Anti Bullying

Bullying among children is commonly defined as intentional, repeated hurtful acts, words or other behaviours, such as name–calling, threatening and⁄or shunning, committed by one or more children against another.

Bullying may be physical, verbal, emotional or sexual in nature. For example:

1. Physical bullying includes punching, poking, strangling, hair pulling, biting and beating.
2. Verbal bullying includes such acts as hurtful name–calling, teasing and gossip.
3. Emotional bullying includes rejecting, ignoring, terrorising, extorting, humiliating and picking on personal characteristics such as race, disability and ethnicity.
4. Sexual bullying includes actions such as sexual propositioning, sexual harassment and abuse involving actual physical contact and sexual assault.

Gray Primary School is doing great things to create a supportive, inclusive environment that is free from bullying, harassment and violence. We also need your help to make a difference. Here are a few suggestions:

• Convey to your child who is being victimised that he⁄she does not deserve such treatment. They have the right   to be happy and safe.
• It is appropriate to call the school and work collaboratively with school staff to address the problem.
• Offer support to your child but do not encourage dependence.
• Do not encourage your child to be aggressive or strike back. Chances are that it is not his⁄her nature to do so.
• Be patient. Conflicts between children more than likely will not be resolved overnight.
• Help your child to develop new supportive friendships. Friends often serve as buffers to bullying.