Safe and Supportive Schools Act: Bullying and Cyberbullying Definitions

Safe and Supportive Schools Act: Bullying and Cyberbullying Definitions OBJECTIVES • Define bullying and cyberbullying • Review rates of bullying an...
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Safe and Supportive Schools Act: Bullying and Cyberbullying Definitions

OBJECTIVES • Define bullying and cyberbullying • Review rates of bullying and

cyberbullying in Minnesota schools • Provide an overview of recent research in the field • Provide simple strategies to reduce bullying and cyberbullying

Researcher’s Definition of Bullying “A person is being bullied when she/he is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more persons, and she/he has difficulty defending her/himself.” -Olweus, et.al., 2007

Repetition

Harm

Power Imbalance

Bullying

Safe and Supportive Schools Act Bullying Definition Bullying means intimidating, threatening, abusive or harming conduct that is objectively offensive and: 1) there is an actual or perceived imbalance of power… 2) the conduct is repeated or forms a pattern, or 3) materially and substantially interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or performance or ability to participate…

Defining Bullying: “Harmful Conduct” Intimidating, threatening, abusive or harming conduct are actions and behavior which: • Cause physical harm to a student or a student’s property • Cause reasonable fear of harm • Violate reasonable expectation of privacy • Defame a student • Cause emotional distress

Defining Bullying: Bullying is Not Teasing • Teasing is innocent in motive • Teasing is often mutual banter • It’s a way of fitting in with a friend group • Students involved are often friends Teasing can become bullying or harassment when a student says hurtful or mean things related to attributes out of the student’s control; or if the behavior doesn’t stop when someone gets upset.

Defining Bullying: Bullying is Not Conflict • Conflict is a disagreement between two students • Students share responsibility for the encounter • Equal power between the two students • Both students are upset

Peer mediation strategies are appropriate when there is conflict. Bullying is peer abuse. Peer mediation is not appropriate in bullying situations.

Defining Bullying: “Protected Classes” “This includes conduct targeted at a victim based upon perceived or actual status (with regard to the protected classes).” Safe and Supportive Schools Act

Defining Bullying: Continuum of Behavior •Normal, Respectful Behavior • Teasing or Joking • Conflict • Rude, Mean Behavior • Bullying • Harassment • Violent or Criminal Behavior

Defining Bullying: “Cyberbullying” “Cyberbullying” means bullying using technology or other electronic communication, including but not limited to, a transfer of a sign, signal, writing, image, sound or data, including a post on a social network Internet website or forum, transmitted through a computer, cell phone or other electronic device. Safe and Supportive Schools Act

GROUP ACTIVITY on SOCIAL MEDIA In groups or three or four, make a list of all the devices, programs and apps that youth use.

DISTRICT RESPONSE TO CYBERBULLYING The district policy applies to both bullying and cyberbullying: …Use of electronic technology and communications on or off the school premises to the extent such use substantially and materially disrupts student learning or the school environment. Safe and Supportive Schools Act

BULLYING RESEARCH

FREQUENCY OF BULLYING According to the 2013 Minnesota Student Survey: • 46 percent of students report being bullied or harassed in the past 30 days • Five percent of students report being bullied or harassed daily • Nearly 14 percent of students report experiencing cyberbullying in the past month

REASONS STUDENTS BULLIED OR HARASSED ONCE OR MORE IN PAST MONTH Weight or physical appearance

Race, ethnicity, nationality

Gender Disability

9.1%

7.2%

Sexual orientation Religion

22.5%

7.1% 6.8% 5.6% * Sexual Orientation only asked of grade 9 and 11 students

STUDENT REPORTING OF BULLYING • 64 percent of children who were bullied

did not report it • What reasons might students give for

not reporting? Petrosino, Guckenburg, DeVoe, and Hanson 2010

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE BULLYING • Peer Allies: More than half of bullying situations

(57 percent) stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the student being bullied. Hawkins, Pepler, and Craig, 2001

• Prevention Education: School-based bullying

prevention programs decrease bullying by as much as 25 percent. McCallion and Feder, 2013

HOW TO ADDRESS CYBERBULLYING • Improve school climate, an ongoing task • Increase cyber literacy as a course of study (not a

one-time event) • Discuss social norms on a regular basis • Encourage bystanders to step-up daily • Provide opportunities for youth leadership, like peer mentoring, throughout the year School Climate 2.0: Preventing Cyberbullying and Sexting One Classroom at a Time (2012). Hinduja & Patchin

Discussion • What stood out?

• What you want more information on?

SIMPLE STEPS

When a student reports bullying, be sure to follow-up a day or two later to see how things are going and if they have any questions.

RESOURCES • Minnesota Department of Education School Safety and Technical Assistance Center • Minnesota Office of The Revisor: Safe and Supportive Schools Act • National Center for Educational Statistics • PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center • StopBullying.gov • U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague Letter” on bullying and harassment

[email protected] 651-582-8364

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