Nova Scotia’s provincial legislation defines bullying as: repeated behaviour that is intended to cause or should be known to cause fear, intimidation, humiliation, distress or other harm to another person’s body, feelings, self-esteem, reputation or property, and can be direct or indirect, and includes assisting or encouraging the behaviour in any way. It can focus on: disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, sexuality, race/ethnicity/religion, or other issues.
Cyberbullying means a direct or indirect electronic communication that was intentionally sent to cause harm to another person’s health or well-being or where the sender was reckless with regards to the risk of such consequence. Such communication may include a web page, blog, profile or message that was meant to impersonate another person, disclose sensitive information, threaten or offend another person, make a false allegation, encourage a person to commit suicide, or make any communication that might encourage someone to do any of the above.
In Nova Scotia, there is formal legislation on bullying and cyberbullying. The Promotion of Respectful and Responsible Relationships Act was passed in 2012 to amend the Education Act to address bullying by promoting respectful and responsible relationship. The legislation requires school principals to address all incidents of bullying, whether face to face or electronic and whether on or off school property if such behaviour significantly disrupts the learning climate of the school.
In July 2018, Nova Scotia furthered the protection provided to victims of cyberbullying by passing into law the Intimate Images and Cyber-Protection Act (https://nslegislature.ca/legc/bills/63rd_1st/1st_read/b027.htm). Nova Scotia is the first province in Canada to adopt legislation focused on unwanted sharing of intimate images. The legislation provides support and access to non-criminal prosecution to those who have experienced cyberbullying or unwanted sharing of intimate images. The legislation allows victims or their parents to seek compensation, prohibit further contact between the victim and another individual, request the removal of online content, receive protection orders, and participate in a restorative process to resolve a dispute.
Legal Requirements for Private Schools in Nova Scotia
Under the Education Act [PDF], there is no definition for the word “school”. However, the Act does define “private school” as a school, other than a public school, that serves school-age children and has a curriculum comparable to that provided by the public schools but does not include a home-education program. The Act also states that the Minister may appoint or designate a regional education officer to assess a private school, and to perform “such other duties with respect to the private school as the minister may require. This provision, and the inclusion of private schools within the Act would suggest that private schools in Nova Scotia are not exempt from ministerial regulation and the same responsibilities that public schools owe to maintain a safe and inclusive environment also apply to private schools in Nova Scotia.
Educators share responsibility with parents and other adults in students’ lives to nurture the development of the social emotional skills that students need to engage in healthy relationships, and to teach students that bullying is wrong and unacceptable.
This is what is expected of you as an educator:
If a student discloses, or if you as an educator have witnessed that a student has been bullied or cyberbullied at school, or if you hear about it from school personnel or someone else, these are your responsibilities as an educator.
You are expected to respond to unacceptable behaviour, such as bullying and cyberbullying, in the following manner:
And finally,
Remember to consider your own behaviour, despite any disagreements or hostility you may encounter. Children and youth closely watch what the adults in their life do and are influenced as much by your actions as your words. When students see you being respectful and empathic towards others, even when you disagree, they are more likely to behave the same way.
For more resources, please visit: PREVNet.ca