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Bullying Information

What is Bullying?

Bullying must have the 3 P’s to be considered bullying:

  • Power: imbalance of power
  • Purpose: person intends to hurt you
  • Pattern or Persistence: person continues action over and over again

3 Types of Bullying:

  • Physical (hitting, shoving, grabbing, kicking, spitting, tripping, punching, stealing, destroying or hiding someone’s belongings)
  • Verbal (threats, lies, rumors, racial comments, teasing, name-calling)
  • Social (refusing to talk to someone, telling others not to be someone’s friend, gossiping, excluding)

Bullying is NOT a normal childhood activity, it is NOT a “rite of passage”, and it is NOT the target’s fault.

What is the Difference between Bullying and Normal Peer Conflict/Mean Behavior?

Normal Peer Conflict/Mean Behavior Bullying
  • Equal power – friends
  • Happens occasionally
  • Accidental
  • Not serious
  • Equal emotional reaction
  • Not seeking power
  • Remorse – will take responsibility
  • Effort to solve the problem
  • Imbalance of power
  • Repeated negative actions
  • Intentional
  • Physical or emotional harm
  • Unequal emotional reaction
  • Seeking control or things
  • No remorse – blames the target
  • No effort to solve the problem

Warning Signs that Your Child may be the Victim of Bullies:

  • Frequently teased, ridiculed, threatened
  • Has a derogatory nickname
  • Unexplained bruises or injuries
  • Has belongings taken or damaged
  • Few or no close friends
  • Less assertive
  • Lacks the skills to respond to teasing
  • Appears weak or physically dominated
  • Frequently socially isolated
  • Tries to stay close to a teacher or other adult at recess

For more information on Jordan District's policies for the discipline related to bullying, see: