St. Johns County School District’s Policy on
Bullying and Harassment
St. Johns County School District believes that all students and employees be afforded a setting that is safe, secure, and free from bullying and harassment of any kind. In compliance with Florida Statute 1006.147 and School Board Rule 3.21, the school district has adopted a comprehensive policy prohibiting bullying and harassment.
St. Johns County Policy – http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/sdfs/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2015/02/Bullying-Policy.pdf
Parent Information on Bullying – https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/sdfs/parent/
Student Information on Bullying – http://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/sdfs/student/
Form to report Bullying – https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/sdfs/reporting/
What is Bullying?
Bullying is:
* Repeated
* Intentional (done on purpose with an intent to cause hurt or harm)
* Imbalance of power (you feel like you cannot make it stop)
Our school district policy defines bullying as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress. Bullying is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, by an adult or student, 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.
Everyone deserves a safe and secure learning environment.
Are You or a Friend Being Bullied?
Ask yourself these questions:
* Did someone know that what they said or did to you would make you feel bad or afraid?
* Have they did these mean things more than once?
* Are they in some way more powerful than you so you feel like you can’t make the bullying stop?
If the answer is YES to these questions, you need to report what is going on to either your parent or an adult at school.
Still Unsure? Ask yourself these questions…….
* Am I playing sick in the morning so I won’t have to go to school and face a person who bullies?
* Do I walk home another way or try to avoid the bus so no one will bother me?
* Does someone take things from me or make me give them stuff?
* Does someone say mean things about me or tell other kids not to play or hang out with me over and over again?
* Does someone call me names repeatedly?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you may be being bullied. You need to talk to someone about this!
I’m Being Bullied! What Do I Do Now?
- Tell your parents or other trusted adults. They can help stop the bullying.
- If you are bullied at school, tell your teacher, school counselor, or principal. Telling is not tattling.
- Try not to show anger or fear. Students who bully like to see that they can upset you.
- Look at the kid bullying you and tell him or her to stop in a calm, clear voice. You can also try to laugh it off. This works best if joking is easy for you. It could catch the kid bullying you off guard.
- Try to avoid situations in which bullying is likely to happen. You might want to
- Avoid areas of the school where there are not many students or teachers around.
- Make sure you aren’t alone in the bathroom or locker room.
- Sit near the front of the bus.
- Don’t bring expensive things or lots of money to school.
- Sit with a group of friends at lunch.
- Take a different route through hallways or walk with friends or a teacher to your classes.
What NOT to do if you are bullied. DON’T:
- Fight. You will just get in trouble and you could get hurt.
- Do nothing. You need a plan, and you need some help, so TELL someone.
- Skip school. This problem is not going to go away.
- Hurt yourself. This is not your fault.
Report Bullying Right Away!
Telling an adult that you or a friend is being bullied, isn’t tattling. Tattling is when you tell on another kid to get him/her into trouble. Telling is when you tell something that helps someone get out of trouble or keeps someone from getting hurt! So, if you or a friend is being bullied:
- Tell someone. Tell your teacher. Tell your parents. Tell a friend. Tell the principal or your guidance counselor. These people will listen and help you decide what to do. If this is happening, tell an adult!
- If the person you told cannot help you or does not do anything, find someone else! Never keep being bullied a secret!
- Your school has ways for you to report bullying. You can always tell an adult at school or fill in a reporting form (ask at the front office or guidance office for one).
- You may also report bullying using this website; get an adult to help if needed.
- Your parents can report bullying for you. Ask them to talk to your school principal or your teacher.
- When you report bullying make sure you tell who the person is who is doing the bullying, how you are being bullied, when it happens, and where it happens.
My Friend is Being Bullied! What Can I Do?
- It is good to try to help. Don’t make the person who is being bullied feel worse by laughing or doing nothing.
- Tell an adult right away.
- If you can, tell the person who is bullying to stop. Explain that it is wrong to bully people. State what you don’t like and how you want it fixed. For example, “I don’t like it when you pick on Mike; it’s not funny. I want you to stop right now.”
- Walk away with the person who is being bullied.
- Talk to the person who is bullied; tell them that you will be his/her friend. You can never have too many friends!
Report Bullying or Harassment
How do I file a report of bullying?
There are several methods for reporting suspected bullying incidents:
- You can make a report in person to a trusted adult at school.
- You can complete the Bullying and/or Harassment Form (the schools also have copies of this form available for you to complete).
Form to report Bullying – https://www.stjohns.k12.fl.us/sdfs/reporting/