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Bullying & Harassment

Information for Parents - What to do if your child is bullied, if your child is the bully, or your child sees someone being bullied.

Information for Schools - Programs and recommendations to assist in reducing bullying

TBI School Violence Hotline
    (1-800-824-3463)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
    (1-800-273-8255)

While every child must learn how to interact with others and deal with difficult situations they do not have to tolerate being bullied or harassed. Addressing bullying is important to all students involved. Students avoiding school because of bullying will suffer academically as well as socially.

Every student deserves to be treated with respect and have a safe and civil learning environment.  Furthermore, Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1016 requires that every school district have a policy prohibiting bullying and harassment as well as procedures for investigating reports of bullying and harassment. Questions regarding bullying should be directed to Mike Herrmann in the Office of Safe & Supportive Schools at (615) 741-8466 or via email to Mike.Herrmann@tn.gov.

Definitions

Bullying
Conduct that meets one or more of the following criteria: is an act directed at one or more students that is intended to harm or embarrass; is repeated over time; and involves an imbalance of physical, emotional, or social power.
Harassment
Conduct that meets one or more of the following criteria: is an act directed at one or more students that is received as harmful or embarrassing; is directed at one or more students; substantially interferes with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one or more students; substantially affects the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from the school district’s educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing emotional distress; is based on a student’s actual or perceived distinguishing characteristic, or is based on an association with another person who has or is perceived to have any distinguishing characteristics; is repeated over time – is severe, persistent, and pervasive; causes mental duress, or psychological trauma to the victim
Cyberbullying
The use of information and communication technologies, -- such as e-mail, cell phone text or picture messages, instant messaging, and defamatory personal Web sites, social networking sites, and online personal polling sites – to support deliberate, hostile behavior intended to frighten or harm others.