Bullying Prevention
Malden Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention
Priority Statement
The Malden Public Schools expects that all members of the school community will treat each other in a civil manner and with respect for differences. We are committed to providing all students with a safe learning environment that is free from bullying and cyberbullying. This commitment is an integral part of our comprehensive efforts to promote learning, and to prevent and eliminate all forms of bullying and other harmful and disruptive behavior that can impede the learning process.
We recognize that certain students may be more vulnerable to become targets of bullying, harassment, or teasing based on actual or perceived characteristics, including race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, socioeconomic, status, homelessness, academic status, gender identity or expression, physical appearance, pregnant or parenting status, sexual orientation, mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with a person who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics. The school or district will identify specific steps it will take to create a safe, supportive environment for vulnerable populations in the school community, and provide all students with the skills, knowledge, and strategies to prevent or respond to bullying, harassment, or teasing.
We will not tolerate bullying, cyberbullying, or retaliation, in our school buildings, on school grounds, or in school-related activities. We will promptly investigate all reports and complaints of bullying, cyberbullying and retaliation, and take prompt actions to end that behavior and restore the target’s sense of safety. We will support this commitment in all aspects of our school community, including curricula, instructional programs, staff development, extracurricular activities, and parent or guardian involvement. The Plan is a comprehensive approach to addressing bullying and cyberbullying, and the school or district is committed to working with students, staff, families, law enforcement agencies, and the community to prevent issues of violence. In consultation with these constituencies, we have established this Plan for preventing, intervening, and responding to incidents of bullying, cyberbullying, and retaliation. The building principal is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Plan except when a reported bullying incident involves the principal or the assistant principal as the alleged aggressor. In such cases, the Superintendent or designee shall be responsible for investigating the report, and other steps necessary to implement the Plan, including addressing the safety of the alleged target. If the Superintendent is the alleged aggressor, the School Committee, or its designee shall be responsible for investigating the report, and taking all other steps necessary to implement the Plan, including addressing the safety of the alleged target.
Definitions
Aggressor is a student or a member of school staff who engages in bullying, cyberbullying, or retaliation.
Bullying is the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that: (i) causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target’s property; (ii) places the target in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property; (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the target; (iv) infringes on the rights of the target at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Bullying includes cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is bullying through the use of technology or any electronic devices such as telephones, cell phones, computers, and the Internet. It includes, but is not limited to, email, instant messages, text messages, and Internet postings.
Hostile environment is a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule, or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the student’s education.
Target is a student against whom bullying, cyberbullying, or retaliation has been perpetrated.
School Staff Members include, but are not limited to, educators, administrators, counselors, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors to extracurricular activities, support staff, and/or paraprofessionals.
Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment directed against a student who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying.
Malden Public Schools Bullying Policy
Bullying and harassment are major distractions from learning. The grades of the victims can suffer. Fear can lead to chronic absenteeism, truancy, or even dropping out of school. Bystanders feel both guilty and helpless for not standing up to the bully.
As a rule bullying behavior starts in elementary school and peaks in the middle school years. However, it attracts more attention from adults when it appears in high school. There the students are older and physically larger and the behavior is recognized as being less tolerable and more inappropriate. Also, sexual harassment is, in fact, often a form of bullying.
Most bullying by students starts out verbally – teasing and put-downs – and may become progressively worse and assume physical dimensions.
Bullying of any type has no place in a school setting. The Malden Public Schools will endeavor to maintain a learning and working environment free of bullying.
Bullying is defined as the act of one or more individuals intimidating one or more persons through verbal, physical, mental, or written interactions. Bullying can take many forms and occur in virtually any setting. It can create unnecessary and unwarranted anxiety that will affect attending school, walking in corridors, eating in cafeterias, playing in the school yard or recreation areas, participating in or attending special and extracurricular activities, or riding on the bus to and from school each day.
Examples of bullying include but are not exclusive to:
1. Intimidation, either physical or psychological
2. Threats of any kind, stated or implied
3. Assaults on students, including those that are verbal, physical, psychological and emotional
4. Attacks on student property
The School Committee expects administrators and supervisors to make clear to students and staff that bullying in the school building, on school grounds, on the bus or school-sanctioned transportation, or at school-sponsored functions will not be tolerated and will be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including suspension and expulsion for students, and termination for employees.
The District will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of harassment, including bullying. The Principal of each building will be responsible for handling all complaints by students alleging harassment, including bullying.
The Superintendent will develop administrative guidelines and procedures for the implementation of this policy.
Malden Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
The Malden Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan addresses the prevention of bullying, cyberbullying, and retaliation, as required under M.G.L. c.71, § 370, added to Chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010 entitled An Act Relative to Bullying in Schools as signed by the Governor in May 2010. In addition to the following current efforts, the administration, faculty, and staff of the Malden Public Schools commit to improve, enhance, and update both the plan and its implementation annually in order to best serve the students, parents, and the citizens of Malden.
Resources on Cyberbullying for Parents
- Malden Public Schools Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
- Cyberbullying Research Center
- Stop Cyberbullying
- Wired Safety
- Cyberbullying Toolkit for Parents, Teachers, Students
- Resources on Bullying Prevention for Parents
Resources and Information for Parents from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education - Chapter 92
An Act Relative to Bullying – Massachusetts State Government
Michael Drummey, Ward 1
Dawn Macklin, Ward 4
