Almost everyone has had an odd incident that borderlines bullying and sticks with them. Maybe it is was a weird interaction with another person that made you feel like the butt of someone else’s inside joke. Maybe it was seeing people snicker when someone tapped on your shoulder, hearing a comment they assumed you couldn’t hear, no matter how loudly they said it. This resonates with people and affects their views on themselves and the world around them.
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, in 2022, one out of every five students reported being bullied, and 41.3% believed that the bullying would happen again.
Students who are victims of bullying have a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues as a result. Stopbullying.gov reported that they are often more susceptible to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, and Bipolar Disorder; they also linked experiences with harassment leading to increased academic struggle and addiction. Not only does this have an effect on students’ mental health but dean, Jessica Bernacki has said it is shown to affect their physical well-being.
“In some cases, students may also experience physical symptoms such as stomachaches, sleep difficulties, headaches, or loss of appetite,” said Bernacki.
Students deserve to feel safe and comfortable while trying to get an education. No one deserves to be harassed for simply being themselves or presenting differently than others. Bright Horizons links personal biases as the cause of bullying, such as biases towards appearance, race, religion, sexuality, and gender are all commonly seen in harassment cases. Bernacki also cites increased activity on social media as possibly opening the door to harassment and toxic environments in school.
“Negative behavior online can lead to increased tension within the school community, which may result in hallway conflicts or verbal altercations between students,” said Bernacki.
In cases at Plainfield South, deans follow up with both parties, but in order for the situation to be qualified as bullying, behavior must be proved to be repetitive. According to Bernacki, if the situation qualifies as bullying, it is then categorized as either a Level 2 or Level 3 offense.
“Bullying may result in consequences such as detentions, in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, or social probation from events, clubs, or other activities. If the behavior continues and blends into other categories such as threatening behavior, assault, fighting, sexual harassment, or extortion, it becomes a Level 3 violation. Consequences at this level may include Catalyst placement, extended out-of-school suspension, placement at an alternative facility, or possible expulsion,” said Bernacki.
The school offers expectation talks at the start of the year, along with triangle teams to help fight bullying before it starts. By offering a list of consequences and resources, Bernacki states that students are often deterred from acting out poorly.
