Child Protection Council

“It is our DUTY to PROTECT and PROMOTE Every learner’s RIGHT.”

ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

Introduction

The mission of the Department of Education is to promote and protect the right of every Filipino to quality, equitable, culture-based and complete basic education where students learn in a child-friendly, gender sensitive, safe and motivating environment. Vis-a-vis is the implementation of anti-bullying law which addresses cases of students who committed an act orseries of acts directed towards another student in a school setting or a place of learning which possibly results to physical, mental abuse, harassment, intimidation or humiliation.

In consonance with the DepEd Order No. 40, s. 2012, Barucboc National High School is a committed institution in providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all students so that they can learn in a relaxed and secured atmosphere free from oppression and abuse.

In doing so, any anti-social behavior that affects the client/ victim or everyone shall be given prompt attention and effective action. This implies that all should be aware when is bullying taking place and be reported immediately to authority concern.

Thus, the institution crafted its anti-bullying policy with the specification of the scope, significance, objectives, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, review and prevention of bullying acts.

STATEMENT OF POLICY

1. SCOPE

Bullying behavior abuses an inmbalance of power to repeatedly and intentionally harm a person or group of people. As stipulated in the DepEd Child Protection Policy, such acts may consists of any one or more ofthe following:

1. Threats to inflict a wrong upon the person, honor or property of the person or on his or her family;
2. Staking or constantly following or pursuing a person in his or her daily activities, with unwanted and obssesive attention;
3. Taking of property;
4. Public humiliation, or public and malicious imputation of a crime or of a vice or defect, whether real or imaginary, or any act, omission, condition, status, or circumstance tending to cause dishonor, discredit or expose a person to contempt;
5. Deliberate destruction or defacement of, or damage tothe child’s property.
6. Physical violence committed upon a student, which may or may not result to harm or injury, with or without the aid of weapon. Such violence maybe in the form of mauling, hitting, punching, kicking, throwing things at the student, pinching, spanking, or other similar acts;
7. Demanding or requiring sexual or monetary favors, or exacting money or property, from a pupil or student; and
8. Restraining the liberty and freedom of a pupil or student.

• SIGNIFICANCE

Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Pupils who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. Schools have a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.

• OBJECTIVES OF THE POLICY
• Administrators, teaching and non-teaching staff, pupils and parents should have an understanding of what bullying is.
• Adminstrators, teaching and non-teaching staff should know what the school policy is on bullying, and follow it when bullying is reported.
• All pupils and parents should know what the school policy is on bullying, and what they should do if bullying arises.
• As a school we take bullying seriously Students and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
• Bullying will not be tolerated.

• IMPLEMENTATION

1. Schools

The following steps may be taken when dealing with incidents:

1. If bullying is suspected or reported, the incident will be dealt with immediately by the adviser or member of the staff who has been approached.
2. A clear and precise account of the incident will be recorded and given to the Guidance Counselor/ Coordinator.
3. The Guidance Coordinator/ Counselor will interview all concerned and will record the incident.
4. Child Protection Council  will be  informed and if  persists , the committee shall inform and call the parents.
5. Punitive measures will be used as appropriate and in consultation with all parties concerned (CPC, adviser, parents and involved students).
6. If necessary and appropriate, police will be consulted.

2. Students

Students who have been bullied will be supported by:

1. Offering an immediate opportunity to discuss the experience with the adviser or a member of staff of their choice.
2. Reassuring the student
3. Offering continuous support
4. Restoring self-esteem and confidence

Students who have bullied will be helped by:

1. Discussing what happened
2. Discovering why the student became involved
3. Establishing the wrong doing and the need to change
4. Informing parents or guardians to help change the attitude and behavior of the child

The following disciplinary steps can be taken:

1. Official warnings to cease offending
2. Detention
3. Exclusion from certain areas of school premises
4. Minor fixed-term exclusion
5. Major fixed-term exclusion
6. Permanent exclusion
7. MONITORING, EVALUATION AND REVIEW

The school will review this policy annually and assess its implementation and effectiveness. The policy will be promoted and implemented throughout the school.

• PREVENTION

Some or all of the following to help raise awareness of and prevent bullying. As and when appropriate, these may include:

1. Writing and implementing a set of school rules
   1. Signing a behavior contract
   1. Integrating Anti-bullying policy in ESP, classroom management, assemblies and subject area, as appropriate, to eradicate such behavior.
   1. Reading stories about bullying or having them read to a class or assembly
   1. Having regular discussions about bullying and why it matters
   1. Setting up and sustaining a Student Support Scheme

• SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Many learners do not speak out when being bullied and may indicate by signs or behavior that he or she is being bullied. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and should investigate if a learner:

• is frightened of walking to or from school

• doesn’t want to go on the school / public bus

• begs to be driven to school

• changes their usual routine

• is unwilling to go to school (school phobic)

• begins to truant

• becomes withdrawn anxious, or lacking in confidence

• starts stammering

• attempts or threatens suicide or runs away

• cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares

• uses excuses to miss school (headache, stomach ache etc)

• begins to suffer academically

• comes home with clothes torn or books damaged

• has possessions which are damaged or “go missing”

• asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully)

• has dinner or other monies continually “lost”

• has unexplained cuts or bruises or shows signs of being in a fight

• comes home starving (money / lunch has been stolen)

• becomes aggressive, disruptive or unreasonable

• is bullying other children or siblings

• changes their eating habits (stops eating or over eats)

• goes to bed earlier than usual

• is unable to sleep

• wets the bed

• is frightened to say what’s wrong

• gives unlikely excuses for any of the above

• is afraid to use the internet or mobile phone

• is nervous and jumpy when a text message or email is received

These signs and behaviors could indicate other problems, but bullying should be considered a possibility and should always be investigated.

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