Bullying

Introducing Anonymous Incident Reporting with STOPit

Valley View ISD is pleased to offer anonymous reporting of incidents through a program called STOPit. Below you can watch a short video about what STOPit is. Also below is a link to the STOPit website and to download their app.

Students, parents, school staff, and anyone else with knowledge of an incident can use the app (or website) to report the incident. We believe this will help continue to make our school a safe and supportive environment for our students.

When reporting an incident, you will be prompted for a school code. Our unique codes for Valley View ISD are listed below.

Please enter that campus code when reporting. 

STOPit website:https://appweb.stopitsolutions.com/login/

*STOPit App Store Download Links (iTunes, Google Play)

Campus Name

Code

Valley View High School

VVHS

Valley View Early College High School

VVECC

Valley View Jr. High

VVJH

Valley View Elementary

VVE

Valley View North

VVN

Wilbur E Lucas Elementary

VVWEL

Valley View South Elementary

VVSE

Anti-Bullying At Valley View ISD

At Valley View ISD we believe that every student has a right to be in a school that is safe and secure, to be treated with dignity and respect. We will work to make Valley View ISD School free from intimidation and fear so that all students can learn and work in an environment where they can achieve their full potential.

What Is Bullying?

"A deliberate action by an individual or group usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual either physically or emotionally."

 Bullying can take many forms but the most common are:

  • Physical - hitting, kicking, taking belongings.

  • Verbal - name-calling, insulting, making offensive remarks.

  • Homophobic - name-calling, insulting, making offensive remarks.

  • Indirect - spreading malicious stories, rumors and deliberately excluding others from social groups.

  • Racist - taunts or offensive language about culture or race.

  • Sexual - unwanted physical contact or abusive comments.

  • Cyber - using social networking sites or mobile phones to cause offense to others.

  • Isolating - deliberately ignoring or encouraging others to ignore students.

  • Students with special educational needs or disabilities - name-calling, insulting, making offensive remarks.

What exactly is Cyberbullying?

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place via electronic communications or digital devices such as cell phones, tablets, or computers. It is deliberate harassing, intimidating, shaming, or otherwise targeting another person via electronic devices. Cyberbullying is a serious act that has lasting consequences.

Cyberbullying commonly occurs on social media like text messaging through devices; instant messaging through devices; email provider services; social media message features; diary sites; interactive games; online profiles; Apps; and more. With easy access and the prevalence of such media and digital forums, personal content can be viewed by strangers as well as acquaintances. Racism, intolerance, and fear can also play a role.

Cyberbullying has special aspects. It can be persistent, permanent, and/or hard to notice. When it is persistent, it can be difficult for students who experience it to find relief. When cyberbullying is posted online, it becomes publicly available and may lead to a negative online reputation impacting college admissions, employment, and other areas of life. Cyberbullying is harder to recognize since educators and parents may not overhear or see it taking place. Similar to acts of bullying, students may be reluctant to report cyberbullying due to humiliation or embarrassment.

Is Cyberbullying a Crime? 

Some types of online or electronic conduct are crimes. The underlying challenge to determining criminal acts is that cyberbullying can take many forms and can violate a number of disparate criminal statues dependent on the underlying content. As examples, but not an exhaustive list, statutory violations can include:

  • Identity Theft, Penal Code section 530.5; here the harasser assumes the identity of the victims and creates a social media page or communication that appears to come from the victim. This is also a violation of Penal Code section 529, false personation.

  • Unlawful recording, Penal Code section 632; here the harasser records the victim without their knowledge and posts the conversation.

  • Cyber exploitation generally. See https://oag.ca.gov/cyberexploitation. A list of crimes can be found at https://oag.ca.gov/sites/all/files/agweb/pdfs/ce/cyber-exploitation-post.pdf.

Unfortunately, cyberbullying is not limited to a specified form of conduct. Its only limit is that of the human imagination to cause harm and perpetrators are consistently adopting new technology and innovative techniques to accomplish their goals.

Social Media Bullying

According to bullyingstatistics.org cyberbullying statistics show most cases are taking place on popular social media sites.  Social Media Bullying can take many forms, such as sending mean messages to people or threats to a person's life, aggressive or rude texts, tweets, posts, or messages. It can also be stealing a person's account information to publicize private information by spreading it on social media websites.

 

Anti-Bullying Apps for parents and students

Rethink

Surfie App (PureSight Online Child Safety)

My Mobile Watchdog

Net Nanny