"Bullying cannot be a rite of passage in our nation’s schools. Instead, our schools must be safe and nurturing environments that promote learning and full participation by all students. Bullying, sexual harassment and gender stereotyping of any student, including LGBT students, have no place in our nation’s schools. We must work to stop those abusive behaviors when they take place, repair their harmful effects and prevent them from happening in the future. We will use every tool in our law enforcement arsenal to ensure that all students have access to equal educational opportunity."
~ Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division Thomas E. Perez at the NSBA Council of School Attorneys. Boston ~ Friday, April 20, 2012
Prevention Strategies
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Create an Empathetic School
Incorporate a community based anti-bullying curriculum with:
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The International Bullying Prevention Association recommends that both the school climate of the school and the social norms in the school and community must be addressed with regards to bullying behavior. The goal is to develop a learning community that is both physically and emotionally safe, a place where students trust and respect one another, and a place where the adults demonstrate trust and respect. "In a caring school community, a culture of kindness and respect permeates each classroom and the entire school. Students are treated warmly, and staff members, parents, and other adults in the school are treated as valued, contributing members of the school community" (Laminack & Wadsworth, 2012).