Rockingham County Public Schools is committed to creating a caring learning environment that values the richness of diversity within our community. Mean behavior, conflicts, and rude behavior can sometimes be confused with bullying. Someone is being mean when they say or do something to hurt someone on purpose once or twice. A conflict is a two-sided problem between two or more people. Conflict is a normal part of life! Saying or doing something that hurts someone else without mean intentions is rude.

Definition of Bullying
Bullying is unwanted, repeated, and aggressive behavior towards others that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying does not include ordinary teasing, horseplay, argument, or peer conflict.

Power
Kids who bully use their real or perceived power (physical, social, access to information) to control or harm others.

Pattern
Bullying behaviors happen more than once or twice or are highly likely to happen more than once.

Purpose
A person can reasonably predict that the aggressive behavior of kids who bully was done to hurt others.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Forms of Bullying

Verbal
Saying or writing mean things; teasing, taunting, threatening harm, inappropriate comments

Social
Hurting someone’s reputation or relationships; purposeful exclusion, spreading rumors, intentional public embarrassment

Physical
Hurting someone’s body or possessions; hitting/kicking, tripping, taking or breaking someone’s things, rude hand gestures, spitting

Cyberbullying can be verbal or social bullying using electronic technology

Source: StopBullying.Gov

See Something? Say Something!
Students can use their voices when they see bullying, conflict, or mean behavior. They can use phrases like “please stop” to set boundaries with peers. In more serious situations, they can also use their voices to reach out to a trusted school adult like a teacher, counselor, or administrator for help.

How Can Parents Help?

Talk with your children about what they are doing online. Set appropriate limits and discuss expectations. Make conversations about technology use and social media a regular part of your interactions.