Manitoba’s Public Schools Act defines bullying as behaviour that is intended to cause, or should be known to cause, fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress or other forms of harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, reputation or property. It is also behaviour that is intended to create, or should be known to create, a negative school environment for another person. Bullying usually takes place in a context of a real or perceived power imbalance between people involved and is often repetitive behaviour, but does not have to be. Bullying can be direct or indirect, and a person can participate in bullying by intentionally assisting or encouraging bullying behaviour in any way. Bullying can take many forms: verbal, physical, social, or electronic (cyberbullying). It can focus on: disability; sexual orientation; gender identity; sexuality; race/ethnicity/religion; or other issues.
Cyberbullying is defined in the provincial legislation as engaging in the above behaviours through the use of the Internet or other communication technologies, including email, social media or text messages.
In Manitoba, there is formal legislation on bullying found in section 47.1 of the Public Schools Act. 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.
For more details on cyberbullying legislation, including federal legislation, please visit: Legal Consequences of Cyberbullying
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.
These are your rights as a parent under the current legislation:
At the School Board Level:
At the Ministry Level:
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:
At the School Board Level:
Students who are being bullied often do not want their parents/guardians to report it to the school out of fear or shame, but teachers and administration need to know about the bullying in order to stop it. Work with your child to determine which adults he or she trusts and feels most comfortable with, so that these adults can be involved in the solution.
Remember: approach the school in a calm, supportive manner despite the painful feelings of anger and worry you may feel. It is your job to protect your child, but it is the school’s role to maintain a safe learning environment for all students. It is the school’s responsibility to determine appropriate responses and consequences for the student who bullied and to maintain students’ privacy. Stay focused on solving the problem – preventing further incidents and enabling your child to feel safe and supported.
If you find out that your child has bullied or cyberbullied at school, either through hearing about it from school personnel, your child, or someone else, your rights as a parent under the current legislation are:
At the School Board Level:
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.
Remember, you are a role model for your children. Children watch what their parents do very closely, and are influenced by your actions as well as your words. If your children see you communicating respectfully and remaining constructive in the face of disagreements with others, they are more likely to behave the same way.
Read more at Safe Schools Manitoba