Dignity For All Students Act

It’s Right and it’s the Law

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

Workshop Goals:

• To help you better:• Understand what is D.A.S.A. • Notice when D.A.S.A. is violated. What are

misbehaviors?• Intervene appropriately when

bullying/harassment are witnessed by you or reported to you.

• Create a culture of Dignity for All

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Purpose behind the law

“….to afford all students an environment free of any harassment that substantially interferes with their education, regardless of the basis of the harassment…Students need a safe, secure and effective learning environment”

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Frequency of Bullying, Name Calling or Harassment

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

Bullying & Harassment lead to…•Skipping school•Avoiding bus, bathrooms, recess/lunch, locker rooms, sport teams•Difficulty concentrating/ learning•High risk behaviors

•Drug use•Alcohol abuse•Suicide

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Pheobe Prince10th Grade

South Hadley, MAHanged herself

Carl Joseph Walker Hoover

6th GradeSpringfield, MAHanged himself

Christian Taylor9th Grade

Richmond, VAHanged himself

Tyler ClementiCollege Freshman

Ridgewood, NJJumped off the George

Washington Bridge

Asher Brown8th GradeHarris, TX

Shot himself

Seth Walsh8th Grade

Tehachapi, CADied after eight days on life support after attempting to hang

himself

Justin Aaberg10th Grade

Anoka, MN Hanged himself

Hope Witsell8th Grade

Ruskin, FLHanged herself

Negative Impact for All

Students being bullied tend to report:•Feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation•Low self-esteem•Poor school performance•Thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts

Students who bully tend to:•Exhibit defiant and delinquent behavior•Have poor school performance•Be more likely to drop out of school•Be more likely to bring weapons to school

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Common Role Characteristics

BullyBully-VictimVictim

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

Behavior disorders (ADHD, etc.)Highly aggressiveNegative images of “others”

Low level of social competenceEasily influenced by peers

Low level of social competenceLack basic social skillsUnable to make friends

Peer rejection

The LawNo student shall be subjected to harassment by employees or students on school property or at a school function; nor shall any student be subject to discrimination.

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Harassment is…

“Creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by verbal threats, intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student's

•Threats•Intimidation•Abuse

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educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being"

Bullying is….

•“A problem behavior based on power relationships in which a student or a group of students uses power aggressively to cause emotional or physical pain and distress to another student.”

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•Bullying experiences include not only physical aggression but also verbal aggression, including teasing and taunting, spreading rumors, or socially rejecting and isolating another student. These actions can occur face to face or digitally (known as Cyber-bullying.)

Harassment/Discrimination for what?

Based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex”

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Felt unsafe because…

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

Physical Harassment or Assault

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

What’s your experience?Everyone stand up. You are going to hear a number of statements. This activity requires you to find other people in the room who have the same response as you.

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• Favorite type of pizza• Eye color• National Origin• Race• Religion• Disability

Does it matter…

•If it’s real or perceived?•What’s the line between real and unreal?•Discuss each

•Race•Color•Weight•National origin•Religion•Disability•Sexual orientation•Gender•Sex

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Look at the picture below of the two tables and see if you can determine which of the tops is bigger.

Shepard, Roger, Mind Sights: Original Visual Illusions, Ambiguities, and Other Anomalies, New York: W. H. Freeman and Company, 1990, p. 48

What’s school property & school function?

WCSD Code of Conduct:•School Property -

• in any building used by the District• on any land owned by the District• in/on any school bus

•School Function - • any school sponsored event or

activity

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Finding helpOne staff member at every school will be identified as the Building Level Dignity Coordinator (BLDC)

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HS = Kristin ShawMS = Melissa PittmanLB & RH = Christine WilliamsTAFT = Leah Hindley District Level Dignity Coordinator

= Maureen Peterson

Protection for You

Any person acting in good faith who reports such information to school officials or law enforcement shall have immunity from civil liability.

MUST GIVE RECORD OF ALL INCIDENTS TO THE BLDC

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Washingtonville Complaint Form(Can be found on L drive or in the main office of each building)

AppendixWashingtonville Central School District

Dignity Act Complaint Form Name of Complainant: ________________ ID #: __ Grade __

Complainant Contact Information:_____________________________

Alleged Perpetrators of the Discrimination/Harassment:

_______________________________________________________

Basis of this complaint (real or percieved):

_____ Race, color, ethnic group, national origin

_____ Sex, Gender, Sexual orientation,, sexual harassment

_____ Religion, Religious practice

_____ Weight, Physical characteristic

_____ Disability

_____ Other: ______________________________________

Description of each incident of harassment and/or discrimination, including the date/time/place, the background to the incident, the participants involved, and attempts/steps already taken to resolve the problem. (use additional paper as needed)

#1____________________________________________________

Names of Witness to the Incident:

#2____________________________________________________

Names of Witness to the Incident:

Names of others you may have discussed this complaint/incident/grievance with

Proposed Remedy/Outcome/Solution sought by the complainant: Indicate your opinion on how this problem might be resolved._________________________________________________________________________________________________

I certify that all statements on this form are accurate and true to the best of my knowledge.

Signature of Complainant _____________________ Date ______

Person on taking the report: ________________________________

Conclusion of Investigation:

_______________________________________________________

Follow – up with complainant made on ________via ____________

Date / phone, meeting, mail

______________Signature of Building Level Dignity Act Coordinator

____ Appeal to District Level Dignity Act Coordinator on ___Date

Reporting Harassment“felt reporting would worsen the situation in some way”

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

% of students who report harassment

“concern that reporting would further provoke the perpetrators”

High school students less likely to report

If they don’t report it… we have to notice it.

•What might students bullying look like?•What are things you should watch for to indicate that bullying may be occurring?•Playing? Fighting? Bullying?(Handout)

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With the people sitting in your group, answer the following:

Identify the Red Flags

Become aggressive and unreasonable Begin to bully othersGrades drop, lose interest in school/activitiesMoney, books or clothes destroyed or “lost”Withdrawn, start stammering, lack confidence

Avoid certain areas (riding the bus, eating in cafe, certain hall, etc.)

Distressed and anxious Sitting alone, stop hanging with friendsAttempt or threaten suicide Unexplained bruises, cuts, scratches Refuse to talk about it

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

6 Steps of Intervention

1. Stop the misbehavior2. Support the target of the behavior3.To the aggressor(s): Name the inappropriate behavior

6 Steps of Intervention

4. Empower the bystanders with appreciation for support or suggestions on how to act in the future.5. Impose immediate and appropriate consequences for the aggressor(s).6. Take steps to make sure the targeted student will be protected from future bullying. File a report with BLDC.

Be FAIR & CONSISTENTYou are being judged – every day

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Kids are like Supreme Court JusticesThey remember whether you listened, responded

How could you handle it?

Each group will be given a scenario of misbehavior that could happen while you are at work.

Each person in the group will have a different role to play. Have one person 'role play' the positive adult intervention.

Be prepared to share & discuss!

Frequency of comments from staff

*Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED

•Ignore students (pretend to not see)•Play favorites•Join in taunting•Overlook bullying

Behaviors to EMPLOY•Set expectations•Create trust•Build a culture of safety•Be hyper-vigilant•Respond consistently•Get the whole story

•BELIEVE students

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Behavior to AVOID

Build a Team

•Define and teach expected behaviors and consequences•Don’t assume they know

•Enlist students as positive by-standers.

Peers intervene only 11-19% of the time but they are more effective than adults.•Intervention is successful within 10 seconds 57% of the time *

Creating a Culture of Dignity for All

Talk to your group members....

•What do you do to create a positive culture?

•What's one new thing you will try this fall?

Possible ways of creating a positive culture:

•Commit to children’s emotional and physical safety•Get to know children and their interests•Identify potential victims•Use referrals effectively•Make connections in the schools •Smile, be friendly

• Move around •Maintain an orderly environment•Use assigned seats•Observe change – ask about it•Inquire without embarrassing•Maintain confidentiality•Intervene - don't ignore•Give positive feedback when you see proper behavior

Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED *

Questions or Comments

Dignity for All Students Act (c) 2011 NYSED *

Closing thoughts…

•Be the change you want to see in the world.

•Mahatma Gandhi

•Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented.

•Ellie Wiesel

•Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

•Golden Rule

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