BULLYING

It is the policy of TDSB that all of its students and school employees have an educational setting that is safe, secure, and free from harassment and bullying of any kind. TDSB has a zero tolerance policy for bullying.

“Bullying” includes “cyberbullying” and means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. It 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; and may involve but is not limited to:

  1. teasing
  2. threat
  3. intimidation
  4. stalking
  5. cyberstalking
  6. physical violence
  7. theft
  8. sexual, religious, or racial harassment
  9. public or private humiliation
  10. destruction of property; and
  11. social-exclusion

Ways to Report a Bully:

  • Verbally to an adult at school
  • Via email to school administrator or district office
  • Via a telephone call to school administrator or district office
  • Most social networks have links for reporting cyberbullying on their network. You can find those links here.

If you are the victim of bullying:

  • Clearly tell the bully(ies) to stop.
  • Don’t ignore the incident. Immediately report the incident to someone at school or seek peer mediation at school. Tell your parent(s)/guardian(s).
  • If the bullying continues after you have clearly told the bully(ies) to stop, make a written record of the incident including date, time, witness or witnesses, and parties involved in the incident.
  • Report the incident immediately to an adult who has authority over the bully(ies); for example: teacher, or principal.
  • Avoid being alone with the person(s) who has attempted to bully you in the past.

To minimize the risk of being accused of bullying

DO:

  • Keep your hands to yourself.
  • Remember that NO one has a right to harm another person in any way.
  • Think before you speak.
  • Immediately apologize if you accidentally say or do something that has made another person feel oppressed.
  • Report all incidents of bullying behavior you have witnessed to appropriate school personnel.

DON’T

  • Touch anyone without his or her permission and especially in an inappropriate way.
  • Keep interacting with a person after he or she has perceived your behavior toward him or her as being inappropriate.
  • Make remarks that may cause another person to feel oppressed (stressed, scared, intimidated).