Bullying Prevention Month: Do You Have A Story In Brewster?

BREWSTER, NY — National Bullying Prevention Month kicks off this October across the nation.

According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, every day, thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers while at school, after school in their neighborhoods, and even when they are at home, through social media and texts.

“There are many ways to support bullying prevention as an individual or with friends and family, and within your school or community,” the center states on its website. (Learn some here)

Here’s what the Brewster school district says about bullying:

The District condemns and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment of students based on such categories as actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (identity or expression), or sex by school employees or students on school property and at school-sponsored activities and events that take place at locations off school property.
"Harassment" and "bullying" shall mean the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, including cyberbullying, that:
(a) has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical wellbeing; or
(b) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety; or
(c) reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or
(d) occurs off school property and creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property.
For the purposes of this definition the term "threats, intimidation or abuse" shall include verbal and non-verbal actions. Cyberbullying means harassment or bullying that occurs through any form of electronic communication.
The District also prohibits all forms of hazing. Hazing is an induction, initiation or membership process involving harassment which produces public humiliation, physical or emotional discomfort, bodily injury or public ridicule or creates a situation where public humiliation, physical or emotional discomfort, bodily injury or public ridicule is likely to occur.

Learn more about the Brewster district’s policies.

PATCH SERIES: DEALING WITH BULLIES

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying.

Do you have a story to tell? Email us at bullies@patch.com, or share your views in the comments.

This article contains reporting from the Patch national desk.

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