Ballintemple National School.
Anti-Bullying Policy.
(As incorporated into the school’s Code of Behaviour)
Introduction.
In accordance with the requirements of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000 and the code of behaviour guidelines issued by the NEWB, the Board of Management of Ballintemple National School has adopted the following Anti-Bullying Policy within the framework of the school’s overall Code of Behaviour. This policy fully complies with the requirements of the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (2013)
A. Rationale.
1. The policy is required to assist schools in devising school-based measures to prevent and deal with bullying behaviour and to increase awareness of bullying behaviour in the school community as a whole e.g. school management, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents as well as those from the local community who interface with the school.
2. Involving and encouraging all members of the school community in developing, formulating and reviewing this policy on bullying promotes partnership, ownership and implementation of a ‘living policy,’ one which is actively implemented/promoted in the whole school community.
3. The school climate and atmosphere are created by the actions of everyone in the school. The behaviour of the adults in a child’s life, including parents and teachers, is a significant influence on how a child acts.
4. The Department of Education and Skills requires all schools to have a written policy on bullying.
B. Links to School’s Mission Statement.
‘‘Ballintemple N.S. is a co-educational, Catholic, primary school which strives to provide a well-ordered, caring, happy and secure atmosphere where the intellectual, spiritual, physical, moral and cultural needs of the pupils are identified and addressed.
The care of each child is of paramount importance to the staff. As partners, we aim to help the children to develop their holistic potential by providing opportunities for creative and academic development. The management, staff and pupils endeavour to make this school a welcoming place which celebrates difference, tolerance and respect for others.’’ Ballintemple N.S. will endeavour to enhance the self-esteem of everyone in the school community, to imbue in the pupils respect for people and property and to encourage in them the idea of being responsible. Ballintemple N.S. will promote gender equality amongst the teachers and pupils.’’
The Board of Management recognises the very serious nature of bullying and the negative impact that it can have on the lives of pupils and is therefore fully committed to the following key principles of best practice in preventing and tackling bullying behaviour:
1. A positive school culture and climate which is welcoming of difference and diversity and is based on inclusivity; which encourages pupils to disclose and discuss incidents of bullying behaviour in a non-threatening environment and which promotes respectful relationships across the school community.
2. Effective leadership.
3. A school-wide approach.
4. A shared understanding of what bullying is and its impact.
5. Implementation of education and prevention strategies (including awareness raising measures) that build empathy, respect and resilience in pupils and explicitly address the issues of cyber-bullying and identity-based bullying..
6. Effective supervision and monitoring of pupils.
7. Supports for staff.
8. Consistent recording, investigation and follow up of bullying behaviour (including use of established intervention strategies)
9. On-going evaluation of the effectiveness of the anti-bullying policy.
Ref: Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2013- Chapter 6, Key Principles of Best Practice.
C. Policy Aims.
The main aims of an anti-bullying policy are as follows:
1. To create a positive school culture and climate that is inclusive and welcoming of difference.
2. To create a school climate which is open, supportive and encourages pupils to disclose and discuss bullying behaviour.
3. To raise awareness amongst the entire school community (including school management, teachers, pupils, parents, volunteers etc.) that bullying is unacceptable behaviour.
4. To ensure comprehensive supervision and monitoring through which all aspects of school activity are kept under observation.
5. To provide procedures for investigating and dealing with bullying behaviour.
6. To provide procedures for noting and reporting bullying behaviour.
7. To develop a programme of support for those affected by bullying behaviour and for those involved in bullying behaviour.
8. To work with and through the various local agencies in countering all forms of bullying and anti-social behaviour.
9. To facilitate ongoing evaluation of the effectiveness of the school’s anti-bullying policy.
We aspire to fulfil the above aims by fostering an atmosphere of respect, understanding and encouragement between all who teach, work and learn in the school, so that the development and contribution of every individual can be acknowledged and all can work together to benefit personal growth and the common good.
D. Definition of Bullying.
In accordance with the Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools bullying is defined as follows:
‘Bullying is unwanted negative behaviour, verbal, psychological or physical conducted by an individual or group against another person (or persons) and which is repeated over time.’
E. Types of Bullying.
The following are some of the types of bullying behaviour that can occur amongst pupils:
· Physical aggression: This behaviour includes pushing, shoving, punching, kicking, poking and tripping people. It may also take the form of severe physical assault. While pupils often engage in ‘mess fights’, they can sometimes be used as a disguise for physical harassment or inflicting pain.
· Intimidation: Some bullying behaviour takes the form of intimidation: it may be based on the use of very aggressive body language with the voice being used as a weapon. Particularly upsetting can be a facial expression which conveys aggression and/or dislike.
· Isolation/exclusion and other relational bullying: This occurs where a certain person is deliberately isolated, excluded or ignored by some or all of the class group. This practice is usually initiated by the person engaged in bullying behaviour and can be difficult to detect. It may be accompanied by writing insulting remarks about the pupil in public places, by passing around notes about or drawings of the pupil or by whispering insults about them loud enough to be heard. Relational bullying occurs when a person’s attempts to socialise and form relationships with peers are repeatedly rejected or undermined. One of the most common forms includes control: “Do this or I won’t be your friend anymore”(implied or stated); a group ganging up against one person (girl or boy); non-verbal gesturing; malicious gossip; spreading rumours about a person or giving them the “silent treatment”.
· Cyber-bullying: This type of bullying is increasingly common and is continuously evolving. It is bullying carried out through the use of information and communication technologies such as text, social network sites, e-mail, instant messaging (IM), apps, gaming sites, chat-rooms and other online technologies. Being the target of inappropriate or hurtful messages is the most common form of online bullying. As cyber-bullying uses technology to perpetrate bullying behaviour and does not require face to face contact, cyber-bullying can occur at any time (day or night). Many forms of bullying can be facilitated through cyber-bullying. For example, a target may be sent homophobic text messages or pictures may be posted with negative comments about a person’s sexuality, appearance etc.
In addition, in the context of Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools, placing a once-off offensive or hurtful public message, image or statement on a social network site or other public forum where that message, image or statement can be viewed and/or repeated by other people will be regarded as bullying behaviour.
Note on Personal Media Devices / Social Media
· The school strongly advises pupils not to bring mobile phones or other personal media devices to school.
· The primary point of contact for all parents is via the school secretary.
· Where in exceptional circumstances a pupil brings a mobile phone to school, the phone must be switched off and the class teacher informed as to the reason the phone is required by the pupil in school. The class teacher will store the phone until it is required by the pupil.
· The phone will only be turned on with the consent of the class teacher
· No photographs can be taken or recordings (video or audio) made using a personal device unless instructed to do so by the class teacher
· Incidents where pupils use personal device to bully other pupils or send offensive messages or calls will be investigated under the school's Anti-Bullying policy. It should be noted that it is a criminal offence to use a mobile phone to menace, harass or offend another person.
· Name Calling: Persistent name-calling directed at the same individual(s) which hurts, insults or humiliates should be regarded as a form of bullying behaviour. Often name-calling of this type refers to physical appearance, e.g., size or clothes worn. Accent or distinctive voice characteristics may attract negative attention. Academic ability can also provoke name calling. This tends to operate at two extremes. There are those who are singled out for attention because they are perceived to be weak academically. At the other extreme there are those who, because they are perceived as high achievers, are also targeted.
Slagging: This behaviour usually refers to the good-natured banter which goes on as part of the normal social interchange between people. However, when this ‘slagging’ extends to very personal remarks aimed again and again at one individual about appearance, clothing, personal hygiene or involves references of an uncomplimentary nature to members of one’s family, particularly if couched in sexual innuendo, then it assumes the form of bullying. It may take the form of suggestive remarks about a pupil’s sexual orientation.
· Damage to property: Personal property can be the focus of attention for bullying behaviour. This may result in damage to clothing, mobile phone or other devices, school books and other learning material or interference with a pupil’s locker or bicycle. The contents of school bags and pencil cases may be scattered on the floor. Items of personal property may be defaced, broken, stolen or hidden.
· Extortion: Demands for money may be made, often accompanied by threats (sometimes carried out in the event of the targeted pupil not delivering on the demand). A pupil may also be forced into theft of property for delivery to another who is engaged in bullying behaviour.
· Identity-based bullying: This includes homophobic bullying, racist bullying, bullying based on a person’s membership of the Traveller community and bullying of those with disabilities or special educational needs.
Isolated or once-off incidents of intentional negative behaviour including a once-off offensive or hurtful text message or other private messaging do not fall within this definition of bullying and should be dealt with, as appropriate, in accordance with the school’s code of behaviour. A single incident can have a serious effect on a pupil and may also constitute harassment which is legally prohibited in schools under equality legislation. Harassment is any form of unwanted conduct related to any of the nine discriminatory grounds (gender including transgender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race and membership of the Traveller community).
F. Effects of Bullying.
Pupils who are being bullied may develop feelings of insecurity and extreme anxiety and thus may become more vulnerable. Self-confidence may be damaged with a consequent lowering of their self-esteem. While they may not talk about what is happening to them, their suffering is indicated through changes in mood and behaviour. Bullying may occasionally result in suicide. It is, therefore, important to be alert to changes in behaviour as early intervention is desirable.
G. Characteristics in Bullying Behaviour.
Schools need to recognise that any pupil can be a victim of, or perpetrator of, bullying behaviour.
The Victim/The Target.
Any pupil, through no fault of their own, may be bullied. It is common in the course of normal play for pupils to tease or taunt each other. However, at a certain point, teasing and taunting may become forms of bullying behaviour. As pupils are particularly quick to notice differences in others, pupils who are perceived as different are more likely to encounter such behaviour. However, the pupils who are most at risk of becoming victims are those who react in a vulnerable and distressed manner. The seriousness and duration of the bullying behaviour is directly related to the pupil’s continuing response to the verbal, physical or psychological aggression.
It is of note that some pupils can unwittingly behave in a very provocative manner which attracts
bullying behaviour.
Pupils who are bullied often experience difficulties in speaking up about bullying. The difficulties include:
1. Fear of reprisals
2. Concerns about being perceived as a “tell-tale’’ for reporting bullying
3. Concerns about “getting into trouble” with the Principal or teacher for reporting bullying
4. Not having evidence to back up a bullying allegation
5. Not knowing how the matter will be dealt with by the school
6. Not feeling fully confident of being believed
More vulnerable pupils
While bullying can happen to any pupil, it is known that some may be more vulnerable to or at risk of experiencing bullying. Such vulnerable groups include pupils with disabilities or special educational needs, those from ethnic minority and migrant groups and other groupings as outlined in Anti-Bullying Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (2013)
The Bully/ The Aggressor
It is generally accepted that bullying is a learned behaviour. Pupils who bully tend to display aggressive attitudes combined with a low level of self-discipline. They can lack any sense of remorse; often they convince themselves that the victim deserves the treatment they are receiving.
Pupils who engage in bullying behaviour can also be attention-seeking; often they set out to impress bystanders and enjoy the reaction their behaviour provokes. They tend to lack the ability to empathise. They can appear unaware or indifferent to the victim’s feelings. Others seem to enjoy inflicting pain. It is of note that pupils who exhibit bullying behaviour often suffer from a lack of confidence and have low self-esteem.