Anti-Bullying Policy

Reaffirming our ethos in a bullying-free environment
 

Our school is a caring school where bullying, in all its forms, is not tolerated, as it is offensive and harmful. Our school’s motto and mission statement affirm each student’s worth, dignity and vocation. Bullying is the antithesis of these values and prevents students from experiencing a sense of fulfillment in the different aspects of their life.

Our students have the right to receive an education that is free from humiliation, oppression and abuse. Bullying affects not only perpetrators and their victims but it can also damage the classroom atmosphere and the well being of the school and of the home in general.

“All forms of verbal and physical behaviour that is meant to hurt, intimidate or jeopardize the integrity and the dignity of a person, such as name calling, ridiculing, taunting, threatening and use of physical violence are all forms of bullying. Bullying of any kind is strictly forbidden in Schools and the necessary measures to prevent and stop such acts shall be taken by the school immediately.”
(Good behaviour and discipline policy for schools, a national document published by the Ministry of Education, February 2002)

Bullying is physically, mentally or emotionally abusing another person for personal satisfaction, and to feel a sense of empowerment over another person. It can be a direct form of bullying, such as teasing of taunting, or an indirect form, such as spreading rumours. The long-term effects of bullying can result in permanent impairment(s) for the victim.

While our policy recognizes incidents away from the school premises but that are school related (such as school outings and field work), it excludes injury through accident.

When a person is bullied, (s)he is being repeatedly picked upon (not corrected) over a criteria which the victim can do little about.

A student who through negligence or tactlessness upsets or hurts someone else is not necessarily and in most cases is not a bully.
 

Specific behaviour(s) or action(s) can be recognised as bullying if the behaviour or action has certain features, which are:

• it is repeated regularly (sometimes several times a day)

• it is directed at weaker and/ or younger victims

• it is characterized by the bully’s need to dominate others

• it is very often the case that the bully feels confident enough to act in public, but

• depends on the silence of the victim(s)

Discipline actions and bullying are two separate issues.

A disciplinary action is a measure taken in a particular circumstance (not repeatedly) where both the disciplinary board/person are aware of the outcome of the action that is being defined as intolerable.

When disciplinary actions take place rules would have been set prior to the unacceptable behaviour. In a disciplinary environment both the disciplinary board/person and the disciplined are subject to rules.

Furthermore, discipline does not merely imply corrective measures. Praise for reinforcement of positive behaviour is an essential part of discipline. We ensure that it is the action or behaviour that is being judged or criticized rather than the individual. The person who is maintaining discipline must show concern for the individual so that the disciplined may understand that disciplinary measures are acts of involvement and personal concern. Discipline is very important and we hould all do our best to behave according to rules and regulations without incurring unnecessary feelings of harassment on others.

It is often difficult to recognize bullies given that victims are very often scared enough to remain silent.

We can however be vigilant and:

• look out for injury

• look out for damaged property

• look out for abnormal behaviour

• look out for unusually shy, withdrawn or reticent students

• look out for patterns of absence from school, lateness for lessons

• look out for unwillingness to leave or to be near other members of the class

We aim to tackle unintentional bullying as soon as reported if possible, filter the more serious cases from those that can be settled in a matter of short time and prioritise on the ones that demand immediate and full attention. The Form teacher may follow up less serious cases whereas other more serious cases will continue to be overseen by the Anti-Bullying Person.

Bullying can occur between

• students and students,

• students and adults, as well as

• between adults and adults.

If the case arises where a member of staff is implicated in such a case, the responsibility of the designated Anti-Bullying Person is immediately passed on to the Head of School. If it is established that an adult is being accused of bullying, then the Head of School informs, without delay, the Director General (Ministry of Education 2000, Pages 3 & 8).

Students should know how to proceed with reporting possible cases of bullying. It is very important for them as well as their parents to be informed about how and from whom they could seek help if they feel that they are being bullied.

The following procedure has been established as the most suitable:

• Form teacher together with one member of the administration designated as the Anti-Bullying Person (Ministry of Education 2000, Page 3)

• In a case where students are bullying their teacher(s), the one member of the administration designated as the Anti-Bullying Person together with the Head of School will look into the case.

• Guidance teacher will consult with the School Counsellor when the need arises.

• Serious cases will have to be referred to the National Board for School Behaviour.

IMPORTANT: Parental involvement being an ongoing priority for the school, it follows then that they would be informed of the case as soon as and/if the case is authentic and necessitates their intervention. Also, parents’ cooperation is needed where as soon as they learn of a case they inform the school immediately.

The anti-bullying structure is organized in such a way that victims may report their case:

• knowing that a No Blame Approach is used

• knowing that they will not be further exposed to more bullying just because they have exposed who the perpetrators may be.

• knowing that their anonymity will be respected when they report their case if they are feeling embarrassed or threatened.

C.4 To ‘contain’ a reported case of bullying

• improve supervision at the place where bullying was reported to have taken place

• brief members of staff concerned to ensure a better management of the case

• offer immediate advice to parents & agree with them on how best to proceed

• provide guidance for both the victim and the bully

If incidents still continue, the parents are brought in to see the Counsellor . Additional external help may be sought for both bully and victim, through the Counselling Support Department and other related welfare bodies.

Exclusion from school is to be used as a last resort

Conclusion
The grounds of St.Theresa College are easy to supervise and most of the staff and the SMT are available to offer support to students. Needless to say, there will always be cases of bullying but the implementation of this policy will empower us to formalize the procedure while optimizing on the control of bullying.  
 

At ,St.Theresa College bullying is seen as absolutely wrong and under all circumstances it is prohibited.