- Wilson County Schools
- Responding to Bullying Situations
Bullying & Cyberbullying Prevention
Responding to Bullying Situations
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When your child is the victim…
- Encourage your child to report any problems to you, their school counselor, a teacher, an SRO, their school principal, or any other trusted adult
- When possible, document incidents that demonstrate the extent of the problem
- Play an active role in guiding your child through the reporting process, and empower them to take the appropriate steps required to address the issue
- Notify the school administration immediately if your child is physically threatened
- Do not try to fix the problem by confronting the bully or the bully’s parents
Tip: Do not encourage your child to retaliate or “counter-bully” their aggressor. While this may seem like a rational response, such behavior complicates the investigation for administrators and/or law enforcement. In many cases, this actually prevents the authorities from determining which student is the victim.
When your child is a bystander…
- Encourage your child to report the incident to school officials immediately
- Make sure your child supports the victim by including him/her in social activities
When cyberbullying is the problem…
- Document any messages or posts
- Avoid interaction by “blocking” future messages or emails and avoiding problem websites, until the incident can be reported and investigated
- Report the situation to someone at your child’s school. Generally, the problems extend from home to school, or vice versa
When bullying doesn’t stop…
- If you’re not satisfied with the school’s response, reach out to the school district office and file a formal grievance
- If you believe that a crime has occurred, report the incident to a local law enforcement agency