Bullying

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 • Zero-Tolerance on Violence-these policies are harassment that adversely affects a student’s education or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment problematic for schools due to no universal agreement on the definition have opposed bill due to inhibiting the free speech and not significant enough to make changes Planning Standards, Violence Prevention • Anti-Bullying Act passed in different states, some states • State of Florida specifics: implementing Emergency 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 • • • • • •