Anti-Bullying Policy
Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional and may be carried out by groups or by an individual. Bullying of any kind is not tolerated at St. Patrick'sl and is considered as very serious misbehaviour.
Good behaviour is best developed in a community that nurtures self-respect and concern for others. The school, as a community, must make every effort to foster good behaviour. However, this cannot be done in isolation, but as a part of a wider community. The primary responsibility for the development of good behaviour rests in the home, with parents and guardians, where children spend most of their time. Good behaviour is best achieved when parents, teachers, members of the school's Board of Management and pupils are aware of, and respect, the role each must play in the development of good behaviour. The school's behaviour charter is based on the principle of such mutual respect.
Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional and may be carried out by groups or by an individual. Name calling, teasing and taunting, rude gestures, intimidation and extortion are some of its forms. Bullying can be understood as a subset of aggressive behaviour, and can cause both physical and emotional hurt (INTO, 1993).
Three criteria particularly distinguish bullying:
- The hurt done is unprovoked, at least by any action that would normally be considered a provocation.
- Bullying is the repeated and continuous intimidation and victimisation of one child by another.
- The child who is doing the bullying is generally thought of as being stronger because the victim is not in a position to retaliate effectively.
The occasional fight or quarrel between two children of equal strength is not considered bullying.
Children who may be vulnerable to bullying:
- those who are over-protected
- children who are new to a class or school
- children who are different in physical appearance, speech (e.g. accent), or social background to classmates
- those with low esteem (often compounded by victimisation)
- those who are more obedient, mild mannered, easily-led, accommodating and submissive than peers
- victims who are shy, timid, sensitive, anxious, isolated (which can be seen as independent or unfriendly) or have poorly developed social skills
- those who are provocative or attention-seeking
- victims may be academically successful or experience learning difficulties
Possible bully traits:
Potensial bullies may
- be academic underachievers or overachievers
- be unpopular or insecure
- be assertive, aggressive, extrovert
- lack empathy with others
- tend to lack feelings of guilt by rationalising behaviour
- often be physically bigger or stronger than victim
- tend to be heedless or happy-go-lucky
- be adventurous, 'thick-skinned' and socially forward
- often be group dependent
Possible signs that a child is a victim of bullying:
Children may:
- be frightened of walking to or from school
- be unwilling to go to school
- beg parents to drive them to school
- change their route to school
- begin to do poorly in school work
- come home regularly with clothes or books damaged or missing
- come home starving (because their lunch was taken)
- become withdrawn or start stammering
- become distressed and stop eating
- become anxious and evasive when asked if they have a problem
- cry themselves to sleep
- have nightmares
- have unexplained scratches, cuts or bruises
- constantly ask for, or steal, money (to pay a bully)
- begin to bully other smaller children
- give improbable excuses to explain any of the above
