Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools Anti-Bullying Policy
As part of our Pastoral Care and Discipline Philosophy we
wish to discourage and eliminate bullying in school. The school acknowledges the right of each member of the
school community to work in a secure environment.
In valuing mutual respect, courtesy and an awareness of the
interdependence of people in a community, Ballinamore Post-Primary Schools adopt
a whole school approach to bullying. Management,
Teachers, Parents, Students have important roles to play in ensuring that
students do not suffer from bullying.
This involves three approaches: education; correction and
sanction.
Definition of Bullying.
Bullying is repeated aggression, verbal, psychological or physical;
conducted by an individual or group against others. (Department of Education Guidelines on Countering Bullying in
Schools) The bully may not be aware
of the distress, which is being caused, or it may be regarded as fun or a joke.
This does not excuse the action. Bullying
is an unacceptable form of behaviour with negative implications for the
individual student, his/her family and for the school community.
In order to raise an awareness of different types of
bullying, the effects of bullying and how bullying can be eliminated, a
cross-curricular approach is adopted. The
topic is addressed in classes such as Religious Education, Life Skills, CSPE,
History, and English. Each term the
school rules are brought to the attention of the students; bullying will be
mentioned in this context as a breach of the code of discipline and as
anti-social behaviour. From time to
time external agencies may address the students on this topic.
Students are encouraged to tell their parents, a teacher, a
friend or a member of the Students Council if they are being bullied or if
someone else is being bullied. The
context is not one of telling tales but of defending and upholding the
individual’s and the community’s right to be free from intimidation.
When bullying has been detected then corrective action will
be taken. Students who are involved
will be interviewed. The effects of
bullying and its seriousness will be explained and parents will be contacted.
The intention is to end the intimidation by creating an awareness on the
part of those engaged in bullying that their behaviour is unacceptable.
Those who have suffered need also to be reassured that their experience
is ended and that they can enjoy school life free from intimidation. Parents and
teachers play a vital role in this area.
If the bullying is of a very serious nature (ongoing for a
period of time, and or has resulted in injury) then a more serious sanction such
as suspension or expulsion will be considered.
The teachers, the Board of Management, the Parents Association and the Students Council, have accepted this policy. A review will take place annually.
