The Carrollton-Farmers Branch School District defines bullying as the following:
Written or verbal expression, including electronic communication, or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the District that exploits an imbalance of power and interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school, and either
(1) has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or damage to the student’s property; or
(2) is sufficiently severe enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.
Staff are trained annually on Bullying Prevention, Intervention, and Reporting Procedures. In addition, the district has implemented the following prevention programs:
*R-Time: Relationships To IMprove Education
R-Time is a weekly 10-15 minute lesson designed to foster positive relationships between students. The program was developed and implemented in the United Kingdom in 2002 and was begun in Carrollton-Farmers Branch in 2010. Students are randomly paired with classmates and are asked to engage in collaborative activities while practicing manners and demonstrating respect. The program is conducted on all CFB ISD Elementary campuses and has been shown to improve behavior, reduce bullying, raise self-esteem, and accelerate learning. The founders of R-Time, Greg Sampson and Pete Harvey, have come from the United Kingdom to Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD to personally train staff on methodology. For more information about the R-Time program, please visit: www.rtime.info
*Negotiate
Negotiate builds upon principles of R-Time. The 15-20 minute weekly sessions focus on “Real Life” and “Real World” situations and is conducted in all Carrollton-Farmers Branch Middle Schools. The program is based on the principle that by placing students in a well defined and supportive situation, they will develop inter-personal skills and positive relationships. Negotiate allows students to develop and express opinions regarding challenging issues, fosters and develops relationships with a wide range of fellow students, exposes students to a wide range of viewpoints, and helps to develop a climate of respect. For more information about the Negotiate program, please visit: www.rtime.info/usa/negotiate.php
For More Information:
Stop Bullying – www.stopbullying.gov
PACER’S National Bullying Prevention Center – http://www.pacer.org/bullying/