School Faculty Pledge
I a faculty member of ______________________________ agree to join with others in my school and my community to stand united and take a firm stance against bullying in my school and in my community.
I ____________________________ believe that everyone, regardless of color, race, gender, popularity, athletic ability, intelligence, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, style of clothes, and physical looks, should have equal opportunities and rights to enjoy our schools, and do so while feeling safe.
Bullying consists of many things and include things such as; pushing, shoving, hitting, spitting on, pulling hair, kicking, calling names, making fun of, laughing at, and excluding someone from an activity. Bullying can never be justified, and is inexcusable in all circumstances. Being a bully cannot be contributed to “kids just being kids”, nor can it be contributed to “kids just teasing”. Bullying causes both physical and emotional pain to the victim. The victim is never the responsible person for being the target of a bullying attack.
By signing this pledge, I agree to:
1. I will aid our schools in the development of a clear and understandable policy in regards to bullying, and I will display these policies in a predominate place in my classroom, and around my school.
2. I will help train my fellow faculty members in the safe handling of bullying incidents.
3. I will help develop or adopt a curriculum that educates our community’s students about bullying.
4. I will teach my students about the forms of bullying that are less evident or obvious; things such as gossiping and exclusion.
5. I will discuss with students pro-active ways to combat bullying. (such as inviting a previously excluded student to join them for lunch)
6. I will help develop a support system for the students who are involved directly or indirectly with bullying. For example, peer to peer counseling or mediation.
7. I will help develop or adopt a support system for parents in order to inform them when their children are involved in incidents of bullying.
8. I will report all incidents of bullying that I see or am made aware of to an appropriate school faculty member or to local law enforcement.
9. I will strive to create a safe atmosphere where children will not be afraid to report incidents of bullying, nor will they feel that their reports will be ignored.
10. I will be there to support our community’s students who have been or are currently being bullied by others.
11. I will make sure that when a bullying incident does occur, that all students involved have an equal opportunity to state their version of the incident.
12. I will help my school in the implementation of consequences for the offenders in incidents of bullying. For example, verbal warnings, removal from a classroom or even removal from school grounds, require a verbal or written apology to the victim and their families, a mandatory parent/teacher/administrator meeting, detention, or even expulsion for the repeat offender.
13. I will help in the monitoring of individual incidents of bullying, and be fully informed as to their progress.
I ________________________________ am fully aware, and I acknowledge that if I see or become aware of a bullying incident, and I do not report it to the appropriate authorities, than I am just as guilty of bullying as the bully themselves.
Signed by: ______________________________________
Print Name: _____________________________________
Date: _________________________
