CHILD PROTECTION/ ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
S.Y.2014-2015
RATIONALE
All children and young people have the right to go about their daily lives without the fear of being threatened, assaulted or harassed. No one should underestimate the impact that bullying can have on a person’s life. It can cause high levels of distress, affecting young people’s well-being, behavior, academic and social development right through into adulthood. At Arakan Secondary Schools, we are committed to provide a caring, friendly and safeenvironment for all of our students so they can learn in a relaxed and secured atmosphere free from oppression and abuses.
Bullying behavior abuses an imbalance of power to repeatedly and intentionally cause emotional or physical harm to another person or group of people. Isolated instances of hurtful behavior, teasing or arguments between individuals would not be seen as bullying” (Tor Faen definition 2008).
Bullying is an anti-social behavior and affects everyone. All types of bullying are unacceptable at our school and will not be tolerated. All students should feel able to tell and when bullying behavior is brought to our attention, prompt and effective action will be taken. We are a TELLING school. This means that anyone ho is aware of any type of bullying that is taking place is expected to tell a member of staff immediately.
Bullying generally takes one of four forms:
* Indirect- being unfriendly, spreading rumours,excluding, tormenting (e.g. Hiding bags or books)
* Physical- pushing, kicking, hitting, punching, slapping or any form of violence
*Verbal - name calling, teasing, threats, sarcasm.
*Cyber - All areas of internet misuse, such as nasty and/or threatening emails, misuse of blogs, gaming websites, internet chat rooms and instant messaging.
OBJECTIVES
* To reinforce within the school community what bullying is, and the factthat it is
Unacceptable.
*Everyone within the school community to be alert on signs and evidences of
bullying and to have a responsibility to report it to staff whether as observer or
victim.
* To ensure that all reported incidents of bullying are followed up appropriately and
that support is given to both victims and perpetrators.
* To seek parental and peer-group support and cooperation at all times.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICIES
The following are offenses under jurisdiction of the school authorities that are subject
for disciplinary actions:
- Blows such as, but not limited to, beating, kicking, hitting, slapping, or lashing, of any
part of a child’s body, with or without the use of an instrument such as, but not limited
to a cane, broom, stick, whip or belt;
- Striking of a child’s face or head, such being declared as a no contact zone”;
- Pulling hair, Shaking, twisting joints, cutting or piercing skin, dragging, pushing or
throwing of a child;
- Forcing a child to perform physically painful or damaging acts such as, but not limited
to, holding a weight or weights for an extended period and kneeling on stones, salt,
pebbles or other objects:
- Deprivation of a child’s physical needs as a form of punishment;
- Deliberate exposure to fire, ice, water, smoke, sunlight, rain, pepper, alcohol, or
forcing the child to swallow substances, dangerous chemicals, and other materials that
can cause discomfort or threaten the child’s health safety and senses of security such
as, but not limited to bleach or insecticides, excrement or urine;
- Tying up a child;
- Confinement, imprisonment or depriving the liberty of a child;
- Verbal abuse or assaults, including intimidations or threats of bodily harm swearing or
cursing ridiculing or denigrating the child;
- Forcing a child to wear a sign, to dress or disrobe, or to put on anything that will
make a child look or feel foolish, which belittles or humiliates the child in front of
others.
- Permanent confiscation of personal property of students, except whensuch pieces of
property pose a danger to the child or to others.
Implementation:
* Family, teachers, students and the community will be aware of the school’s position
on bullying.
* The school will adopt a four-phase approach to bullying.
A.Primary Prevention:
* Professional development for staff relating to bullying, harassment and proven
counter measures.
*Community awareness and input relating to bullying, its characteristics and the school’s
programs and response.
* To provide ideas to students on resilience, life and social skills, assertiveness, conflict on
resolution and problem solving.
* Each classroom teacher to clarify at the start of each year the school policy on bullying.
* Visual reminders about how to deal with problems.
B. Early Intervention:
* Promote children and staff reporting bullying incidents involving themselves or others.
* Classroom teachers and principal on a regular basis reminding students and staff to report
incidents of bullying.
*Family is encouraged to contact school if they become aware of a problem.
* Public recognition and reward for positive behavior and resolution of problems.
* School Council will be informed of a bullying incidents.
C. Intervention:
* Once identified each bully, victim and witnesses will be spoken with, and all incidents or allegations of bullying will be fully investigated and documented.
* Students and staff identified by others as bullies will be informed of allegations.
* Both bullies and victims will be offered counselling and support.
*If student bullying persists family will be contacted and consequences implemented.
* If staff bullying persists the principal will commence formal disciplinary action.
D. Post Intervention:
* Consequences for students will be individually based and may involve:
- Official warnings to cease offending
- Call the attention of parents/ guardian
- Sign an agreement/ contract
_ School suspension
- Advise to transfer to other schools
* Review and remind about how to deal with problems - referring to the visual support.
* Reinforcement of positive behaviors.
* Support Structures.
* Ongoing monitoring of identified bullies.
* Rewards for positive behavior.
* Consequences for staff will be individually based and may involve:
- Counselling
- A period of monitoring
- Disciplinary actions
RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL STAKEHOLDERS
- ADMINISTRATOR AND TEACHERS
* Foster in our Student’s self-esteem, self-respect and respect for others.
* Demonstrate by example the high standards of personal and social behavior we expect from our students.
* Discuss bullying with all classes, so that every student learns about damage it causes to both the child who is bullied and to the bully and the importance of telling a teacher about bullying when it happens.
* Be alert to signs of distress and other possible indications of bullying.
* Listen to children who have been bullied, take what they say seriously and act to support and protect them.
* Report suspected cases of bullying to our designated teacher for child protection/ school administrator.
* Follow-up any complaint by a parent about bullying and report back promptly and fully on the *Deal with observed instances of bullying promptly and effectively, in accordance with agreed procedure.
2. STUDENTS
* Refrain from becoming involved in any kind of bullying, even at the risk of incurring temporary
Unpopularity.
* Intervene to protect the students who are being bullied, unless it is unsafe to do so.
* Report to the teachers any
Witnessed or suspected instances of bullying to drive out any climate of misunderstanding and
help to prevent further instances.
*Anyone who becomes the target of bullies should not to suffer in silence, but have the courage to speak out, to put an end to their own suffering and that of other potential targets.
3. PARENTS
* Watching for signs of distress or unusual behavior in their children, which might be evidence of
bullying.
* Advising their children to report any bullying to ( name of a member of staff/ their class adviser)
and explain the implications of allowing the bullying to continue unchecked; for themselves and
other students.
* Being sympathetic and supportive towards their children, and reassuring them that appropriate
actions will be taken;
* Keep a written record of any reported instances of bullying.
- THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL
* Work together to combat and, hopefully in time, to eradicate bullying.
EVALUATION
This policy will be reviewed with whole staff, students, parents and community input as part of the school’s review cycle.