1. Allen ISD Anti-Bullying Initiative Fall 2011
Be the ONE
Allen ISD Anti-Bullying Initiative
Fall 2011

2. The Overview
Kids have been bullying – isn’t it just part of growing up?

3. Definition of Bullying
General Definition in Board Policy and SCC - Bullying is engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:
Go over definition (from District Regulations)
SCC = Student Code of Conduct

4. Definition of Bullying, cont.
(1) 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 of damage to the student’s property; or (2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.

5. Further Consideration for the Definition of Bullying
Conduct described above is considered bullying if that conduct exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school. Bullying occurs when a student, while at school, intentionally assaults, batters, threatens, harasses, stalks, menaces, intimidates, extorts, humiliates, or taunts another student.

6. Further Consideration for the Definition of Bullying
Bullying also occurs when a student or a group of students organize a campaign of shunning against another student or when a student or group of students maliciously spread rumors about another student. In most circumstances, bullying does not include a mutual fight between students of roughly equal strength who are angry with each other. Such fights are subject to discipline as a violation of school rules prohibiting fighting. If severe enough, a onetime event can be categorized as a bullying behavior.

7. Effects of Bullying
Physical and emotional impact of bullying – anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties, low self-esteem, headaches, stomach aches
Truancy - 160,000 children each day miss school due to fear of an attack or intimidation by other students.
Decrease in academic performance
While campuses are implementing their own anti-bullying program, it was important for us to have 1 program district wide. So…if a child moves from Kerr to Anderson, the way those campuses handle bullying will be the same.
Rest of the bullets refer to the “side effects” of bullying

8. Bullycide Definition: A suicide caused by the effects of bullying.
We all need to watch for children who are struggling due to bullying or cyberbullying
EXAMPLES:
Phoebe Prince moved to the US from Ireland in Fall 2009.
Students report Phoebe was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring.
Her books were routinely knocked out of her hands, items were flung at her, her face was scribbled out of photographs on the school walls, and threatening text messages were sent to her cell phone.
After briefly dating a popular senior football player in her first freshman weeks at the school, Phoebe became the target of the “mean girls” on campus. After loudly being called a “whore” during a school assembly and tormented by peers on her walk home from school, Phoebe walked into her house and hung herself in a stairwell.
The nastiness didn't even end there. Her tormentors posted vicious comments on the dead girl's Facebook memorial page.
Seven of the nine teens indicted were girls charged with a range of crimes, from criminal harassment to stalking to civil rights violations.
Megan Meier committed suicide after Lori Drew, the mom of one of Megan’s former friends, created a fake myspace.com account. She lead Megan to believe that she was “Josh”, a new boy in town, who liked Megan. In the end Ms. Drew messaged Megan posing as Josh stating that, “The world would be better off without you”. Megan’s parent found her that same day hanging in her closet. Megan was 3 weeks away from her 14th birthday.

9. National Bullycide Examples
Phoebe Prince – “new girl” bullied
by “mean girls” after dating a
popular boy.
January 2010 (15 year old female)
Phoebe Prince Story
Megan Meier – a mom created a fake
Myspace.com page and led Megan to
Believe she was an adolescent boy.
October 2006 (13 year old female)
Phoebe Prince moved to the US from Ireland in Fall 2009.
Students report Phoebe was called "Irish slut" and "whore" on Twitter, Craigslist, Facebook and Formspring.
Her books were routinely knocked out of her hands, items were flung at her, her face was scribbled out of photographs on the school walls, and threatening text messages were sent to her cell phone.
After briefly dating a popular senior football player in her first freshman weeks at the school, Phoebe became the target of the “mean girls” on campus. After loudly being called a “whore” during a school assembly and tormented by peers on her walk home from school, Phoebe walked into her house and hung herself in a stairwell.
The nastiness didn't even end there. Her tormentors posted vicious comments on the dead girl's Facebook memorial page.
Seven of the nine teens indicted were girls charged with a range of crimes, from criminal harassment to stalking to civil rights violations.
Megan Meier committed suicide after Lori Drew, the mom of one of Megan’s former friends, created a fake myspace.com account. She lead Megan to believe that she was “Josh”, a new boy in town, who liked Megan. In the end Ms. Drew messaged Megan posing as Josh stating that, “The world would be better off without you”. Megan’s parent found her that same day hanging in her closet. Megan was 3 weeks away from her 14th birthday.

10. Who is a Bully?
Taking a deeper look at…
Bullies
Victims
Bystanders

11. The Aggressive Bully Physical aggression Impulsive, hot-tempered
Angry, belligerent, quick to use force
Fearless
Motivated by power
Sees hostility when none
More popular to less
Little empathy
Have more family problems than usual
May suffer physical and emotional abuse at home
Create resentment and frustration in peer group
****Most Common Type
Photos – “Biff Tannen” from Back to the Future movies and “Bluto” from “Popeye”
Although these are typical profiles of bullies, some of these factors may or may not be a part of a student’s life who displays bullying behavior.
Myth– Bullies have low self-esteem or are loners with few social skills
Fact: Most bullies have average or above-average self-esteem. They "suffer" from
aggressive temperaments, a lack of empathy, and poor parenting. Children who
bully usually do not lack friends. In fact, some research finds that they have larger
friendship networks than other children. Importantly, they usually have at least a
small group of friends who support and encourage their bullying behavior. Bullies
also generally have more leadership skills than victims of bullying or children not
involved in bullying.

12. The Passive Bully Insecure Less popular Less aggressive
Low self-esteem
Unhappy home lives
Difficulty focusing at school
Violent temper tantrums or outbursts
Tend to hang back and wait for a bullying situation to present itself rather than initiate one
Align themselves with a more aggressive bully
“Regina” – Blonde (center) from Mean Girls was the aggressive bully, while the other 2 characters “Karen” and “Gretchen” were passive
“Draco Malfoy” (aggressive bully) from Harry Potter and his passive bully friends

13. The Passive Victim Does not directly provoke the bully
Appear nervous in new situations
Have fewer friends in comparison to their peers
Easy target
Socially withdrawn
Anxious
Depressed or Sad
Fearful
Poor self-concept
Lonely

14. The Provocative Victim
Behaviors that irritate or annoy other children
Disruptive to the classroom environment
Socially rejected by peers
Restlessness and off-task behavior
Hostile
Low levels of toleration for frustration
Socially anxious
Feel disliked by others
Low self-esteem
May have a disability of some sort
Perform self-destructive behaviors
These kids can often be irritating to others. May be okay with being “laughed at” rather than “with” it due to the attention they receive – any attention is better that none… May have poor social skills

15. Potential Signs of Victimization
Depression
Suicidal ideation
High levels of anxiety
More actual and perceived health problems
Poor appetite, repeated headaches and stomach aches (esp. in the morning)
Restless sleep
Absenteeism
Run away from home
Enduring mental health problems
Fear
Low self-esteem
Avoidance
Loss of interest in school work

16. The Bystander
The majority of students fall into the category of Bystanders. This group includes everyone (other than the bully and the victim) who is present during the bullying incident.
May be afraid to associate with the victim for fear of either lowering their own status or of retribution from the bully and becoming victims themselves
Fear reporting bullying incidents because they do not want to be called a "snitch," a "tattler," or "informer"
Experience feelings of guilt and helplessness for not standing up to the bully on behalf of their classmate
Be drawn into bullying behavior by group pressure
Feel unsafe, unable to take action, or a loss of control
Bystander PSA

17. Examples of Physical Bullying
Biting
Hitting
Kicking
Punching
Scratching
Spitting at/on
Tripping
Hair pulling
Physical Bullying is the MOST common form
Activity: Ask group to brainstorm types of Physical Bullying. Then, bring in types one at a time.

18. Example of Social/Emotional Verbal Bullying
* Abusive telephone calls * Extorting money or material possessions * Intimidation or threats of violence * Name-Calling * Racist remarks * Spiteful teasing * Sexually suggestive or abusive language * Making cruel remarks * Spreading false/malicious rumors
Activity: Ask group to brainstorm types of Verbal Bullying. Then, bring in types one at a time.

19. Examples of Social Emotional Non-verbal Bullying
* Rude gestures * Ignoring * Excluding * Isolating * Sending hurtful or mean notes * Encouraging other students to dislike someone * Making faces for the purpose of intimidation or control
Activity: Ask group to brainstorm types of Non-Verbal Bullying. Then, bring in types one at a time.

20. Additional Examples of Bullying
Damage to property * Ripping clothes * Damaging books * Destroying property * Taking property * Hiding property * Playing “keep away”
Activity: Ask group to brainstorm types of Property Damage that can happen. Then, bring in types one at a time.

21. Cyberbullying
“Using the Internet or other mobile devices to send or post harmful or cruel texts or images to bully others.”
(Nancy Willard, Director, Center for Safe and Responsible Internet Use)

22. Examples of Cyberbullying
Harassing text messages
Creating fake profiles
Spreading rumors or gossip online
"Sexting"
Posting mean or hurtful messages on social networking sites
Forwarding hurtful messages to others
Activity: Ask group to brainstorm types of Cyberbullying. Then, bring in types one at a time.

23. Campus Procedures
Campuses and the District have defined procedures in place that will be followed.
Reports will be made by anyone who is made aware of alleged bullying behavior.
Bullying and bystander behavior will be addressed according to policy. Consequences for students other then your child will not be shared due to FERPA Law.
Documentation and reports will be completed - Bullying Incident Report
Training will be provided to staff, students and parents.
If a parent has concerns about their child’s well being, they should contact their child’s House Principal (HS) or Assistant Principal (ES/MS)

24. Your Role as a Parent/Guardian
Attend any training provided by district.
Listen to your child’s concerns.
Ask your child questions.
Assure your child you will work with them to help find a solution.
Encourage your child not to respond with violence.
Encourage your child to ask for help and report incidents of bullying as soon as possible.
Communicate any concerns to school personnel and work together to find a solution.