Barrington 220 is dedicated to the social-emotional development
and safety of all children. This includes the prevention
of bullying in our school buildings.
Bullying is not a "harmless
rite of passage". It can have serious effects on individual victims and the general climate of
our schools. Children who are bullied need clear messages of support from adults.
Children who engage in bullying need help taking responsibility for their behavior.
Prevention efforts include social-emotional curricula, staff training, explicit
school-wide behavioral expectations, parent-teacher collaboration, and individual
student support.
While our elementary buildings are healthy, safe environments for children to
learn and grow, bullying behavior can still be present on occasion. Students
are encouraged to seek the assistance of teachers and the building principal
whenever necessary. In addition, we offer this online reporting form to provide
all students with an opportunity to safely report bullying behavior.
BULLYING DEFINITION & KEY TERMS...
Bullying behavior is when one or more students
employ physical, emotional, or verbal abuse to make life miserable for another
student. The abuse can take many forms from simple name calling to physical abuse
to sexual harassment. Bullying behavior is defined by its intensity and duration
and is distinguished by a pattern of repeated physical or psychological intimidation.
The position of victim is characterized
as the object of bullying behavior. Usually, the victim has done nothing deliberate
to invite such negative attention. In extreme instances, a victim can exhibit
bullying behaviors.
Bystander behavior is typified by someone who "stands
by" while bullying is taking place. Bystanders do not actively participate, but
they are rarely neutral. Passive observing reaffirms the bullys power. On the
other hand, bystanders have the greatest potential to turn the situation around.
Cyberbullying is defined as willful and repeated
harm inflicted through the use of computers, cell phones and other electronic
devices. Even though this form of bullying can be anonymous or distant in nature,
it can result in the same level of psychological or emotional damage as traditional
forms of bullying.
AFTER A REPORT IS MADE...
1. The reporting student(s) will be interviewed by the building principal.
2. The offending student(s) will be interviewed and the extent of their involvement
will be determined.
3. Parents will be contacted and the offending student(s) will be assigned a
school consequence consistent with the intensity and duration of the bullying
behavior.
