Transcript Bullying Presented by: Tracy Ambuehl Shelley Williams

Bullying
Presented by:
Tracy Ambuehl
Shelley Williams
Legal/Ethical-2004
What is Bullying?
• Characterized by the following
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aggressive behavior or intentional “harm
doing”
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carried out repeatedly and over time;
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occurs within an interpersonal relationship
by imbalance of power
Ways to Bully
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Physical
hitting, kicking, pushing, choking
Verbal
name calling, threatening, taunting,
malicious teasing, spreading nasty rumors
Some others
Making faces, obscene gestures, or
intentional exclusion from a group
Consequences of Bullying
• Bullying may lead to physical,
emotional, or mental injury
• Severe cases may lead to death and
lawsuits
Court Cases
Wagner vs. Fayetteville School District,1998
• Arkansas
• Carol Wagner complained for two years about
constant harassment of gay son, Willi
• She filed suit following severe beating of her son
• Title IX-Outcome-school district held sexual
harassment workshops for teachers and
students
Court Case
Haugstad vs. Standwood-Camano School
District, 1999
• Washington
• Taya Haugstad, (cerebral palsy) was
constantly harassed a male student
• calling retarded, stupid and ramming her
wheelchair into the wall
• Outcome-District order to pay $310,000
Court Case
Anchorage School District vs. Tom
2000
• an awkward student and his awkwardness
invited the bullying
• Under the zero-tolerance policy Tom
received ISSP following an incident and
attempted suicide the next day
• Parents filed suit for $33 million for
lifetime care due to his vegetative state
• Outcome-district paid $1million, district
insurance company paid $3.5 million
Court Case
High vs. Pasco School District
2000
• Jared has a diagnosis of major depression
• He attempts suicide due to being bullied
on many occasions, vegetative state
• Family sues the School District, school did
not do enough
• Family request $33 million for lifetime care
of their son
Court Case
“Too Close To Home”
• Jacksonville, February 2004
• Bus Beating captured on video tape
• 7 students charged misdemeanor battery
• Victim’s mother in process of suing Duval
County and First Student
• Results are pending
Policies and Procedures
to Promote Safer Schools
• Title IX Amendment-severe, persistent or pervasive
harassment that adversely affects a student’s education
or creates a hostile or abusive educational environment
• Zero-Tolerance on Violence-these policies are
problematic for schools due to no universal agreement
on the definition
• Anti-Bullying Act passed in different states, some states
have opposed bill due to inhibiting the free speech and
not significant enough to make changes
• State of Florida specifics: implementing Emergency
Planning Standards, Violence Prevention
Advocates for Safer Schools
• As school counselors and other school
officials we must promote policies and
procedures
• We must protect our youth of today from
being victimized
• Challenge yourself and your collaborative
team of faculty to be proactive
• CHALLENGE, CHALLENGE, CHALLENGE
Did you Know…
• According to the National Education Association
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every hour of every day 2,000 students are
physically attacked on school grounds
One in five students regularly carries a weapon
to school (one carries a gun)
160,000 students skip class each day because
they fear physical attacks
75% of children attending public schools report
knowledge of occurrence bullying, physical
attack, or robbery, compared to 45% of private
school students.
References
• Associated Press (2001). Schools Contend with Complications of
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Zero Tolerance Policy. Minnesota Issue Watch
Davy, Amiray (2002). Bullying Bill Sparks Debate. The Olmypia
Florida Department of Education, Emergency Planning Standards for
Florida’s Schools
Freiberg, Peter 1998. Deterring Harassment, Washington Blade p.1
Hughes, Janice 1998. Title IX Decision, Washington Blade p.1
Pesznecker, Kati 2002. Advocacy
Pinkham, P & Garza C.L. (2004). Student’s Mom to Sue in Bus
Attack, The Florida Times-Union
Skolnik, Sam (2000). Disabled Girl Abused by Bully Wins $310,000
Court Judgement, Seattle PI News Source
Toomey, Lisa (2004, October). Stop Bullying. Available:
http://www.agpcabinc.org/pages/4/5/index.html