Bullying

Bullying occurs when one person systematically and chronically inflicts physical injury or psychological distress on another person. It is defined as any unwanted and repeated written, verbal, emotional or sexual aggression or physical behavior, including any offensive, threatening, insulting or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment, cause discomfort or humiliation, or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation. Bullying can also take place online; in those cases, it is called cyberbullying.

Bullying rises to the level of unlawful harassment when a person or group of people systematically and chronically inflicts physical injury or psychological distress on another person or group of people, and the bullying targets a characteristic that is protected by federal civil rights laws, such as sex, race, color, national origin, religion, or disability.

It is defined as any unwanted and repeated written, verbal or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment, cause discomfort or humiliation, or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation.

Yes, bullying can be cyber, physical, social or verbal. Cyberbullying or cyberstalking involves using the internet, cell phones or other digital technologies to bully others. Physical bullying would include actions such as hitting, pushing or spitting. Examples of social bullying are spreading rumors or leaving people out of groups or activities. Verbal bullying would include name-calling, teasing, making threats, or saying insulting things to others.

If your child is being bullied, you might notice any of the following signs:

• Loss of interest in school work.
• Decline in academic performance.
• Sudden fear of going to school, taking the school bus, or participating in after-school activities.
• He/she begins taking a different route to or from school.
• Frequent complaints of headaches, stomach aches, or other physical ailments.
• Decline in social interaction.

Students who are typically the victims in bullying situations often:

• Have physical traits that make them targets, such as being exceptionally tall or overweight.
• Have disabilities or conditions such as ADHD or autism.
• Have difficult social or emotional circumstances, such as being homeless.
• Are of races, ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, or sexual orientations different from those of their bully.

Research shows that 160,000 students each day miss school for fear of being bullied. One in three students say they have been bullied at school. Only one in three victims tells an adult about bullying. Bullying can happen anywhere — on the school bus, at sporting events, at after-school programs, etc.

• Targets of bullying often have academic, health, behavioral and emotional issues.
• Bullies are more likely not to follow rules and disrupt school.
• Bystanders often feel guilt, stress and anxiety if nothing is done to address the bullying situation.

Parents should try to get their children to talk about what is happening in their lives. Ask questions such as:

• What happened?
• Has this happened before?
• Did you tell an adult?
• Did anyone try to help you?

It’s also important that parents remain calm and reassure their child that they are doing the right thing about talking about the bullying incident. Remain calm, explain to your child the difference between “tattling” and “telling” because they need help. Then contact your school administrators to file a report in person or via phone, or online via bullying.polk-fl.net/. Finally, talk to your child about what would help him/her feel safe, and use what you learn to plan next steps.

Reports of bullying can be made online at bullying.polk-fl.net. Principals receive an automatic email notification when online bullying reports are made. Bullying may also be reported by contacting school administrators by phone or in person. If reporting in person, you will complete a bullying and/or harassment form.

School administrators will acknowledge receipt of your bullying report within three school days. A preliminary review of the incident may be conducted to determine if an investigation is needed. If an investigation is needed, it will be completed within 10 school days. Parents of both the bully and his/her target will be notified. Action plans will be developed for both the bully and the victim.

At the school level, options for resolving bullying situations include changing students’ schedules, pairing the targeted student with another child who does not support bullying, referring students to counselors to help them learn effective coping skills, having students check-in/check-out with a trusted adult, creating a “Stay Away” agreement, and providing additional education for students.

Children can play an important role in bullying prevention. Here are some ways parents can help their children stand up against bullying:

• Tell your child to tell the bully to “stop” if he/she feels safe doing so.
• Empathize with your child and reassure him/her that the bully is wrong.
• Encourage your child to help victims of bullying walk away from the bullying situation.
• Encourage your child to support bullying victims by standing next to them.
• Tell your child to go to a trusted adult if he/she feels it would be unsafe to intervene.
• Children should always immediately go to an adult if a weapon is involved in bullying.

Bystanders can be powerful forces in preventing and ending bullying. Research shows that in more than half the incidences, bullying stops within 10 seconds when a bystander chooses to step in and help. Targets of bullying report that bystanders who intervene are more helpful than support from teachers or standing up to the bully alone.

Cyberbullying/cyberstalking includes, but is not limited to, using the internet, interactive and digital technologies or mobile phones to communicate words, images or language directed at specific people for the purposes of doing harm.

Do not respond to online bullies. Instead, save or take screenshots of emails or messages. Delete and block the offender and log off the site where the bullying is taking place. Immediately report the bullying incident to your school officials in person or via phone, or file an online report at bullying.polk-fl.net/. You should also contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Safe Schools Division at 863-534-7309.

Helpful tips for setting up social media accounts for children can be found below.

Create a bullying log.  This is a written account of bullying incidents and should contain the following information:

• The date and time
• What happened
• Who bullied you
• What you did
• Any injuries or damage
• The location
• Bystanders names
• Any actions taken

The bully will deny bullying you. The log is evidence. It doesn’t rely on memory. Other ways to document bullying include:

• Photographing injuries
• Saving damaged items
• Saving the doctors report if medical attention was needed
• Writing the date, time, and whom you/your parents spoke with and what was said about the bullying
• Keeping copies of letters you/your parents wrote about the bullying
• Recording actions you/your parents took because of the bullying

Students, parents, guardians, volunteers and other concerned individuals with knowledge of bullying incidents should report incidents immediately to the district’s bullying prevention social workers. Contact information for the bullying prevention team is listed below.

Teach your children the “three be’s”:

• Be kind, which means cooperating with others and having a positive attitude.
• Be generous, which means giving your best effort and striving for success.
• Be brave, which means acting responsibly, respecting yourself and others, and encouraging others to do better.

• Do not ignore the problem.
• Do not blame the child.
• Do not suggest that the child “fight back.”
• Do not confront other students or their parents/caregivers.