Bullying
Presented by:
Tracy Ambuehl
Shelley Williams
Legal/Ethical-2004
What is Bullying?
• Characterized by the following
- aggressive behavior or intentional “harm
doing”
- carried out repeatedly and over time;
- occurs within an interpersonal relationship
by imbalance of power
Ways to Bully
• Physical
hitting, kicking, pushing, choking
• Verbal
name calling, threatening, taunting,
malicious teasing, spreading nasty rumors
• Some others
Making faces, obscene gestures, or
intentional exclusion from a group
Consequences of Bullying
• Bullying may lead to physical,
emotional, or mental injury
• Severe cases may lead to death and
lawsuits
Court Cases
Wagner vs. Fayetteville School District,1998
• Arkansas
• Carol Wagner complained for two years about
constant harassment of gay son, Willi
• She filed suit following severe beating of her son
• Title IX-Outcome-school district held sexual
harassment workshops for teachers and
students
Court Case
Haugstad vs. Standwood-Camano School
District, 1999
• Washington
• Taya Haugstad, (cerebral palsy) was
constantly harassed a male student
• calling retarded, stupid and ramming her
wheelchair into the wall
• Outcome-District order to pay $310,000
Court Case
Anchorage School District vs. Tom
2000
• an awkward student and his awkwardness
invited the bullying
• Under the zero-tolerance policy Tom
received ISSP following an incident and
attempted suicide the next day
• Parents filed suit for $33 million for
lifetime care due to his vegetative state
• Outcome-district paid $1million, district
insurance company paid $3.5 million
Court Case
High vs. Pasco School District
2000
• Jared has a diagnosis of major depression
• He attempts suicide due to being bullied
on many occasions, vegetative state
• Family sues the School District, school did
not do enough
• Family request $33 million for lifetime care
of their son
Court Case
“Too Close To Home”
• Jacksonville, February 2004
• Bus Beating captured on video tape
• 7 students charged misdemeanor battery
• Victim’s mother in process of suing Duval
County and First Student
• Results are pending
Policies and Procedures
to Promote Safer Schools
• Title IX Amendment-severe, persistent or pervasive
harassment that adversely affects a student’s education
or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment
• Zero-Tolerance on Violence-these policies are
problematic for schools due to no universal agreement
on the definition
• Anti-Bullying Act passed in different states, some states
have opposed bill due to inhibiting the free speech and
not significant enough to make changes
• State of Florida specifics: implementing Emergency
Planning Standards, Violence Prevention
Advocates for Safer Schools
• As school counselors and other school
officials we must promote policies and
procedures
• We must protect our youth of today from
being victimized
• Challenge yourself and your collaborative
team of faculty to be proactive
• CHALLENGE, CHALLENGE, CHALLENGE
Did you Know…
• According to the National Education Association
every hour of every day 2,000 students are
physically attacked on school grounds
• One in five students regularly carries a weapon
to school (one carries a gun)
• 160,000 students skip class each day because
they fear physical attacks
• 75% of children attending public schools report
knowledge of occurrence bullying, physical
attack, or robbery, compared to 45% of private
school students.
References
• Associated Press (2001). Schools Contend with Complications of
Zero Tolerance Policy. Minnesota Issue Watch
• Davy, Amiray (2002). Bullying Bill Sparks Debate. The Olmypia
• Florida Department of Education, Emergency Planning Standards for
Florida’s Schools
• Freiberg, Peter 1998. Deterring Harassment, Washington Blade p.1
• Hughes, Janice 1998. Title IX Decision, Washington Blade p.1
• Pesznecker, Kati 2002. Advocacy
• Pinkham, P & Garza C.L. (2004). Student’s Mom to Sue in Bus
Attack, The Florida Times-Union
• Skolnik, Sam (2000). Disabled Girl Abused by Bully Wins $310,000
Court Judgement, Seattle PI News Source
• Toomey, Lisa (2004, October). Stop Bullying. Available:
http://www.agpcabinc.org/pages/4/5/index.html