Coláiste Oiriall Statement on Bullying
- Every person in Coláiste Oiriall is entitled to respect and to be free from any type of bullying.
- The school will work proactively, as far as it can, to ensure that bullying does not take place.
- Reporting incidents of bullying is responsible behaviour.
- If you are being bullied or if you have information regarding a bullying incident, you should inform either a teacher or the Principal.
- A record will be kept of all reported incidents of bullying.
- The matter will be dealt with seriously.
- The school has a programme of support for both the bully and the bullied.
- Appropriate action will be taken to ensure that it does not continue.
Aim
The aim of this policy is to ensure respect for one another in the school community, to encourage high self-esteem among the students and to provide a pleasant atmosphere in Coláiste Oiriall. Teachers will be watchful of student communication and behaviour on an ongoing basis. Any problem noted will be made known to the principal immediately.
Definition
Bullying is defined as continuous torment or aggravation whether by word, by physical action, psychological or by electronic means, directly or indirectly applied and carried out by an individual or a group of people on another individual or people. It consists of repeated inappropriate behaviour which undermines the individual person’s right to personal dignity.
Types of Bullying
- Humiliation; including name-calling, reference to academic ability, sexual orientation etc.
- Intimidation; including aggressive use of body language.
- Verbal abuse or threatened abuse.
- Aggressive or obscene language.
- Offensive joke; whether spoken or by email, text messaging etc.
- Victimisation; including very personal remarks
- Exclusion and isolation
- Intrusion through interfering with personal possessions or locker.
- Threats, including demands for money.
- An attack by rumour, gossip, innuendo or ridicule on any individual’s reputation.
- Cyber Bullying – BEBO, MSN, Facebook and text messages.
Examples of Bullying
Physical Bullying: You are bullying if you push, hit, kick and/or threaten another person in an aggressive manner or use any form of violence.
Psychological and Emotional Bullying: You are bullying if you say/write unpleasant comments to/about another person e.g. name calling, stalking, being sarcastic, spreading rumours, teasing and making sexually abusive comments. You are bullying if you take or damage another person’s property, torment, isolate another person or use threatening gestures. Inappropriate use of Information and Communications Technology against others is a form of bullying.
Racial Bullying: You are bullying if you discriminate or treat others in a disrespectful or different manner because of their culture, ethnic origin, religion, sexual orientation, their membership of the Travelling Community, disability or race.
Sexual Bullying: You are involved in bullying if you make unwanted sexual advances or cause a person to feel uncomfortable and intimidated, e.g. sexual innuendo, pornography, unwelcome sexual touching or spreading rumours about a person’s sexual behaviour or orientation.
Relationship Bullying: You are involved in bullying if you are involved in any behaviour which sets out to damage another person’s friendships or feelings of inclusion in a friendship group. You are bullying if you prevent another person from participating fully in any school activity.
Procedures for Reporting Incidences of Bullying
Students should discuss any incident of bullying with a teacher or another trusted adult within the school system; this is responsible behaviour rather than “telling tales”.
Parents/Guardians should contact the Class Tutor/ Year Head regarding incidents of bullying behaviour which they might suspect or that have come to their attention through their children or other parents.
Procedures for Dealing with Incidences of Bullying
- All of the students involved in a bullying incident will be interviewed by school personnel.
- The alleged victim and alleged perpetrators of the incident will be spoken to and encouraged to solve the problem.
- The alleged victim and perpetrators will be invited to write down any relevant details
- Interviews will be conducted with sensitivity and with due regard to the rights of all pupils involved.
- Records will be kept of all incidents and of the procedures that were followed.
Where the incident is deemed to be minor, a verbal warning will be given to the bully to stop the inappropriate behaviour, pointing out how he/she is in breach of the Code of Discipline and trying to get him/her to see the situation from the victim’s point of view. The bully will apologise either verbally or in written form to the victim. Parents will be informed if deemed appropriate.
If the behaviour persists or where the incident is deemed serious, the parents of the victims and bullies will be informed. Thus they will be given the opportunity of discussing the matter and are in a position to help and support their children before a crisis occurs. The bully will apologise either verbally or in written form to the victim. Appropriate sanctions will be imposed
This policy was adopted by the Board of Management on 13 October 2011.
Signed: _______________________ Signed: __________________________
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal
Date: 13/10/11 Date: 13/10/11
Date of next review: 2014