ANTI-BULLYING AND DISCIPLINE POLICY
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
At Montessori School of Maui we believe that every child has the right
to an education and every child has the right to be safe. We do not tolerate bullying, we educate our
staff and students about bullying, we closely monitor the behavior of our staff
and students to ensure that bullying is not allowed to occur and we take swift
action to deal with any bullying that does occur.
Definition of Bullying
MOMI defines bullying as a series of repeated intentionally cruel
incidents, involving the same children, in the same bully and victim roles.
This, however, does not mean that in order for bullying to occur there must be
repeat offenses. Bullying can consist of a single interaction. Bullying
behavior may also be defined as a criminal act if the bully is twelve years of
age or older. Bullying is a willful, conscious desire to hurt, frighten or
threaten. Bullying is ongoing in nature.
It can be physical
and/or verbal and includes racial, religious, and sexual harassment, offensive
gestures, inappropriate touching, intimidation, extortion and social exclusion.
It is behavior that is designed to hurt, injure, embarrass, upset or discomfort the
other person.
DISCIPLINE
POLICY
Discipline at the Montessori School of Maui (MOMI) is based on a
positive attitude toward children. To this end, the staff models grace,
courtesy, respect and problem-solving skills. Students are taught that MOMI is
a peaceful school based upon mutual respect and that there is zero tolerance
for violence or bullying. Appropriate use of non-violent communication, and
frustration tolerance skills are expected; as opposed to crying, hitting,
name-calling and similar behaviors.
Montessori School of Maui requires all employees, and encourages parents
to report any known incidents of bullying to their child’s teacher and/or the
Head of School. When an incident is
observed, employees are required to complete an Incident Report and to send
copies to the Head of School and the Business Manager. This policy is located
in the MOMI Staff Handbook Section II. Standard Workplace Policies, which is
available online and in the school office.
SCHOOL COMMITMENT
In line with Non-violent communication, the school will:
• Encourage teachers
to embody programs against bullying in their classroom curriculum in order to
develop educative and positive programs to minimize bullying.
• Record incidents
of bullying in a consistent way, using the MOMI Incident Report form, that
allows for monitoring of such behavior.
• Discuss
appropriate standards of behavior and school rules with all students.
• Involve the other
agencies as necessary.
The school will support students who are being bullied by:
• Improving the
self-esteem of victims through activities that build self-confidence, self-
awareness, and the ability to stand up for
ones self. The school employs counseling when
appropriate, and/or social skills programs.
• Developing
programs to assist bullies to work cooperatively with others rather than in a
confrontational way.
• Taking bullying
seriously and thoroughly investigating.
DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE
In keeping with the
Montessori philosophy, our policy is to help children to arrive at inner discipline
through concentrated work. In all areas the child is assisted in developing the
skills necessary to control his/her own actions to develop self- discipline. Natural
and/or logical consequences are used as a means of helping the child to develop
inner limits.
- If a child is disruptive or
endangers others, staff immediately intervene in as positive a manner as
possible.
- If a child has trouble settling
into the class on any day, the child is redirected to an activity by the
teacher.
- If the child is still unable to
settle down, the teacher will intervene and may have the child remain in
close proximity until the child is able to calm down.
- When an incident occurs, the
teacher or staff person involved will submit a summary of the incident on
an Incident Report form.
- If behavior becomes extreme, the
teacher will schedule a meeting with the parents and, depending on the
circumstances, with the Head of School while the incident is still fresh
in the child’s mind. Staff, parents, and child will work together to
modify behavior.
- If a pattern of disruptive behavior
develops,
- teachers will record behavioral
observations and visually observe the child at all times until the
behavior changes.
- the teacher will inform the
student’s parents
- appropriate staff will be
notified
- the student, teacher, parents,
and head of school will work together to modify behavior and when
appropriate additional professional help will be required
- If a child persists in the
unprovoked, willful hurting of others, after being reasoned with and
experiencing consequences, there will be an immediate one day suspension
from school.
- Continued negative behavior will
result in the school requiring a behavioral evaluation by a professional, and
the possible removal of the student from the school
Unacceptable Conduct
MOMI defines unacceptable conduct as any behavior that creates unsafe
conditions including, but not limited to, acts of bullying, physical violence,
harassment, and illegal acts.
Procedures to be
followed when a pattern of unacceptable conduct is identified:
- Verbal notification to each parent
involved.
- Consultation with parent and
teacher and when appropriate the Head of School.
- Written plan for subsequent action
and follow up review.
- If required, notification will be
given to the relevant authorities
Bullying Prevention
and Management
Montessori School of Maui encourages students to show respect for differences
including but not limited to race, gender, and religion while fostering a
school environment free from all forms of bullying & intimidation whether
physical, social, emotional or verbal.
The school’s focus, based
on Montessori pedagogy, is on preventative measures for such behaviors, by
teaching children how to:
- be caring and courteous
- cooperate with others,
- deal with angry feelings
- stand up for themselves without
being aggressive
- respect and celebrate the unique
qualities of every person