Cracking Down On Bullying
January 4th, 2008 by Joe CiccantiIf a kid gets bullied repeatedly, the emotional scars can last a long time. It’s not just pushing another kid around or punching a kid in the face. You’ve probably heard about the school districts formulating an anti-bullying policy. But some may be confused on what bullying actually is and may also disagree.
This is an actual excerpt taken from the Indian River School District’s School Bully Prevention Policy, which provides their definition of bullying:
 ”As used in this policy, bullying means any intentional written, electronic, verbal or physical act or actions against a student, school volunteer or school employee that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:
A. Placing a student, school volunteer or school employee in reasonable fear of substantial harm to his or her emotional or physical well-being, or substantial damage to his or her property; or
B. Creating a hostile, threatening, humiliating or abusive educational environment due to the pervasiveness or persistence of actions, or due to a power differential between the bully and the target; or
c. Interfering with a student having a safe school environment necessary to facilitate educational performance, opportunities or benefits; or
D. Perpetuating bullying by inciting, soliciting or coercing an individual or group to demean, dehumanize, embarrass or cause emotional, psychological or physical harm to another student, school volunteer or school employee.
Explanation: Bullying is usually defined as involving repeated acts of aggression that aim to dominate another person by causing pain, fear or embarrassment. However, one act alone may constitute bullying if the requisite intent and effect set forth in the definition are met. Bullying may be perpetuated by an individual or a group. It may be direct or indirect.
Physical Bullying–pushing, shoving, kicking, destroying of property, tripping, punching, tearing clothes, pushing books from someone’s hands, shooting/throwing objects at someone, gesturing etc…
Verbal Bullying–Name calling, insulting, making offensive comments, using offensive language, mimicking, imitating, teasing, laughing at someone’s mistakes, using unwelcome nicknames, threatening.
Relational Bullying–Isolation of an individual from his or her peer group, spreading rumors.
Cyber-bullying–Bullying by using information and communication technologies. Cyber-bullying may include but is not limited to:
 1. Denigration: spreading information or pictures to embarrass,
 2. Flaming: heated unequal argument online that includes making rude, insulting or vulgar remarks,
 3. Exclusion: isolating an individual from his or her peer group,
 4. Impersonation: Using someone else’s screen name and pretending to be them.
 5. Outing or Trickery: forwarding information or pictures meant to be private.
Sexual Bullying: Unwanted touching of a sexual nature, unwanted talking about private parts, unwanted comments about target’s sexuality or sexual activities.
So there it is. Bullying covers a broad range of things–imitating, laughing at someone’s mistakes, name calling etc… The consequences, they say, range from gathering the kids together to have a talk with them, which would include warnings, and then if the behavior keeps up, it could lead to their privileges taken away, in or out of school suspension, and even expulsion. Do you agree with these definitions of bullying? Are you glad state officials and school officials are finally cracking down on this behavior?
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January 5th, 2008 at 10:21 am
I really applaud the Indian River School District for addressing the bullying problem.
And yes, Joe, having been an educator myself in the nineties, and a parent as well, I agree with this comprehensive definition of bullying. I also agree with their attempts to crack down on the perpetrators.
I have been at odds with the IRSD in the past on their school prayer policies, and still am, nevertheless, I commend them on this effort against bullies.
I also commend them for the outstanding academic performance of many of the schools in their district. My Cape Henlopen School District has some lessons to learn about leadership and morale building from our neighbors in the IRSD.
January 6th, 2008 at 7:38 am
The “outstanding academic performance of many of the schools in their (IRSD) district” may be due to their policies on school prayer. God can and does make a difference.
Jesus tells us “the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Likewise, the Constitution was made for man, not man for the Constitution. Despite the interpretations of the courts, God is still supreme over all. When He is pushed out, the bullies move in, and not just in the schools.
January 6th, 2008 at 11:53 am
John B, I doubt that you will agree or even understand this: “God is still supreme over all.” This pontification (You did not even say: “In my opinion…) of yours defines you as the “bully” in an intellectual sense. And then, think of all the violence that religions have historically promoted, and still do!
That said, I don’t doubt that you are a fine, upstanding gentleman who happens to have chosen Christianity as your belief system. I fully respect your choice, nevertheless, I have not made a similar choice. Do you respect my choice, John B? Your problem, if I may say so, is to make the assumption that yours is the only TRUE choice.
This is why a prayer to God in Jesus’ name is not an appropriate choice when there are Jewish people (or any others not Christian) in attendance. In fact, I think that prayer to be rather rude, to say the least. Moreover, one can reasonably argue that the Constitution does not permit it either, based on the Constitutionally derived principle of the separation of church and state. Please note: I am not suggesting that we argue this last point.
Silent prayer in school board meetings and by students and teachers on school grounds can occur at any time. Why is the practice of silent prayer not sufficient for your communication with your God? I truly do not understand, except to suggest that some of you Christian folks wish to promote your religion anywhere and whenever you are so moved.
I suggest that you folks consider your objection to Madrases and Sharia Laws the next time you insist on your freedom to proselytize your religious beliefs anytime/anyplace. What is it that distinguishes your wishes from theirs???
My friend, moderation is a blessing, in my opinion.
January 6th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
This policy is full of holes and subject to the whims of the people deciding what is what.
Another misguided attempt to legislate what is borish behavior.
January 6th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
“Please note: I am not suggesting that we argue this last point.”
so we are to simply accept your premises and argue from there? Alright, God is real and wants all his creations to honor him at all times, especially in government and schools. Please note: I am not suggesting we argue this last point.
ok, NOW lets talk about this…..
January 6th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Succinct and to the point, Pete. Would that we all could just treat each other as we like to be treated but “it ain’t gonna happen”, legislated or not and you’re right…just what we need, more rules which, for many, is reason enough just to be what we don’t want or need.
January 6th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Pete, I agree with your comment!
Commonsense, where did I state that you must “simply accept [my] premises and argue from there”?
I suggest you change your handle to “Curmudgeon”!
January 7th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
Your argument relies on the “fact” that the Constitution does not permit the prayer, but you close the door on arguing whether or not it’s TRUE that the Constitution prohibits it.
January 8th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
I am amused, Perry, by your apparent ability to judge those you don’t know. You rate me as a “fine, upstanding gentleman,” and, apparently, God as a zero.
Your words are either condescending rhetoric or, as a former News Journal journalist once described it: “A familiar barnyard epithet synonymous with untruth.” I prefer the latter.
I made no judgment against you yet you condemn me as a bully by telling me what my problem is; that of not accepting the validity of your choice. I never said or implied any such thing. All choices are valid but not all are correct. People do make wrong choices in their lives but it seems that you are not one of them. If anyone is a bully, here, it is you!
I’m glad my daughters graduated from Cape before you brought your “expertise” to the school.
January 8th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
John B: I said: “John B, I doubt that you will agree or even understand this: ….”
I was correct, you did not understand.
Then you go on to mischaracterize what I said. I did not rate “God as a zero” for you, because as I said, “I fully respect your choice, ….” Isn’t that what I said? You apparently do not choose to believe that what I said was a sincere statement, which it was. How do I know? Because I made the statement, and it was indeed sincere.
I attempted to dialogue with you, but you demurred. Instead, you choose to make a nasty statement, like: “I’m glad my daughters graduated from Cape before you brought your “expertise†to the school.” You don’t know me at all!
Here is another one: ““A familiar barnyard epithet synonymous with untruth.— Kindly point out the untruth you accuse me of uttering, John B.
By the way, I did not teach at Cape, so your assumption is incorrect! I taught in VA in the Fairfax County Public School system.
I am tempted to retract my compliment about your being a “fine, upstanding gentleman”. But that would be stupid on my part, because two nasty statements in anger does not make a nasty man. In this blogging arena, none of us can portray ourselves in full 3-D, neither you nor I.
Anyway, getting back to my attempt to dialogue with you, here are the points that you ignored:
1. Did you make the assumption that your religious choice is the only true choice? It sounded like it when you said unequivocally: “Despite the interpretations of the courts, God is still supreme over all.” The only justification you have for that statement is your Bible. Just as you choose to believe that, I choose not to. I respect your choice John B, so I ask you again, do you respect mine?
2. I asked: Why is the practice of silent prayer not sufficient for your communication with your God? You chose not to respond.
3. Finally, I brought up the Madrasses and Sharia Law, asking: “What is it that distinguishes your wishes from theirs [Muslims']???” You chose not to respond.
The ball is in your court again, John B!