Student Handbook
2007-2008
Bullying Prevention Guidelines
1. STATEMENT OF PHILOSOPHY
Texhoma School is committed to creating a safe, healthy, learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and encourages respect, dignity and equality among students. Texhoma School is committed to crating and maintaining a learning environment that is free from bullying and harassment.
2. DEFINITIONS of BULLYING
-Bullying is aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing
-Bullying can be physical, verbal, emotional or sexual
-Bullying is carried out repeatedly over time
-Bullying occurs within an interpersonal relationship characterized by an imbalance of power
Sexual Harassment
-Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination based on sex. Discrimination based on sex means treating someone differently because she or he is female or male. Sexual harassment is illegal and is prohibited by Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
-Sexual harassment is unwanted and unwelcome sexual behavior
-Sexual harassment can be physical, verbal, include gestures or displays
-Sexual harassment can happen once, several times or on a daily basis
-Sexual harassment interferes with he victim's academic or social life.
3. BULLYING ON CAMPUS CAN HAVE LONG-LASTING RESULTS FOR MANY STUDENTS.
These acts cause feelings of anxiety, fear, and shame in the students who are targets. They can interfere with concentration, inhibit full participation in class and interrupt academic & social learning. Witnesses and bystanders also experience similar feelings as they know they could be the bully's next target. Bullying can trigger tragically violent responses in some students with other risk factors as have been seen in schools across the nation. Bullying can be the early warning sign for further anti-social, aggressive and increasingly violent behavior.
4. EXAMPLES OF PROHIBITED BEHAVIOR:
Bullying: Name calling, racial slurs, pushing, crowding, or concerning, hitting, pinching, making fun of a person's body, telling mean jokes about someone, threatening to hurt someone, shooting the finger at someone, hitting someone, taking things without permission. Sexual Harassment: Touching someone in ways that are not ok with her/him, making fun of someone's private body parts, passing a note that says sexual things about someone's body, continuing to tell dirty jokes around someone after she/he has asked the person to stop, making slurs about someone's sexual orientation, pressuring someone for sexual touches.
5. BULLYING & SEXUAL HARASSMENT WILL NOT BE TOLERATED ANYWHERE AT TEXHOMA SCHOOL.
This includes school facilities, premises, and non- school property if the student is at any school-sponsored, school- approved or school-related activity, event or function (ie field trips or competitive athletic events) where students are under the supervision of staff.
6. SPEAK UP WHEN POSSIBLE
If possible the target should tell the bully/harasser to stop. To the extent that a person feels safe and comfortable doing so a target is first encouraged to confront the bully/harasser, telling them to stop because their actions are unwelcome. Bystanders are also encouraged to speak up when possible, telling the bully or harasser to stop the conduct because it is disrespectful, unwelcome, hurtful, unfair, etc.
7. REPORTING
Reporting bullying and sexual harassment to school staff is encouraged. Anyone may report bullying & harassment. They may report it to any school staff member. (Schools should have specific protocol that indicate the proper "chain of command" for reporting procedures). The staff is expected to act on all reports and to pass the report on to the school administrator.
8. TATTLING VS REPORTING
Texhoma School defines tattling as telling an adult about another student's actions with the sole purpose of getting that student in trouble. Texhoma School defines reporting as telling an adult about another student's actions with the purpose of getting help with a difficult situation, e.g., one that is threatening or hurtful.
9. CONFIDENTIALITY
Texhoma School staff will strive to maintain confidentiality of any student target or bystander who reports bullying or sexual harassment. The school staff will also respect the confidentiality of the student accused of bullying or sexual harassment. Any disclosure or reported information, including the identity of a student, will be made only to individuals involved in the school's response to the incident.
10. NO RETALIATION
Texhoma School will not tolerate retaliation for reporting bullying or sexual harassment. School staff will discipline any student who retaliates against anyone who reports an incident, or against any person who testifies, or assists in an investigation. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment, whether physical or verbal.
11. STUDENT ACCOUNTABILITY
Texhoma School expects students to demonstrate respectful behavior throughout campus, on the bus, and at all school-sponsored events. Students whose behavior is found to be in violation of this policy will be in violation of this policy will be subject to appropriate sanctions.
12. STAFF ACCOUNTABILITY
All school staff are expected to model respectful interaction with all students and staff, at all times. Staff are expected to respond to bullying & sexual harassment incidents immediately, and in a manner consistent with school policy. Training will be provided on an annual basis to provide education and to enhance staff skills for responding effectively to bullying & sexual harassment. Staff who witness an incident among students are expected to intervene by:
Responding immediately
Establishing the safety of the target
Educating both students by identifying the unacceptable behavior and explaining its harmful impact on the target & other students.
Setting a logical, reasonable and educational consequence for the bully or harasser which promotes the safety of the target. Targets will not receive consequences.
Recommendations for Parents
The following suggestions are for parents of children who are victims of bullying. If you have followed these recommendations and still have questions, need additional information or support, please contact the Oklahoma Parents Center, Inc. (405-610-0500) or the Oklahoma Disability Law Center, Inc. (405 525-7755).
1. Listen carefully to your child.
2. Ask questions and investigate.
3. Determine whether this is bully/victim conflict or normal peer conflict. Remember, "Bullying happens when someone with more power unfairly hurts someone with less power over & over again. Power may be physical strength, social skills, verbal ability or another resource." (Hazeldon's "No-Bullying" Program, 1999).
4. Carefully document your steps, noting the names of individuals you speak with, and the outcomes of those conversations.
5. If you determine that this is a bully/victim conflict, it is important that there is adult intervention. Contact your child's teacher and principal to determine who is responsible for which should indicate the system for reporting an incident. If you do not find a workable solution, you will need to follow the steps indicated in the policy, and follow the appropriate "chain of command."
6. As a separate measure, if you determine that your school does not have the above mentioned policy, you have the right to bring this to the attention of the school board. In addition, if, as a parent, you are dissatisfied with a particular school policy, you have the right to bring this to the attention of the school board. Keep in mind that discussions about school policies should take place in a general context, which do not specifically address particular incidents that you child might have.