WHAT IS BULLYING

What is Bullying:

Florida Department of Education defines bullying as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees.

It is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting or dehumanizing gesture, by a student or adult that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation.

Florida Legislature adopted an anti-bullying, including cyber-bullying, law on April 2008. The law is called “Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act” (Fla. Stat. section 1006.147), named after Jeffrey Johnston, a 15-year-old boy who committed suicide after being the object of bullying, including Internet bullying, for two years. This Florida law prohibits bullying and harassment of any public K-12 student or employee, and requires public schools to adopt measures to protect students and employees from the physical and psychological effects of bullying and harassment. Read more HERE.