1 Teasing and Harassment: A Serious Concern at Autrey Mill Middle School The book, The Bully, the Bullied, and Beyond, by Esther Williams, PhD., was used as a reference for this presentation.

2 Autrey Mill MS definition of teasing and harassment….. Teasing/harassment is any mean or harmful behavior that is done on purpose. Teasing/harassment is any mean or harmful behavior that is done on purpose. Teasing/harassment is behavior that continues even after the instigator is asked to stop. Teasing/harassment is behavior that continues even after the instigator is asked to stop.

3 What are the types of teasing/harassment? Verbal Abuse: teasing, name-calling, mocking, taunting and put-downs Verbal Abuse: teasing, name-calling, mocking, taunting and put-downs Ex. Youre retarded. Emotional Cruelty: Isolation, rejection, ignoring, spreading rumors and manipulating others Emotional Cruelty: Isolation, rejection, ignoring, spreading rumors and manipulating others Ex. Making fun of someones appearance Physical Violence: hitting, tripping, kicking, pushing, slapping, spitting, choking, taking or defacing anothers property, and physical acts that demean and humiliate Physical Violence: hitting, tripping, kicking, pushing, slapping, spitting, choking, taking or defacing anothers property, and physical acts that demean and humiliate Ex. Play fighting, stealing food, slamming lockers

4 Other types of teasing/harassment… Harassment: threats to others, extortion, coercion and ethnic, racial, religious taunting Harassment: threats to others, extortion, coercion and ethnic, racial, religious taunting Ex. Saying youll beat someone up, making fun of personal beliefs Electronic Harassment: Behaviors that occur via the Internet or cell phone Electronic Harassment: Behaviors that occur via the Internet or cell phone Ex. Inappropriate texting or Facebooking Sexual Harassment: This is a specific form of harassment directed toward someones sexual identity or behavior. This type of harassment can be physical, emotional, or verbal. Sexual Harassment: This is a specific form of harassment directed toward someones sexual identity or behavior. This type of harassment can be physical, emotional, or verbal. Ex. Youre gay., inappropriate touching

5 Myths about teasing/harassment Teasing/harassment is just playing. Teasing/harassment is just playing. Certain people deserve it. Certain people deserve it. It is a boy thing. It is a boy thing. Complaining makes you a baby/snitch. Complaining makes you a baby/snitch. Its normal. Its normal. It will go away. It will go away.

6 Statistics about teasing/harassment 30% of students are involved 30% of students are involved More than 160,000 students a day More than 160,000 students a day Males and Females Males and Females Incidents are on the rise Incidents are on the rise

7 What to do if you are being teased/harassed… Ignore it. Ignore it. Be funny. Be funny. Leave. Leave. Stand up for yourself. Stand up for yourself. Get help from friends. Get help from friends. Get help from an adult. Get help from an adult. DO NOT tease/harass back!! DO NOT tease/harass back!!

8 Students who are teased/harassed may experience… Tension Tension Anxiety/stress Anxiety/stress Fear Fear Lowered self-esteem Lowered self-esteem Desire to avoid school Desire to avoid school

9 What to do if you see someone being teased/harassed… Dont encourage the behavior. Dont encourage the behavior. Help the person stand up for himself. Help the person stand up for himself. Make sure the instigator knows what she is doing is not okay or funny. Make sure the instigator knows what she is doing is not okay or funny. Talk with the victim about reporting. Talk with the victim about reporting. Report the problem yourself. Report the problem yourself.

10 Reasons not to tease/harass… It is NEVER okay. It is NEVER okay. How would you feel if someone did it to you? How would you feel if someone did it to you? You do not have the right to hurt others. You do not have the right to hurt others. You wont get in trouble at school. You wont get in trouble at school. People will like you because youre nice, not because you scare them. People will like you because youre nice, not because you scare them. Teasing/harassment is AGAINST THE LAW in Georgia. Teasing/harassment is AGAINST THE LAW in Georgia.

11 How AMMS handles teasing/harassment… 1 st Offense= discussion and possible consequence with teacher 1 st Offense= discussion and possible consequence with teacher 2 nd Offense= counseling referral 2 nd Offense= counseling referral 3 rd Offense and any problems there after= office referral with consequences that go on your permanent record 3 rd Offense and any problems there after= office referral with consequences that go on your permanent record

12 Questions? If you have questions after leaving here today, please see Mrs. Meredith, Ms. Goodgame, or a teacher. If you have questions after leaving here today, please see Mrs. Meredith, Ms. Goodgame, or a teacher. Each of you is now responsible for remembering this material and following the related school rules. Each of you is now responsible for remembering this material and following the related school rules. Reminders can be found in your student agenda and in the Fulton County discipline handbook. Reminders can be found in your student agenda and in the Fulton County discipline handbook.