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Bullying Prevention
Grand Erie District School Board is committed to providing a positive and safe working and learning environment, which supports productivity and the personal goals of dignity and self-esteem of every individual, and is free from bullying.
Grand Erie District School Board does not condone bullying, and it will not be accepted on school property, on school buses, or in any other circumstances (i.e.: online), as engaging in bullying will have a negative impact on the school climate.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is typically a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour directed at an individual or individuals that is intended to cause (or should be known to cause) fear and distress and/or harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation. Bullying occurs in a context where there is a real or perceived power imbalance.
Bullying is a dynamic of unhealthy interaction that can take many forms. It can be: physical (e.g.: hitting, pushing, tripping etc.), verbal (e.g.: name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist or homophobic comments), social (e.g. excluding others from a group, spreading gossip or rumours), and or through the use of technology (e.g. cyberbullying, spreading rumours, images or hurtful comments through the use of email, cell phones, text messaging, internet web sites, or other technology).
What Can Parents do?
- Communicate with your child about the problem-find out if they are experiencing or witnessing bullying at school and in the community.
- Communicate with your child’s school. Keep in regular contact with the school and work on solutions together, involving your child as appropriate.
- Help your child with strategies. Teach your child assertiveness skills and problem solving skills. Encourage your child to be a good bystander.
- Encourage your child to seek support from trusted friends and adults, and report incidents that happen at school.
- Build your child’s self-esteem and self-confidence. Provide opportunities for positive socializing, and encourage participation in activities your child enjoys. Help your child to see his/her own strengths. What Can Students Do?
- Make friends who will stand up for you and stand by you.
- Talk to a friend or adult for support.
- Practice responses to bullying at home.
- Practice showing confidence, firm voice, eye contact, stand up tall.
- Stay in the sight of an adult.
- Have a plan for dealing with bullying (e.g. walk away, report, stand up for yourself)
- Be a good bystander-stick up for others who are being bullied.
- Remember that reporting is not tattling. It is the right thing to do to help someone who may be hurt.
- Offer support to students who are targets of bullying, let them know you that you think it is wrong and you do not agree with it.
- Use power in numbers. Sticking with a group provides safety and support. Standing up against bullying together is easier than standing alone.
What Can Schools Do?
- Ongoing education for staff, children and parents about bullying prevention.
- Provide a safe environment through good supervision, clear rules and consequences for bullying behaviour, open communication and problem solving with students, staff and parents.
- Provide a positive and inclusive school climate.
- Work collaboratively with community agencies to promote bullying awareness and intervention.
- Hold Restorative Justice Circle meetings, to repair the harm caused by bullying incidents.
- Provide short term counseling through Student Support Services (e.g. Social Worker, Child and Youth Worker)
How to be An Active Bystander
- Call attention to a situation – "Hey! What’s going on?"
- Offer help – "Is there something I/we can do?"
- Express disapproval – "Stop that!"
- Recruit Allies; Make suggestions for what other bystanders might do – "You go get help and I will stay here."
- Stop negative bystanders – "When you laugh you encourage them."
- Support the target – "Do you want them to stop that?"
- Raise the target’s spirits – "I am sorry this happened or, that they did that."
- Support individuals in non-harmful action – "Could I help you figure this out?"
Ten Tips for Parents to Prevent and Stop Bullying at School:
- Communicate with your child regularly about their school life, relationships, and activities. Get to know their friends and be aware and involved in their online life. Social media has changed the way people engage with one another, and this is an area where serious bullying can occur.
- Be aware of any changes in behaviour in your child. It could signify a relationship problem.
- Build your child’s confidence and sense of self.
- Build your child’s relationship and social skills so that they know how to make and keep friends. Help you child recognize the difference between a healthy and unhealthy relationship. Model healthy relationships at home.
- Teach assertiveness skills and discourage aggressive responses to others. Practice skills at home for challenging social situations. Model assertiveness at home.
- Teach problem solving skills, and ensure your child knows the difference between bullying behaviour and conflict resolution.
- Establish good communication with you child's teacher and school, and don’t be afraid to share concerns openly. The classroom teacher is responsible for establishing and maintaining a positive classroom environment. Involve school administrators in concerns that are serious and ongoing.
- Work collaboratively with the school team and system support staff: the teacher, principal, and other support staff are available to help support your child if and when needed. Every child deserves to feel safe and included at school.
- Encourage your child to report bullying or any harm they experience or witness at school. Identify key people your child can go to if something happens at school. Develop a support plan if your child is feeling unsafe, even when the bullying has stopped.
- Teach your child to be a positive bystander: instead of standing by and watching bullying happen, be someone who is willing to stand up for others, report bullying to adults, and include others in games, activities and conversations. Teach your child to understand that while we do not always like or agree with other people, we can respect them.
Related Policies and Procedures