Harassment

1
Harassment Bullying

• What all students need to know

2
The difference between Harassment Bullying

• Harassment looks a lot like bullying. However
  harassment is always linked to Anti-discrimination
  Laws designed to protect specific populations
  identified by
• gender, race, ethnic background, religious
  beliefs, sexual orientation, or disability.
• Harassment may be a single incident or a series
  of incidents.

• Bullying is repeated inappropriate behavior,
  direct or indirect, and by one or more persons,
  that
• harms, intimidates, threatens, victimizes,
  undermines, offends, or humiliates someone.

3
Direct Behaviors Include

• physical intimidation
• Pushing, shoving, hitting, spitting, poking,
  tripping etc
• Touching someone in an unwanted way
• Trashing someones personal property, such as
  their locker or notebook.

• verbal intimidation
• Name calling
• Threatening someone to their face
• Writing to or about someone - IMs, text
  messages, and emails count!
• Prank phone calls, or leaving nasty voicemails

4
Indirect Behaviors Include

• Exclusion, which can include getting other people
  to ignore or leave out a certain person or
  certain people.
• Starting rumors about a person or certain people.
• Whispering and pointing at person or certain
  people.
• Writing graffiti in stalls, on walls, or on
  lockers about a person or certain people.

5
Common Mistakes

• Calling someone gay, or calling them a fag is
  harassment, regardless of their actual sexual
  orientation!
• Making sexually suggestive comments about, or to
  another student, regardless of whether they are
  male or female, is sexual harassment!
• Making negative statements about a persons race
  or religion is harassment, even if that person is
  not actually of that race or religion!

6
More Examples of Common Mistakes

• Telling dirty jokes
• Snapping or pulling at someones
  underwear/bra-strap
• Staring at parts of a persons body normally
  covered by underwear
• Calling objects (not people), like a movie or
  class assignment, gay, or retarded

7
If you feel you are being harassed or
bullied, this is what you need to DO.

• DO NOT IGNORE IT! Everyone has a right to feel
  safe, respected, and accepted at school.
• TELL THE PERSON TO STOP. Be polite and clear
  about how you feel.

8
If the person does not stop, or you are afraid to
say something to this person

• TELL A TRUSTED ADULT or a PEP MEMBER
• A friend can go with you for support.
• This is what the Adult or PEP member can do
  for you
• Listen to you.
• Help you decide what to do next.
• Back you up in your decision.
• Help you file a formal
  complaint.

9
IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT RESOLVED INFORMALLY, OR IF
IT CONTINUES, THEN YOU SHOULD FILE A FORMAL
COMPLAINT.

• Fill out Incident Report Form available in the
  Middle School Main Office or High School Guidance
  Office.
• A complete investigation of the situation will be
  made by an Administrator.
• Parents will be notified.
• The Principal will determine any disciplinary
  action.

10
Important Considerations

• Harassment is not only a violation of school
  policy is also a CRIMINAL OFFENCE.
• If you are under investigation for Harassment,
  LEGAL COUNSEL will be involved.
• If you are found guilty of Harassment, CRIMINAL
  CHARGES may be brought against you!

11
If you are a perpetrator, the victim and their
family has the right to call the police and bring
criminal charges of harassment against you,
regardless of what the school decides to do!
12
BYSTANDERS

• Bystanders, sometimes you can and should step up
  and intervene when you witness an act of bullying
  or harassment.
• You can stand up or intervene just by filling out
  an Incident Complaint Form.
• Your identity can be kept confidential.
• There is strength in numbers! Several students
  can fill out an incident report at the same time.
• Adults can fill them out too!

13
Bystanders, it may not be your fault, but it is
your responsibility.
14
Stopping Harassment Bullying is everyones
responsibility!
15
Return to EFMHS Guidance Home