National Bullying Prevention Month

National Bullying Prevention Month
Posted on 10/01/2023
This is the image for the news article titled National Bullying Prevention MonthNo student should be subjected to bullying or harassment that interferes with their ability to learn. No student should be subjected to safety problems that can result from bullying and harassment.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and BISD counselors and police officers are using this opportunity to educate students on how to identify, deal with and report bullying. School safety is a priority and we take complaints of bullying very seriously.

How do you report bullying?Report Bullying
Click the “Keep BISD Safe” link at the top of any page on the BISD website. Select “Report Bullying” then select the campus and complete the form.

 

How is bullying defined?
Bullying is defined as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:

  • 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 damage to the student's property;
  • is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student;
  • materially or substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or
  • infringes on the rights of the victim at school

What is cyberbullying? 
The definition of bullying includes cyberbullying. This applies to:

  • bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school-related activity on or off school property;
  • bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school-related activity; and
  • cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school-sponsored or school-related event, if the conduct interferes with a student's educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the operations of school, classroom, or school-related activity.

What does board policy say about bullying?

Here are board policies that relate to bullying:

What should you do if you witness bullying?

Someone who witnesses bullying, either in person or online, is a bystander. An upstander is someone who takes action when they witness bullying. Even one person’s support can make a big difference for someone who is being bullied. There are many things that bystanders to bullying can do to become upstanders:

  • Question the bullying behavior. Simple things like changing the subject or questioning the behavior can shift the focus.
  • Use humor to say something funny and redirect the conversation.
  • There is strength in numbers - bystanders can intervene as a group to show there are several people who don’t agree with the bullying.
  • Walk with the person who is the target of bullying to help diffuse potential bullying interactions.
  • Reach out privately to check in with the person who was bullied to let them know you do not agree with it and that you care.
  • Report bullying behavior so that it can be addressed by adults.

Let's unite against bullying. Make a commitment to:

  • support others who have been hurt or harmed
  • treat others with kindness
  • be more accepting of people's differences
  • help include those who are left out

Together we can create a world without bullying!

Speak Up to Stop Bullying

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