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What Is Bullying?

What Is Bullying?

Bullying is defined as a physical or verbal act(s) that is severe or pervasive AND causes one of the following effects on a reasonable student:
 
  • Reasonable fear of harm to person or property.
  • Substantially detrimental effect on physical or mental health.
  • Substantial interference with academic performance.
  • Substantial interference with the ability to participate in or benefit from school services, activities, or privileges.
 
School staff who witness bullying shall immediately intervene to stop the incident and investigate the incident when it is safe to do so. Any student, parent, or guardian who believes that the sutdent has been subjected to bullying may file a written complaint.
 

Types of Bullying

 
Bullying can be manifested in a variety of forms that include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Cyberbullying is bullying by electronic act, which includes transmission of a communication by text, sound, image, video, message, website post, social network activity, or other form of communication sent by an electronic device (Ed. Code 32261 (g)).
  • Verbal bullying includes hurtful gossiping, making rude noises, making threats, name-calling, spreading rumors, or teasing. 
  • Physical bullying includes intentional, unwelcome acts of beating, biting, fighting, hitting, kicking, poking, punching, pushing, shoving, spitting, or tripping.
  • Social or relational bullying includes spreading rumors, manipulating relationships,  exclusion, blackmailing, isolating, rejecting, using peer pressure and ranking personal characteristics.
  • Non-verbal bullying includes the use of threatening gestures, staring, stalking, graffiti or graphic images, and destruction of property to cause distress, intimidation, discomfort, pain or humiliation.
  • Indirect bullying is the use of intimidation or peer pressure to cause harm to a third part(ies).

Bullying Warning Signs

Bullying Resources

Bullying Policies

Hazing

Cyberbullying and Social Media Safety

Support Organizations and Hotlines

Publications