Bullying:  No Bullying, It's the Law

The Richmond County Board of Education believes that all students can learn better in a safe school environment.  Behavior that infringes on the safety of students will not be tolerated.  Richmond County Schools have policies and procedures in place to protect our students and help prevent bullying. 

 If you suspect that your child is being bullied, please click here to complete the Bullying Reporting Form

The Bullying, Harassment or Intimidation Reporting Form should be used to report alleged incidents of bullying, harassment, or intimidation that occurred during the current school year on school property, at a school-sponsored activity or event off school property, on a school bus, on the way to and/or from school, or through personal mobile device on or off school property. School staff will address incidents that occur at school or have a connection or nexus back to the school setting that create a risk of harm to other students while they are at school or interfere with the educational environment. 

If you are a student, the parent/guardian or a family member of a student, a school staff member, or a bystander and wish to report an incident of alleged bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, or intimidation, please complete this form and return it to the school principal.  You may contact the school for additional information or assistance at any time. (Bullying, cyberbullying, harassment, and intimidation definitions are provided below.

DEFINITIONS:

BULLYING —is unwanted, demeaning behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or is highly likely to be repeated, over time. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be intentional and include 1) An imbalance of power (students who bully use their physical, emotional, social, or academic power to control, exclude, or harm others) and 2) Repetition (bullying behaviors happen more than once or are highly likely to be repeated based on evidence gathered).
CYBERBULLYING —is bullying transmitted by means of personal mobile devices through electronic communication that allows individuals to view or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing personal or private information about someone causing embarrassment or humiliation.
HARASSMENT —includes actual or perceived negative actions that offend, ridicule, or demean another student with regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, immigration status, family/parental or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, religion, ancestry, physical attributes, socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, or disability.
INTIMIDATION —is any communication or action directed against another student that threatens or induces a sense of fear and/or inferiority. Retaliation may be considered a form of intimidation.

Conflict vs. Bullying

Bullying is different from conflict.

• Conflict is a disagreement or argument in which both sides express their views.
• Bullying is negative behavior directed by someone exerting power and control over another person.

Bullying is done with a goal to hurt, harm, or humiliate. With bullying, there is often a power imbalance between the students involved, with power defined as elevated social status, being physically larger, or as part of a group against an individual. Students who bully perceive their target as vulnerable in some way and often find satisfaction in harming them.

In normal conflict, students self-monitor their behavior. They read cues to know if lines are crossed, and then modify their behavior in response. Those guided by empathy usually realize they have hurt someone and will want to stop their negative behavior. On the other hand, students intending to cause harm and whose behavior goes beyond normal conflict will continue their behavior even when they know it’s hurting someone.

Visit stopbullying.gov for more information and resources.