Check out this from Duval County Public Schools. We do not tolerate bullying at our school. If you feel bullied, threatened or harassed by someone, remember there is always someone to talk to. You can feel safe talking to your school counselor, dean of students, an administrator, or any teacher or staff person. You can tell your parents or a trusted friend. You can call the bully hotline. The main thing is to tell someone and keep telling until it stops.
Florida Statute 1006.147, “The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act," prohibits bullying and harassment of any student or employee of a public K-12 educational institution.
Bullying means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. It is further defined as unwanted, purposeful, and repeated written, verbal, nonverbal, electronic, or physical behavior, by a student or adult, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation; and is often characterized by an imbalance of power.
Harassment is any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits, or has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.
Bullying and harassment can be direct (face to face) or indirect (behind somebody's back). It usually occurs in areas with the least structure and adult supervision such as on the playground, school bus, in bathrooms, locker rooms, hallways, and at bus stops. Cyberbullying is bullying done through the use of digital technologies, including, but not limited to, e-mail, blogs, social websites, chat rooms, instant and text messaging, and cell phone technologies.
It is important to be able to identify examples of bullying and harassment. Florida’s statewide anti-bullying campaign has a website illustrating multiple examples of bullying and giving ideas as to what to do to prevent it. Visit the website at www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov for more information.
In accordance with the state statute, the Duval County School Board has developed an anti-bullying policy to address bullying in the district. Bullying should be reported to the designated school administrator, who will conduct an investigation. Pending the outcome of the investigation, reports of bullying will be deemed substantiated or unsubstantiated. Students found to be in violation for a bullying offense against The Code of Student Conduct will be given consequences aligned with the Code of Student Conduct. Individuals involved maybe referred for appropriate services, if applicable.
DCPS takes all reported acts of bullying seriously. To report an act of bullying, one of the following forms should be completed and returned to the designated school administrator or bully box at the school. Please click on one of the links below to download a form. An act of bullying or harassment may be reported to the Bullying Hotline: 904-390-CALL (2255). Each report of bullying or harassment will be investigated by the designated administrator at the school.
Click here for a list of available bullying resources at schools in the district.
For more information, contact:
Brenda Lane, LMHC, MAC
District ZIP Counselor
Bullying Prevention Specialist
Safe & Healthy Schools
904-390-2131
