Bullying is not a normal part of growing up, and it does not build character. Bullying is a learned behaviour. Children and youth often learn bullying behaviours when they either experience being bullied or see it happening to others. 

Bullying is defined as repeated and hostile or demeaning behaviour by an individual in the school community where the behaviour is intended to cause harm, fear or distress to one or more other individuals in the school community, including psychological harm or harm to an individual’s reputation.

Bullying is different from conflict. When bullying behaviours go unchecked, it sends a message that these behaviours are acceptable. It is key then that bullying behaviours are reported, addressed and resolved.

Maintaining a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe school environment is a responsibility – one shared by students, parents, teachers, staff and trustees.

 

Four Common Types of Bullying

1. Physical: Physical bullying includes pushing, hitting, kicking, tripping, pinching or damaging property.
    
2. Verbal: Verbal bullying includes name-calling, insults, threats, intimidation, homophobic or racist remarks or verbal abuse.
    
3. Social and Emotional: Social and emotional bullying, also called "relational bullying," includes behavioural actions designed to harm a child’s reputation or cause humiliation. This includes lying and spreading rumours, negative facial gestures, playing mean jokes to embarrass or humiliate a child, mimicking the child in a mean way, encouraging social exclusion of a child, etc.
    
4. Cyber: Cyber bullying includes taunting, humiliation, threats or harrassment using the computer or other technology. This includes through social media sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) or the Internet, cruel websites targeting specific youth, humiliating others while playing online games, verbal or emotional bullying through chat rooms, instant message or text, posting photos of other youth on rating websites, etc.