Bullying / Harassment Program

Bullying is: “the behavior causing both mental or physical harm to the other student(s) and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student(s).”

Know the Difference Between….

Usually friends; often repeated
(same players)		 Usually not friends; typically
not repeated		 Typically not friends;
generally repeated
Balance of power Power relatively equal Unequal power
No intent to harm Intentional harm-doing Intentional harm-doing
Affect is friendly; positive,
mutual		 Affect negative;  aggressive,
tense, hostile affect		 Affect negative; aggressive & differs for victim and aggressor

 

What if you suspect your child is being bullied?
If your child shows any of these signs, this does not necessarily mean that he or she is being bullied, but it is a possibility worth exploring. What should you do? Talk with your child and talk with staff at school to learn more.

  1. Talk with your child. Tell your child that you are concerned and that you’d like to help.
  2. Ask the teacher to talk with other adults who interact with your child at school (such as the music teacher, physical education teacher, or bus driver) to see whether they have observed your child bullying others.
  3. If you are not comfortable talking with your child’s teacher, or if you are not satisfied with the conversation, make an appointment to meet with your child’s school counselor or principal to discuss your concerns.

If you obtain information from your child or from staff at your child’s school that leads you to believe that he or she is being bullied or is bullying others, take quick action.

Bullying Reporting Form

Although we allow for anonymous reporting, the more information you provide, the more effective we will be investigating reports of bullying.

 

Joseph Badger Board Policies

As Per Ohio Legislative House Bill 276, the Ohio State Board of Education ANTI-HARASSMENT, ANTI- INTIMIDATION OR ANTI-BULLYING Model Policy, and this School District’s Board of Education Policy.
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying behavior by any student/school personnel in this school district strictly prohibited, and such conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion from school.
“Harassment, intimidation, or bullying”, in accordance with Ohio law, means any intentional written, verbal, graphic or physical acts including electronically transmitted acts i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA), or wireless hand-held device, either overt or covert, by a student or group of students toward other students/school personnel with the intent to harass, intimidate, injure, threaten, ridicule or humiliate. Such behaviors are prohibited on or immediately adjacent to school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided transportation or at any official school bus stop that a reasonable person under the circumstances should know will have the effect of:
Causing mental or physical harm to the other student/school personnel including placing an individual in reasonable fear of physical harm and/or damaging of students’/personal property; and,
Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student/school personnel.
Anyone who witnesses or suspects that a student or adult is being harassed, intimidated or bullied in any way should report it immediately to the building principal.
Local Policy:
The Joseph Badger Local Board of Education actively endorses equality in employment and in education without regard to sex, color, race, national origin, religion, age or disability in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Board of Education believes that all employees and students are entitled to work and study in an environment that is free from harassment. Therefore, the Board prohibits harassment based upon sex, color, race, national origin, religion, age or disability. Each student has a respective responsibility to maintain an educational environment free from harassment. Harassment under this policy includes, but is not limited to slurs, jokes, intimidation, or persistent abuse of another, whether physically, orally or in writing, which is directed at an individual’s sex, color, race, national origin, religion, age or handicap.