In Manitoba, there is formal legislation on bullying found in section 47.1 of the Loi sur les écoles publiques. Last updated in 2013, the legislation states that schools in the province must establish a Code of Conduct that deals with, among other issues, bullying prevention and response. The Code of Conduct must mandate respectful behaviour from both staff and students, and among other requirements, requires appropriate use of the Internet, social media and text messaging. The legislation includes a duty to report bullying and cyberbullying to the school’s principal for employees of the school board, district, or division, and any person who has care or charge of a student in a school-approved activity. Although not explicitly mentioned, this could include parents in their capacity as volunteers.

The law pertains to all incidents of bullying that affect the school’s learning climate, those that happen in any school setting or activity. While the role of parents is not explicit under the Act, parents/guardians should be supportive of the school’s Code of Conduct and expect it to be enforced.

Pour plus de détails concernant la législation relative au cyberharcèlement, notamment la législation fédérale, veuillez consulter : Consequences juridiques du cyberharcèlement 
Legal Requirements for Private Schools in Manitoba

The Public Schools Act in Manitoba defines “school” as a public school. However, it also states that the Minister may make grants to a private school if specific conditions are met. Section 60(5) of the Act suggests that private schools in Manitoba are not exempt from regulation by the Minister and so the same responsibilities that public schools owe to maintain a safe and inclusive environment may also apply to private schools.

Parents/guardians have a responsibility to work with the adults in their child’s life (teachers, school principals, coaches, and group leaders) so that together, they can teach student that bullying is wrong and unacceptable. Schools, (public or private) school boards, parents, teachers, and ministries are all responsible for creating safe and inclusive environments where everyone is treated with respect, including addressing training for teachers and other staff on bullying prevention.

Voici vos droits en tant que parent en vertu de la législation actuelle :

Au niveau de la classe/de l’école :

• You have the right to expect that the principal of each school, in consultation with the school’s advisory committee, has established a Code of Conduct for students and school staff, and an emergency response plan for the school, which are to be reviewed at least annually.
• You have the right to expect that bullying behaviours will be reported by any employee of a school board and/or any person caring for one or more students during the prescribed school-approved activity to the school principals as soon as reasonably possible.
• You have the right to be notified by the school principal as soon as reasonably possible if your child has been harmed as a result of any unacceptable conduct, including cyberbullying.

Au niveau des conseils scolaires :

• You have the right to expect the Board to establish written policies on the appropriate use of the Internet, social media, text messaging, cellphones, and other forms of electronic communication.
• You have the right to expect the Board to establish written policies concerning respect for human diversity, and ensuring that the policy is implemented in each school in the school division or district.

Au niveau du ministère :

• You have the right to expect the Ministry may develop clear procedures and regulations for how unacceptable conduct must be reported.
• You have the right to expect the Ministry to address training for teachers and other staff about bullying prevention, the promotion of human diversity, and the creation of a positive school environment.

If your child confides that he or she has been bullied or cyberbullied at school, or if you hear about it from school personnel or someone else, your rights as a parent under the current legislation are:

Au niveau de la classe/de l’école :

• You have the right to be notified, as soon as reasonably possible, by the school principal, of:

1. the nature of the bullying incidence that resulted in harm to your child;
2. the nature of the harm; and
3. the steps taken to protect your child’s safety, including the nature of any disciplinary measures taken in response to the bullying behaviour.

• You have the right to expect the principal of the school to ensure the appropriate interventions and disciplinary measures are included in their school’s Code of Conduct.

Au niveau des conseils scolaires :

• You have the right to expect that the Board will engage in assessment and monitoring of bullying data to inform future policy improvements and the impact of anti-bullying policies.

Les élèves qui sont victimes de harcèlement ne veulent souvent pas que leurs parents/tuteurs en fassent part à l’école pour peur ou honte, mais les enseignants et l’administration doivent en savoir davantage afin de pouvoir y mettre fin. Travaillez avec votre enfant pour déterminer les adultes qu’il ou elle peut faire confiance et avec lesquels il ou elle se sent le plus à l’aise, afin que ces adultes puissent participer à la solution.

Rappelez-vous : approchez-vous de l’école d’une manière calme et constructive, malgré les sentiments douloureux d’agressivité et de peur que vous pourriez éprouver. Il est votre devoir de protéger votre enfant, mais il est également du devoir de l’école de maintenir un environnement d’apprentissage sûr pour tous les élèves. Il incombe à l’école de déterminer les réponses et les conséquences appropriées pour l’élève qui a harcelé et de préserver la vie privée des élèves. Restez concentrés sur la résolution du problème – empêchez de nouveaux incidents et assurez-vous que votre enfant se sente en sécurité et soutenu.

Si vous découvrez que votre enfant a été victime de harcèlement scolaire ou en ligne, soit en apprenant à son sujet par le personnel scolaire, soit par quelqu’un d’autre, vos droits en tant que parent en vertu de la législation actuelle sont les suivants :

Au niveau de la classe/de l’école :

• You have the right to request that the name or any other identifying or personal information about your child is not disclosed to the parents or guardians of the child who will be notified in cases of bullying incidences.
• You have the right to expect your child’s school to follow appropriate protocol in informing you when your child has become subject to interventions or discipline.
• You have the right to expect your child to be subject to appropriate interventions and disciplinary measures as included in their school’s Code of Conduct.

Au niveau des conseils scolaires :

• If your child is suspended for five days or longer, you have the right to make representations about the suspension to the Board.

Parents have the responsibility to cooperate fully with their child’s teachers and other educational staff in ensuring that their child complies with the school’s Code of Conduct and discipline and behaviour management policies.

1. Prenez le temps de gérer vos émotions. L’apprentissage que votre enfant a été victime de harcèlement physique ou numérique – ou de harcèlement envers autrui – peut être très douloureux. Écoutez attentivement les informations et, si nécessaire, indiquez que vous avez besoin de temps pour vous acclimater à cette information avant de passer à autre chose.
2. Respond caringly to your child. Take reports of bullying seriously. Always recognize your child’s courage in reporting or talking about the bullying. Explain to it is your responsibility to help solve the problem and stop the bullying, and this includes reporting the bullying to the school and working cooperatively with the school.  Reassure the child who was bullied that he or she has the right to be safe, to be protected by adults at school, and to be treated with respect by everyone. Help the child who bullied understand these rights. Emphasize his or her responsibility to treat others with respect.
3. Visitez www.prevnet.ca pour obtenir plus d’informations sur le harcèlement.
4. Avant de rencontrer le personnel de l’école pour élaborer un plan de sécurité pour votre enfant ou un plan de réaction positive si votre enfant a été victime de harcèlement, fixez des objectifs à court et à long terme. Il est important de déterminer ce que vous souhaitez accomplir et de savoir à quoi vous attendre de l’école en fonction de ses droits et de ses responsabilités en vertu de la législation.
5. Suivre et contrôler l’efficacité du plan. Consultez régulièrement votre enfant et l’école pour vous assurer que le problème est pris en charge et qu’aucun nouvel incident n’est survenu. Commencez par consulter régulièrement, puis réduisez progressivement les visites à tous les quelques jours, toutes les semaines, etc. Il est souvent nécessaire de suivre la situation pendant plusieurs mois.
6. Dès le premier moment où vous vous rendez compte de la situation, rédigez un rapport détaillé sur ce qui s’est passé, quand cela s’est produit, ce qui a été fait et si le plan d’action a été efficace pour mettre fin à la harceleurie.

Gardez à l’esprit que vous êtes un modèle pour vos enfants. Les enfants regardent très attentivement ce que font leurs parents et sont influencés par leurs actions ainsi que par leurs paroles. Si vos enfants voient que vous communiquez avec respect et restez constructif face aux désaccords avec les autres, ils sont plus susceptibles de faire de même.

Read more at Safe Schools Manitoba