Stop Bullying
November 05, 2007
Report bullying in Spearville at: stopbullying@usd381.org
All emails will be kept confidential when possible. If the
bullying
reported is abusive or an act of violence, legal authorities may
be
contacted for further investigation. School employees are
mandated
reporters and their highest priority is the safety and welfare of
children.
Bullying occurs when a person willfully and repeatedly exercises
power
over another with hostile or malicious intent. There are a wide
range of
physical or verbal behaviors of an aggressive or antisocial
nature
associated with bullying. These behaviors may include insulting,
teasing,
abusing, threatening, humiliating,harassing, and mobbing. Less
direct forms
of bullying may include gossiping,spreading rumors, or
shunning.
Bullies can be classified according to two broad categories,
aggressive
bullies and passive bullies. An aggressive bully is considered a
person who
is belligerent, fearless, coercive, confident, tough, and
impulsive. This
type of bully is someone who typically has a low tolerance for
frustration,
coupled with a stronger than usual tendency toward violence as a
means of
resolving a challenge. A passive bully tends to be associated
with
aggressive bullies, but often takes the less aggressive role. In
groups, the
aggressive bully will instigate the bullying situation while the
passive
bully supports the bully and begins to actively participate
once
the bullying begins.
The purpose or function of bullying appears to be primarily for
the
following reasons:
1. To obtain attention, recognition, prestige or acceptance in a
peer group,
while
maintaining psychological control through fear and intimation over
a victim.
2. To obtain access to an activity (e.g. ball at a game or an item
(e.g.
money)
3. A lack of understanding of social/cultural, psychological, or
physical
differences.
The following has been approved by the Kansas legislature:
Here are the provisions of the anti-bullying legislation:
New Sec. 4 (a) As used in this section:
(1) ³Bullying² means: (A) Any intentional gesture or any
intentional
written, verbal or physical act or threat that is sufficiently
severe,
persistent or pervasive that creates an intimidating, threatening
or abusive
educational environment for a student or staff member that a
reasonable
person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the
effect
of:
i. Harming a student or staff member, whether physically or
mentally;
ii. Damaging a student¹s or staff member¹s property:
iii. Placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm
to the
student or staff member; or
iv. Placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage
to the
student¹s or staff member¹s property; or
(B) any form of intimidation or harassment prohibited by the board
of
education of the school district in policies concerning bullying
adopted
pursuant to this section or subsection (e)of K.S.A. 72-8205, and
amendments
thereto.
(2) ³School vehicle² means any school bus, school van, other
school
vehicle and private vehicle used to transport students or staff
members to
and from school or any school-sponsored activity or event.
(b) The board of education of each school district shall adopt a
policy
to prohibit bullying on school property, in a school vehicle or at
a
school-sponsored activity or event.
(c) The board of education of each school district shall adopt
and
implement a plan to address bullying on school property, in a
school vehicle
or at a school sponsored activity or event. Such a plan shall
include
provisions for the training and education for staff members and
students.
(d) The board of education of each school district may adopt
additional
policies relating to bullying pursuant to subsection (e) of K.S.A.
72-8205,
and amendments thereto.
(e) The requirements of this section shall be implemented by
school
districts on or before January 1, 2008.
New Sec. 5 (a) Upon request of a school district, the state board
shall
assist in the development of a grade appropriate curriculum for
character
development programs which may be offered to students in the
school
district. Nothing in this subsection shall be construed as
requiring the
state board to develop a new curriculum or a new character
development
program.
(b) As used in this section:
(1) ³Character development program² means a program which is
secular in
nature and which stresses character qualities,
(2) ³Character qualities² means positive character qualities
which
include, but is not limited to, honesty, responsibility,
attentiveness,
patience, kindness, respect, self-control, tolerance,
cooperation,
initiative, patriotism and citizenship.
(3) ³State board² means the state board of education.
