Harassment
Harassment is a serious offence. Unfortunately, it can be found in schools, and in the workplace. Harassment can be defined as verbal, visual, sexual, or physical conduct that creates an intimidating, hostile or highly uncomfortable environment. It is offensive, insulting, intimidating, humiliating or hurtful for the person on the receiving end of the behaviour. It does not belong in schools.
Some forms of harassment include using degrading words to describe an individual’s appearance, clothing, disability, racial origin, etc.; telling a joke or using language that causes embarrassment or awkwardness; displaying material that is racist, sexually offensive or derogatory; making written or verbal threats of abuse; or carrying out those threats.
A form of harassment is bullying. The Ontario Ministry of Education defines “bullying” as a dynamic of unhealthy interaction. It is a form of repeated aggression used from a position of power. It can be physical, verbal, or social. There is also “cyber bullying,” where an individual uses an Internet chat room or web site to harass.
The difference between harassment and just plain bad taste has to do with the number of times the comment or conduct is repeated, how severe the comment or conduct is, and whether the individual knew or should have known that the comment or conduct would cause pain, embarrassment, etc.
What to do if you are being harassed
First talk privately to the offender and explain how his/her actions or words are affecting you. Often the person may not realize that the “joke”, etc., was not funny to you. Most people are not deliberately cruel, and the problem may be easily solved.
If this does not work, report the situation to a member of the administration or any member of the staff with whom you are comfortable. That staff member will report the situation to the Principal who will follow the Board’s Harassment Policy and proceed according to the school and Board’s Code of Conduct.
Consequences
Harassment is a serious offence. The consequences of harassing another student or staff member will parallel those identified under Respect for Authority and Peers, on page 16.
ANTI-BULLYING PLEDGE
We the students of Lasalle Secondary School agree to join together to eliminate bullying at our school.
We believe that everybody should enjoy our school equally, feel safe, secure and accepted regardless of colour, race, gender, popularity, athletic ability, intelligence, religion and nationality.
Bullying can be pushing, shoving, and hitting, name calling, picking on, laughing at, and excluding someone. Bullying causes pain and stress to victims and is never justified.