What Is Bullying?

A person is bullied when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons, and he or she has difficulty defending himself or herself. Bullying has three major components:

1. Bullying is aggressive behavior that involves unwanted, negative actions.

2. Bullying involves a pattern of behavior repeated over time.

3. Bullying involves an imbalance of power or strength.

Bullying can take many different forms such as hitting, verbal harassment, spreading false rumors, excluding someone from a group, or sending disrespectful messages on a cell phone or over the internet.

What is Clarke County Public Schools Doing to Prevent Bullying?

The Olweus Bullying Prevention Program is implemented in all schools, which is a research-based schoolwide program proven to improve school culture and reduce bullying behavior. This program includes staff training for all adults who come into contact with children during the school day including bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria staff, teachers, and other staff members.

Yearly Kick-Off events are held at each school to celebrate our commitment to bullying prevention and encourage students to treat everyone with respect. All schools have posted the four anti-bullying rules throughout the school building and even in many businesses in our local community. Students are taught the four anti-bullying rules through weekly class meetings. These meetings also help students learn important concepts such as empathy, compassion, helping others in need, and how to respond in bullying situations.

Many schools have exciting positive behavior programs which use incentives and recognition to encourage students to show positive behaviors. Parent programs are held throughout the year on various bullying related topics such as cyberbullying and internet safety.

What can students do if they are bullied or witness bullying?

All students are taught the four anti-bullying rules from an early age which encourages them to tell an adult at home and an adult at school if they or anyone they know is being bullied. Students should report all bullying incidents to an adult at school immediately. 

What can parents do to support bullying prevention in Clarke County Public Schools?

Parents can help by reinforcing our four anti-bullying rules at home with their child. Contact your child’s school immediately if you suspect they are being bullied or bullying others. There are additional links on this page with helpful information about how to help your child if they are bullied, bully others, or witness bullying.

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