Drivers' Ed
...about Bullying
March 06, 2008
“Bullying behavior will be stopped, whenever and wherever it starts.” This is our policy in a nutshell! Since so many of our students ride to or from school using district transportation, our drivers are key players in the effort to ensure a safe and happy experience for every child, every day.
Recently, the drivers participated in a lively discussion about the actual behaviors that are to be stopped, and a standard way to approach offenders. There are three main categories of bullying (physical, social, and emotional), and each one has verbal and nonverbal expressions. Here are some early-warning signs the drivers will watch for.
Physical bullying: pushing/shoving, taking small items from others, making threatening gestures, blaming the victim, defacing property
Social bullying: starting or spreading rumors, teasing about appearance, excluding someone
Emotional bullying: insulting remarks, calling names, giving dirty looks, insulting gestures
Students who practice these behaviors will be spoken to quickly and as privately as possible. Many times, they don’t intend to hurt anyone, and they need education. In cases where a quiet talk doesn’t help, then parents and school principals will become involved.
We know that our patrons are very supportive of our drivers!
