Dignity for All Students (DASA)/Bullying

The North Syracuse Central School District will not tolerate bullying or harassment of any sort!

Everyone should feel safe at school and at school activities. No one should be harassed or threatened because of their race, color, weight, national origin (where your family comes from), ethnic group, religion, religious practices, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex. The Dignity for All Students Act protects you and helps everyone feel safe at school so they can learn. The North Syracuse Central School District is committed to providing our students with a safe learning environment free from all forms of bullying, cyber-bullying, harrassment and discrimination.

What is bullying? What is DASA?

What is the definition of bullying?

Bullying may consist of hitting, teasing, taunting, spreading rumors and gossip, stealing, or excluding someone from a group. It is carried out with the intent to harm someone who cannot defend themselves. Bullying is unfair and one-sided. It can be repeated over time or can be a one-time occurrence. The important component is that it involves an imbalance of power.

Possible warning signs that a child is being bullied:

• Comes home with torn, damaged, or missing pieces of clothing, books, or other belongings
• Has unexplained cuts, bruises, and scratches
• Has few, if any friends, with whom he or she spends time
• Seems afraid of going to school, walking to and from school, riding the school bus, or taking part in organized activities with peers (such as clubs)
• Takes a long , “illogical” route when walking to or from school
• Has lost interest in school work or suddenly begins to do poorly in school
• Appears sad, moody, teary, or depressed when he or she comes home
• Complains frequently of headaches, stomachaches, or other physical ailments
• Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams
• Experiences a loss of appetite
• Appears anxious and suffers from low self-esteem

What to do if you suspect that your child is being bullied?

1. Talk with your child. Ask questions about friends, situations and difficult encounters. Ensure your child that he or she is not to blame.
2. Instruct your child not to fight back. This will continue the bullying cycle.
3. Advise your child to report the incidence to an adult and keep reporting if it doesn't stop.
4. Role-play social interactions with your child to assist them in expressing themselves appropriately and firmly.
5. Talk with staff at your child's school. Ask questions about what the teacher or other staff members observe regarding your child's interactions with others or whether they see him/her sitting by themselves.
6. Talk with a School Counselor/Social Worker about your fears and see if there are other concerns that the child is experiencing.

Could my child be bullying other? Look for these behaviors:

• Frequent name-calling (wimps, dummies, jerks, gay, faggot, dyke)
• Regular bragging
• A constant need to get their own way
• Spending time with younger or less powerful children
• A lack of empathy for others
• A defiant or hostile attitude; easily takes offensive

How can I help promote respectful behavior?

• Spend time with your child. When problems come up, help her think of respectful, cooperative ways to solve them.
• Know your child's friends.
• Be consistent about discipline. Hold your child responsible for negative or hurtful behavior, but avoid using public put-downs and physical punishment.
• Eliminate toys, games, and TV shows that reward aggression. Some children learn how to bully by seeing it on television or in video games.
• Encourage your child to be slow to take offense. Teach your child to stay cool and calm by counting to ten or trying self-talk.
• Make sure your child knows what other children expect. Respectful behaviors we have all learned include taking turns or apologizing when you accidentally hurt someone.
• Help your child see other points of view. Children who bully often have difficulty interpreting facial expressions or tone of voice. They forget to consider other children's feelings. Explore with your child how we might feel "In someone else's shoes."

More information

http://www.stopbullying.gov/

www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org kid-friendly website!

www.teensagainstbullying.org created by teens for teens, this site can be accessed on the pacerkids site

NYSED

• New York State Education Department's "Dignity for All Students Act" brochure (updated to include July 2013 amendments)
• Dignity Act Website: www.p12.nysed.gov/dignityact/

• Advocates for Youth - Resources for sex education advice for parents and educators of children of all ages Resources for youth who are LGBTQ, African American, Latin American, general population related to sex education, reproductive health, and contraception and advocacy education. Click on bulleted items (they are not in bold) to open a page of information about each bullet. English and Spanish www.advocatesforyouth.org

• "PFLAG" is Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We are a national support, education and advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, their families, friends and allies. Also includes scholarship information, cyberbullying and sex education resources. www.pflag.org
• The Trevor Project - Resources for GLBTQ youth and educators. Website states it is the “Leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ youth. www.trevorproject.org

• Embrace Civility - http://www.embracecivility.org/