PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth schools just got tougher with bullies. At a Portsmouth School Committee meeting on Nov. 18, a resolution was passed prohibiting all students from harassing, intimidating and/or bullying any other student at school or at any school function or school-related activity.

The language for the policy is quite inclusive, addressing a number of different areas, and accomplishes its goal, said Portsmouth Schools Superintendent Tim Ryan.

"I think everyone is more alert to the issue," he said. "I think we need to be very aware to these types of things. One of the biggest challenges we face is knowing our kids. We do well, but we're not perfect."

The move to adopt this policy brought Portsmouth schools into accordance with Rhode Island General Laws, Chapter 21, Title 16. The new policy will be included in all student handbooks as well as with the Portsmouth Policy Manual.

The new policy includes a variety of different associated topics. Along with definitions of what is harassment, intimidation and bullying (see attached story), it also includes a section encouraging all students, school employees, volunteers and other members of the school community to promptly report all instances of harassment, intimidation and bullying.

"Sometimes kids hesitate coming forward," Mr. Ryan said. "Some of our students just don't have the confidence it takes. We need to help with that."

The policy also states that the school department will, from time to time, provide training on this subject to school employees and volunteers who have significant contact with students.

Mr. Ryan said that bullying is one of the more difficult situations for administrators and teachers to deal with. It can often times be very subtle, like a quick look or glare and other ways that students can react non-verbally to each other.

"There's nothing more painful than watching students get up from a lunch table and move away from another student just because he sat down near them," Mr. Ryan said. "That's just a horrible thing."

The gray areas involved in the issue make enforcing the policy that much more difficult. There are, however, more blatant displays of intimidation and harassment like fighting, swearing and taunting that are easier to diagnose.

"We keep annual discipline records and for the more severe cases we will involve the police," he said.

But according to Mr. Ryan, schools in general are a lot safer than they used to be. The majority of schools in this area and around the country offer some of the safest environments available to children.

"Things have changed from when I was going to school," he said. "I remember when I was in school seeing more than few fist-fights break out in the school yard. You don't get as much of that now."

According to the superintendent, the newly adopted policy is likely to see most action at the middle school level. "They're at an age where they're developing physically and socially. At the high school kids are more live and let live. They do their own things."

The adoption of the policy, which was required by state law, also mandates reprimands for any hazing activities that are sometimes associated with the high school athletic teams.

"Our kids live in a tough age," Mr. Ryan said. "We're well aware of what's out there."

A clear statement

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth School Department is hoping that the newly adopted policy on bullying removes any confusion from what is and isn't bullying. Here's what the policy states:

Harassment, intimidation or bullying means an intentional written, verbal or physical act or threat of a physical act that, under the circumstances:

1. A reasonable person should know would have the effect of physically harming the student, damaging a student's property, placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person, or placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to his or her property; or

2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.

By Josh Bickford

jbickford@eastbaynewspapers.com