
after school hours or at any other time when the school is
being used by a school group; off grounds at a school
activity, function, or event, traveling to or from school or a
school activity, function, or event; or using school property
or equipment provided by the school. (pg.19)
13
MAPLE GROVE DISCIPLINE
APPROACH
Referrals to Student Services Office:
Student Empowerment through teaching
Proactive vs. Punitive approach

Referrals to the Office:
If behavior compromises the safety of others, is
inappropriate, disruptive and repetitious


Alleged Bullying-Harassment Incident
Report
14
MAPLE GROVE DISCIPLINE APPROACH
REPORTING PROTOCOL
Alleged Bullying-Harassment Incident Report is
to be completed by a teacher/staff member who
sees a possible incident of bullying or harassment
occurring or if a student reports to them.
 This report MUST be completed by the end of the
day on the day the incident occurred and turned
into an administrator.

15
MAPLE GROVE DISCIPLINE APPROACH
ALLEGED BULLYING-HARASSMENT INCIDENT
REPORTING PROTOCOL
Consequences if Evidence of Bullying or
Harassment:
 1st Violation: Warning (information will be
documented and depending on the type of
bullying/harassment, the first violation
consequence can be skipped)
 2nd Violation: Office Referral, Letter home,
Parent Contact, Possible School Consequence
 3rd Violation: Office Referral, Letter Home,
Parent Contact, 3-5 days of Out-of-School
Suspension
 4th Violation: Office Referral, Letter Home,
Parent Contact, Expulsion
16