Bullying

We believe that Ohio schools, teachers, and administration often have an antiquated view and response to bullying.

As parents, we need to educate ourselves and advocate to make systemic change.

Bullying is a massive issue. It is necessary to BELIEVE children who report bullying. Teachers in the classroom may not always witness bullying. As parents, it is our job to believe our child, even if teachers and administration do not. We are advocates for our child, not for administration. Studies show that school staff can effect change. Believing otherwise is mythology.

Statistics About Bullying:

One out of every five (20.2%) students report being bullied. (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2019 )

46% of bullied students report notifying an adult at school about the incident. (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2019). It is important to note that the majority of children are not comfortable reporting bullying. Developmentally, many well-adjusted children are likely to report bullying to a parent at home (versus a teacher or school administration). This can mean that schools invalidate students/parents. We should never force our children to directly report bullying to school staff if they are not comfortable. Schools must accept that it is developmentally appropriate for parents to act as an intermediary for reporting.
Students who experience bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school. (Centers for Disease Control, 2019)

What is Bullying?

Ohio law defines bullying as:

“Harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means either of the following:

(a) Any intentional written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both:

(i) Causes mental or physical harm to the other student;

(ii) Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student.

(b) Violence within a dating relationship.

Ohio Rev. Code Ann. § 3313.666 (2012)

Here is a "reader-friendly" definition, provided by Pacer:

The behavior is aggressive, unwanted and
1. hurts or harms another person physically or emotionally,
2. those targeted by the behavior have difficulty stopping the action directed at them and struggle to defend themselves, and
There is a real or perceived “imbalance of power” which is used to control or harm others; and
1. the student demonstrating the bullying behavior can have more “power” in ways such as higher social status, is physically larger, has access to embarrassing information, or is emotionally intimidating.