|  |  | | Anti-Bullying Policy | | | | St. Paul’s Community College is committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe learning environment for all our students, staff, parents and visitors. Bullying, in any form, is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in our school community. |
Introduction
The role of any school is to provide the highest possible standard of education for all its students. A stable, secure learning environment is an essential requirement to achieve this goal. Bullying behaviour, by its very nature, undermines and dilutes the quality of education and imposes psychological damage. As such, it is an issue which must be positively and firmly addressed through a range of school-based measures and strategies through which all members of the school community are enabled to act effectively in dealing with this behaviour. St. Paul’s Community College strongly supports this view. It is important to note that much of the bullying which takes place within the school has its roots outside the school and while the school endeavours to eliminate all bullying we are limited in dealing with external factors.
Objectives of this Anti-Bullying Policy
St. Paul’s Community College aims to raise awareness of bullying in its school community so that the Board of Management, staff, students and parents are more alert to it and its harmful effects. The development of an anti-bullying policy will give the parents/guardians of a student who is a victim the confidence to approach the school and will also send a clear message to the parents/guardians of a pupil who is engaged in bullying behaviour that they have a major responsibility in changing their child's behaviour. The anti-bullying policy will be included as part of the School Plan/Policy Statement and will be available to all school partners by way of a written Code of Behaviour and Discipline for St. Paul’s Community College. As a school we take bullying seriously; all staff, students and parents will know what the school policy on bullying is and what they should do if bullying arises. There is a whole school/community approach to bullying behaviour in our school. Bullying will not be tolerated in St. Paul’s Community College.
Definition of bullying
The Department of Education and Science describes bullying as “ repeated aggression, verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against others “. Isolated incidents of aggressive behaviour, which should not be condoned, can scarcely be described as bullying. However, when the behaviour is systematic and ongoing it is bullying. Every student has a right to an education free from fear and intimidation. The purpose of this policy is to protect that right for each and every student attending St. Paul’s Community College.
Types of Bullying
(a) Student Behaviour:
Your behaviour is considered to be intimidating and/or of a bullying nature when:
You deliberately exclude or isolate another student by writing insulting remarks about them anywhere on the students personal or school property or any communal student area e.g. toilets, notice boards, etc.
You say/write unpleasant comments to/about another person, e.g. name calling, being sarcastic, spreading rumours, teasing, making sexually abusive comments,
You push, hit, kick and/or threaten another student, trip another student, make any physical contact or use any form of violence, severe or in any other way, against another student.
You take or damage another student’s property, demand or extort another student’s money.
You use very aggressive body language towards another student. This could take the form of a particular tone of voice or a facial expression which conveys aggression and/or dislike towards another student.
You use abusive and/or anonymous telephone messages, Internet websites, text messages or MMS messages to intimidate another student.
You use persistent name-calling or you “slag” another student by making very personal remarks about them, which are hurtful, insulting or humiliating. This could be related to another student’s physical appearance, accent, distinctive voice character, academic ability, sexual orientation and/or race.
You attempt to intimidate or abuse any school personnel.
You prevent another person from participating fully in any school activity
(b) Teacher Behaviour:
A teacher may engage in, instigate or unwittingly reinforce bullying behaviour in a number of ways:
* Using sarcasm or other insulting or demeaning form of language when addressing students;
* Making negative comments about a student’s appearance or background;
* Humiliating or intimidating a student directly or indirectly;
* Using any form of inappropriate physical contact.
Procedures for Noting and Reporting an incident of Bullying Behaviour
(i) The formal noting and reporting of an incident of bullying behaviour is seen to be an integral part of our Code of Behaviour in the school.
(ii) All reports of bullying, no matter how trivial, will be noted, investigated and dealt with by our teachers. In that way it is hoped that students will gain confidence in 'telling'.
(iii) Serious cases of bullying behaviour by students will be referred immediately to the Principal or Deputy Principal.
(iv) Parents or guardians of victims and bullies will be informed by the Principal, Deputy Principal or Year Head of incidents as early as possible so that they are given the opportunity of discussing the matter.
(v) Parents/guardians may contact the appropriate Year Head regarding incidents of bullying behaviour which they might suspect or that have come to their attention through their children, parents, guardians or others.
(vi) It will be made clear to all students that when they report incidents of bullying they are not telling tales but are behaving responsibly.
(vii) Individual teachers in consultation with the appropriate Year Head will record and take appropriate measures regarding reports of bullying behaviour in accordance with the school's policy and Code of Behaviour.
(viii) Non-teaching staff such as secretaries, caretakers, cleaners will be encouraged to report any incidents of bullying behaviour witnessed by them, or mentioned to them, to the appropriate teaching member of staff. With regard to first year students, the mentors are an invaluable source of information concerning bullying. (ix) In the case of a complaint by a student regarding a staff member, this should be brought to the attention of the Principal or Deputy Principal.
(x) Where cases, relating to either a student or a teacher remain unresolved at school level, the matter should be referred to the School's Board of Management.
(xi) If not solved at Board level the matter may be dealt with by our VEC.
Procedures for Investigating and Dealing with Bullying
Incidents of bullying will be investigated outside the classroom situation to avoid the public humiliation of the victim or the student engaged in bullying behaviour.
(i) When analysing incidents of bullying behaviour subject teachers will refer cases to the Year Head, school Chaplain or both.
(ii) The Chaplain will meet both parties individually to discuss the matter and to seek possible solutions. Failing this the case will be referred to the Year Head, Deputy Principal or Principal for further consideration.
(iii) If a gang is involved, each member will be interviewed individually and then the gang will be met as a group. Each member will be asked for his/her account of what happened to ensure that everyone is clear about what everyone else has said.
(iv) If it is concluded that a student has been engaged in bullying behaviour, it will be made clear to him/her how he/she is in breach of the Code of Behaviour and Discipline and an attempt will be made to get him/her to see the situation from the victim's point of view.
(v) Each member of the gang will be helped to handle the possible pressures that often face them from the other members after they are interviewed.
(vi) Teachers who are investigating cases of bullying behaviour will keep a written record of their discussions with those involved. Those involved will be required to write down their own account of the incident.
(vii) In cases where it has been determined that bullying behaviour has occurred, the parents or guardians of the two parties involved may be met as appropriate. In the event of a meeting the actions being taken will be outlined for them with reference to our school policy.
(viii) Follow-up meetings will be arranged with the two parties involved separately with a view to possibly bringing them together at a later date if the victim is ready and agreeable. This can have a therapeutic effect.
(ix) Counselling provision will be made within our school for bullies and their victims.
Through such approaches, a network is formed. In certain cases, however, it may be necessary to invite the assistance of other local persons and formal agencies such as general medical practitioners, Gardaí, health boards with their social workers and community workers. A positive community attitude and involvement can, therefore, assist considerably in countering bullying behaviour in our school. The continued maintenance of our home/school/community links is important in regard to countering bullying behaviour and is encouraged as a normal part of the our school’s effective operation.
Community Networking to Counteract Bullying in our school
Our anti-bullying school policy also embraces those members of the wider school community who come directly in daily contact with our students. They are encouraged to play a positive role in assisting our school to counter bullying behaviour by reporting such behaviour to parents and/or schools as appropriate.
Sanctions against school bullies
Teachers reporting bullying will record an account of the incident in the relevant file kept in the school office.
Students are aware that if they are involved in bullying the following will happen:
1. They will be warned to stop immediately
2. Failing this the student will be referred to the Year Head
3. Their parents will be informed
4. More serious sanctions, for example exclusion or loss of privilege in taking part in extra-curricular activities, may apply to students who engage in continual serious bullying incidences.
Evaluation of effectiveness of school policy on bullying behaviour
All St. Paul’s Community College policies are subject to regular review.
Summary of St. Pauls Community College’s policy on countering bullying
Our staff members share a collective responsibility, under the direction of the Principal, to act in preventing bullying/aggressive behaviour by any member of the school community.
|
Back |
|
|
|
