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Bullying Policy

At NIS we all have the responsibility to respect the rights of others and use any power or influence we have to help, not hurt, others. We strive to be a school where bullying does NOT happen. A simple rule to remember: Treat others the way you would like to be treated.

NIS DEFINITION OF BULLYING

  • anything which is said or done with the intention of hurting another person (or where it is reasonable for the offender to have known that this would cause hurt)
  • bullying involves an unfair use of power (knowledge; group; physical; authority)
  • bullying behaviors are repeated over time

TYPES OF BULLYING

Verbal Bullying Physical Bullying
  • Taunting and teasing
  • Threats and intimidation
  • Whispering or laughing behind the Victim's back
  • Lying to get the Victim in trouble
  • Name-calling; put-downs
  • Making cruel remarks
  • Kicking, tripping, punching, hitting, pinching, pushing, spitting
  • Stalking the Victim
  • Blocking the Victim's way
  • Taking, hiding, or damaging the Victim's belongings
  • Holding the Victim against his or her will
  • Making threatening or rude gestures; giving mean looks
 Social & Emotional Bullying  Cyber Bullying
  • Spreading rumors and gossip
  • Ignoring or excluding the Victim
  • Daring, bribing, or manipulating the Victim
  • Making fun of the Victim because of the way he or she looks or acts
  • Passing unkind notes; graffiti
  • Encouraging others to dislike the Victim 
  •  Sending hateful or threatening messages
  • Posting insulting, mean, private, or false information or even threats
  • Posting degrading pictures
  • Posting negative internet polls
  • Gossiping through blogs or e-mail
  • Stealing passwords; impersonating the Victim

 

UNFAIR USE OF POWER

  • Knowledge Power Spreading false rumor or gossip; hiding behind the power of anonymity; threatening to use knowledge against someone, etc.)
  • Group Power A pair or group of students act against a single student
  • Physical Power  Bigger/stronger vs. Smaller/weaker
  • Authority Power  The unfair use of authority (formal or informal) to bully. E.g. adult to student, older to younger, student in leadership positi on, etc

 

THE NIS NO BY-STANDER POLICY

 

If you see someone being bullied, you have the responsibility to help
  • You are not expected to put yourself in danger to help - do it safely
  • When others speak up for the Victim, bullying typically stops quickly in the majority of situations. However, as a Bystander you may feel uncomfortable, afraid, or unsure about what you should do. That is why it is important to make a plan for what you will do when you do become a Bystander.

 

Walk away and find the closest adult
  • Even if you stand quietly the Bully sees that as a sign of encouragement as he or she loves an audience. An adult can assist with stopping the Bully.

 

Be a friend to the Victim. Ask him or her to come with you
  • By simply saying, “Jane, come on. It is time for us to go to class” you will give the Victim a way out that lets the Bully know that the Victim is not alone.

Speak up on behalf of the Victim
  • A simple statement like, “Cool it. This isn’t going to solve anything” lets the Bully know the victim has support. Walk away and find the closest adult.
 

20 WAYS TO STOP THE BULLY

  • Avoid the Bully.
  • Ignore the Bully.
  • Be assertive but not aggressive. Look and act confident by using a firm voice to tell the bully to “Stop it”.
  • Practice. Work with your friends or adults to role-play how you can best handle Bully confrontations.
  • Don’t give out personal information, and don’t send pictures or messages that you don’t want posted on the Internet.
  • Hang out with friends who will stand up for you.
  • Use “I “messages like “I don't like it when you…”
  • Believe in yourself.
  • Distract the Bully by changing the subject.
  • Remain calm. Don’t lose your temper. Self-control gives you power.
  • Agree with the Bully. Use a “so what” attitude.
  • Don’t bully back.
  • Block the Bully from your e-mail or social networking sites.
  • Tell a friend or a caring adult. Often a Bully will stop once adults get involved.
  • Reflect on why the Bully targeted you. Are there things that you feel you can or should do differently that would keep you from being the target?
  • Avoid dangerous places where there are few adults around.
  • Leave expensive stuff at home
  • Be alert. Think quickly. Decide how you can get out of the situation safely.
  • Do something the Bully doesn’t expect like laughing loudly or yelling.
  • If the Bully makes a serious threat, ask an adult to contact police.