Dignity For All Students Act DASA BPS Staff Professional Development

Protecting Students from: Bullying Harassment Discrimination

What is bullying? Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behavior by one or more individuals in order to intentionally hurt another person physically or emotionally.

What are the main features? Deliberate – a bully’s intention to hurt someone Repeated – a bully often targets the same victim again and again Power imbalance – a bully chooses victims he or she perceives as vulnerable It is NOT: A disagreement among friends or playful teasing where both people think it is funny. Key components

DASA NYS Law in effect July, 2012 Response to recent tragedies and lawsuits regarding acts of bullying in schools Requires districts and schools to prevent, monitor and address harassment, discrimination and bullying.

No student shall be subjected to bullying, harassment or discrimination based on their actual or perceived: Race Color Weight National Origin Ethnic Group Religion Religious Practice Disability Sexual Orientation Sex Gender Identity Protected classes

What is Harassment? Conduct, verbal threats, intimidation, or abuse that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for their safety.

What is Discrimination? The practice of unfairly treating a person or group of people differently from other people or groups of people.

Types of bullying: Physical- physical aggression and property damage Verbal (written)- includes verbal and written statements, name calling, threats, humiliation Relational- exclusion, withdrawing friendship as a way to hurt someone

Types of bullying: Sexual – unwanted sexual comments or touching (victim determines “unwanted”) Cyber- bullying online/social media

Effects There are serious negative effects for those involved in bullying. Including the victim, the bully, and the bystander.

Effects of being bullied Lower self-esteem Depression and anxiety Absenteeism and lowered school achievement Thoughts of suicide Self-harm Illness

Concerns about children who bully Children who bully are more likely to: Get into fights and be injured in a fight Steal, vandalize school property Drink alcohol, do drugs Be truant, drop out of school Self-report poorer academic performance Perceive a negative climate at school Carry a weapon

____ times as likely to have 3 or more convictions by age 24. Bullies are….. ____ times as likely to have 3 or more convictions by age 24. - Olweus

4 times as likely to have 3 or more convictions by age 24. Bullies are….. 4 times as likely to have 3 or more convictions by age 24. - Olweus

Effects of Bullying on Bystanders Afraid Powerless to change the situation Guilty for not acting Over time, diminished empathy for others

Think of at time when you were a bystander…. How did that make you feel? Were you an Upstander – an upstander is a bystander who stands up for the victim in some way? If so, what factors made is safe and effective for you to be an upstander? If you remained a bystander, what factors made it difficult to be an upstander?

5 Areas of Regulation: Policy (Code of Conduct) Civility, citizenship and character education (student instruction) Designation of a Dignity Act Coordinator (reporting and responding) School employee training Regulation in relation to reporting

Character education and lessons on bullying/harassment At our school….. Code of Conduct Character education and lessons on bullying/harassment Dignity Act Coordinator 1. The school district has addressed information that needs to be in the Code of Conduct and has a link on the BPS homepage for bully prevention and DASA information “Stop Bullying Now!”. On each school’s home page, there is a link for reporting bullying. This information needs to get covered with students (powerpoint provided). 2. Also, the school needs to provide character education and lessons on bullying and harassment. (You may already have some programs in place that can support that, otherwise some lessons are provided). It is also encouraged that educators incorporate the principles embodied by the Dignity Act into core subject areas. 3. The Dignity Act Coordinator is the principal due to reporting and response requirements. All incidents of bullying, harassment and discrimination will be reported to that person. This includes acts witnessed by any person in the building and includes acts that adults commit against students. Students need to be informed of who the Dignity Act Coordinator is and ways that they can report. Three ways to report – Tell DASA Coordinator, tell any adult and that adult tells DASA coordinator (you are responsible to report all incidents to the DASA coordinator) and students can make a report anonymously on the school website.

Report Bullying and Harassment in Room 236 or on the SPHS website Be an Upstander Report Bullying and Harassment in Room 236 or on the SPHS website Develop signs and post around the building to let students know how to report. (Show your own school’s sign and information here)

School Employee Training All school employees must be trained regarding DASA and reporting procedures. Effective supervision must be in place (expect, correct, connect, protect) All school employees are expected to protect students from bullying and harassment from other students and from adults. All adults are responsible to not commit acts of bullying. 1) ALL school employees – maintenance, cafeteria, aides, etc. 2) Bullying happens where there is not effective supervision – need to ensure effective supervision in your building –3) Reference or watch video – YouTube ‘How my son was humiliated and tormented by his teacher aide’.

Questions? What a teacher writes on the blackboard of life can never be erased. Author Unknown