Bullying Policy
Parents
Channahon District 17 Prohibits Bullying:
Bullying is NOT acceptable and is strictly prohibited. Bullying conduct that is covered by our Policy (7:180) is conduct that occurs on school property or at school sponsored activities or events; while students are being transported or walking to or from school or school sponsored activities or events; while students are waiting at school bus stops, or when the conduct otherwise would substantially impede the educational environment, regardless of where the conduct occurs.
Any student who engages in bullying will be subject to appropriate discipline, up to and including suspension or expulsion and referral to local law enforcement. A student’s bullying conduct also may be addressed through any other behavioral interventions. Any student who is a bystander to any bullying conduct and who fails to take any action to discourage the bullying conduct also may be subject to appropriate discipline. No student shall be retaliated against for reporting bullying conduct. Any student who is determined to intentionally have falsely accused another of bullying shall be subject to appropriate discipline.Bullying is NOT tolerated in Channahon School District 17. Our board policy strictly forbids bullying.
- Read our Bullying Policy (7:180)
- Bullying, Intimidation & Harassment Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.
- Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems. In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:
• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity— to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors are chronic. Bullying is a repeated event that has happened by the same student or group of students over a period of time.
Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. Bullying, intimidation, and harassment are not acceptable in any form and will not be tolerated at school or any school-related activity.
The school will protect students against retaliation for reporting incidents of bullying, intimidation, or harassment, and will take disciplinary action against any student who participates in such conduct. No person shall, use language written, verbally or electronically, to harass, intimidate or bully another based upon race, color, nationality, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age religion, creed, physical or mental disability, gender identity, order of protection status, status of homeless, or actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy or other protected group status.
The school and district will not tolerate harassing, intimidating conduct or bullying whether verbal, physical or visual, that interferes with or limits the victim’s ability to participate in opportunities offered by the school. Our schools have consistent procedures for investigations relevant to these issues policy (7:20). Examples of prohibited conduct include name-calling, using derogatory slurs, causing psychological harm, threatening, or causing physical harm,or wearing or possessing items depicting or implying hatred or prejudice of one of the characteristics stated above.
Examples of sexual harassment include touching, crude jokes or pictures, discussions of sexual experiences, teasing related to sexual characteristics, and spreading rumors related to a person’s alleged sexual activities.
Students who believe they are victims of bullying, intimidation, or harassment or have witnessed such activities are encouraged to discuss the matter with a teacher, social worker, or principal. Students may choose to report to a person of the student’s same sex. Complaints will be kept confidential to the extent possible given the need to investigate. Students who make good faith complaints will not be disciplined.
Any student who is determined, after an investigation, to have engaged in bullying, intimidation, or harassment policy (7:20) will be subject to disciplinary consequences as provided in this handbook, including but not limited to, suspension and expulsion consistent with the school and district’s discipline policy (7:190). Parents of students who have engaged in the above behavior will be notified. Any student making a knowingly false accusation regarding harassment may also be subject to disciplinary consequences.
Channahon's Response to Bullying
It is the responsibility of the school staff to use violations of the school rules as opportunities to help students improve their social and emotional skills, accept personal responsibility for their learning environment and understand consequences for poor choices and behaviors. In determining the appropriate response to or discipline of students who engage in bullying behavior, the school’s administration should consider the following:
• The ages and maturity of the students involved;
• The type, frequency, severity and patterns of behaviors;
• The context in which the incidents occurred;
• Any other relevant circumstances.
Resources and Support
U.S. Health and Human Services Website: Bullying Prevention & Response for students, educators and parents. Includes resources, games and activities for children, parents and educators.
U.S. Health and Human Services Website: Girls Health - Providing information for girls, educators and parents about bullying, safety, relationships, body image and issues, feelings, nutrition, substance abuse issues, etc. Includes games, quizzes and activities.
Bully Free: It starts with me - National Education Association Initiative.
Connect for Respect Initiative - National Parent Teachers Association providing information for parents.
http://www.pta.org/bullying.asp
PACER's Center for Children with Disabilities - Bully Prevention Center
http://www.pacer.org/bullying/
A Brain Works Project: Coping Skills for Kids - Promoting the development of coping skills in pre-teens by providing information and activities and provides resources and information for educators and parents.