Appendix

A Student’s Anti-Bullying Pledge

We, the students of ________________________school, have decided to make our school free of bullying. We believe that all students have a right to an education, and to receive that education in a safe environment. We define bullying as pushing, kicking, hitting, destroying personal property, stalking, cyberbullying, gang intimidation or violence, name-calling, making fun of others’ differences, excluding someone from our peer group, and laughing at others. We pledge to:

1. Treat others with respect and accept their differences in race, religion, intelligence, gender, national origin, or color.

2. Never be involved in bullying incidents or be a bully.

3. Never be a bystander in bullying incidents.

4. Report all incidents of bullying to a school staff member.

5. Follow our school’s anti-bullying policy.

6. Help our teachers and school administrators develop an anti-bullying policy.

7. Provide emotional support for someone who has been bullied.

8. Participate in all school activities that support our no-bullying policy.

9. Be a good role model for others by being kind, respectful, and non-violent.

My signature and date:

A Teacher’s Anti-Bullying Pledge

We, the faculty of _____________________school, agree to work with other staff members, students, and parents to stop bullying in our school. We believe that everyone has the right to receive an education in a safe environment. We define bullying as pushing, hitting, kicking, ridiculing, destroying property, laughing at others’ race, religion, or gender, stalking, cyberbullying, gang intimidation, name-calling, excluding others, and violent behavior. We join our students in:

1. Developing a school anti-bullying policy. We will place the policy in every classroom, in the cafeteria, in the gym, and in the assembly hall.

2. Educating all students about bullying and its effects.

3. Supporting and encouraging a student who has been bullied.

4. Encouraging bystanders to report incidents of bullying immediately.

5. Offer counseling for bullies, victims, and bystanders.

6. Reporting all suspected bullying to the principal.

7. Working with the principal to devise a system of informing parents that their child is bullying others or has been a victim of bullying.

8. Fully enforcing disciplinary action against bullying.

9. Creating a school atmosphere where victims and bystanders feel safe in reporting incidents of bullying.

10. Developing anti-bullying practices through teaching children problem-solving skills, anger management, and social skills.

11. Displaying this document in my classroom so that all students know that I will not tolerate bullying.

Signature and date:

A Parent’s Anti-Bullying Pledge

I, ______________________, am the parent of a child who attends __________________ school. I will support the students, faculty, and other parents with children attending this school. I believe that all children have the right to receive an education in a safe environment. I understand bullying to be pushing, hitting, destruction of property, intimidating, threatening, gang activity, stalking, cyberbullying, name-calling, excluding others from peer groups, laughing at others, and making fun of others because of their race, color, national origin, religion, gender, and ridiculing. As a parent, I agree to:

1. Assist school faculty in developing and enforcing an anti-bullying policy for the school.

2. Never condone acts of bullying or bystanding by my own child(ren); bystanders are just as guilty as bullies.

3. Work with the school faculty and my children in educating them about respecting the rights of others, accepting differences among people, and showing kindness and tolerance of all adults and children.

4. Work with the school faculty to establish and enforce disciplinary action against bullies and bystanders.

5. Provide an atmosphere in my home that encourages reports by my child(ren) that they have been bullied or had observed bullying.

6. Teach my child(ren) to solve problems without violence, anger management, communication skills, and social skills.

7. Participate in counseling with my child(ren) if they have been bullying, bystanding, or are victims of bullies.

Signature and date:

A Safety Checklist for Schools, Homes, and Communities

Zero-tolerance for bullying behavior can only be eliminated when schools, homes, and communities work together to establish a bully-free environment. This is a checklist for schools, homes and communities to measure their success in establishing an anti-bullying campaign designed to eliminate school bullying. This checklist is designed to precipitate discussions among school staff, parents, school board members, and legislatures. Each question can be answered “yes” or “no.” “Maybe” answers indicate that the school et. al need to examine their anti-bullying policy to make certain it is in place, and is working effectively.

1. Does the school work closely with parents by providing information about the school’s anti-bullying established policy?

2. Is there a zero-tolerance policy against violence, psychological or physical, in the school?

3. Does the school publicize its anti-bullying policy in the local newspaper, newsletters to parents, and other means?

4. Does the school make clear to families and community members that a no-violence policy is expected in these environments, as well as in the school?

5. Is the school clear and consistent in dealing with bullying and bystanding incidents, especially those that could be considered criminal acts?

6. Does the school take notice of violence in other schools to avoid the “copycat” syndrome in their own school?

7. Has the school principal and school board members publicly spoken to media personnel about their efforts to make the school bully-free?

8. Does the school promote a friendly, kind, atmosphere?

9. Has each student been informed about the school’s anti-bullying policy?

10. Does the school promote personal responsibility for unkind actions towards other students?

11. Does the school have a policy against violent language and name-calling?

12. Does the school promote mediation between the bully and the victim to resolve the bullying incident or pattern in a conciliatory manner?

13. Are new students, staff, and school board members given information about the school’s anti-bullying policy?

14. Are comprehensive records kept about each incident of bullying, e.g the bully, the victim, and the bystanders if known, for consistent monitoring?

15. Does the school provide staff hall monitors, cafeteria monitors, bathroom monitors, and monitors at school-sponsored activities?

16. Are groups like the Student Council actively involved in promoting anti-bullying policies?

17. Are both vulnerable and potentially violent students identified by the principal’s or guidance counselor’s office?

18. Is non-acceptance of bullying a prominent part of the curriculum for school classes?

19. Does the curriculum include lessons that foster self-esteem and respect for others?

20. Is media violence, and its effects, part of the school curriculum?

21. Is specific advice concerning personal safety a part of the curriculum?

22. Are problem-solving techniques that do not involve violence a part of the curriculum?

23. Are students taught what constitutes bullying and bystanding?

24. Are students taught how to be a good listener, how to be a reliable witness to incidents of bullying, how the law defines human rights, how to accept peers who are in some way different than other students, and the serious dangers of bullying?

25. Have the students, parents, and school staff all signed the pledge against toleration of bullying, and displayed those pledges in a prominent place?