Bullying is defined as the repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at the victim that causes physical or emotional harm to the victim or damage to the victim’s property, places the victim in reasonable fear of harm to himself or of damage to his property, creates a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringes on the rights of the victim at school, or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. 

Cyber-Bullying is defined as bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include but is not limited to electronic mail, internet communications, instant messaging, posting on social networking sites, or facsimile communications. 

Cyber-bullying includes creating a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person, the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, or the distribution by electronic means or communication of messages that meets the definition of bullying above, whether distributed directly or creating a posting that may be accessible by one or more persons.

Hostile Environment is a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of a student’s education.

Harassment is defined as unwelcome conduct, whether verbal or physical, that is based on: race,  color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or age. Harassment is  prohibited by the Dedham Public Schools, and violates the law. Discrimination and /or harassment  include, but are not limited to: 

• Display or circulation of written materials or pictures that are degrading to a person or group based  upon the criteria listed above 

• Verbal abuse or insults about, directed at, or made in the presence of an individual or group  described above because of one of the criteria listed above 

• Any action or speech that contributes to, promotes or results in a hostile or discriminatory  environment to an individual or group described above 

• Any action or speech that is sufficiently severe, pervasive or persistent that it either (i) interferes  with or limits the ability of an individual or group (as described above) to participate in or benefit  from a school program or activity of the Dedham Public Schools; or creates an intimidating,  threatening or abusive educational environment 

Many forms of harassment have been recognized as violations of the civil rights laws (including Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the ADA, Title VI, Title IX and state statutes like M.G.L. 151C) by  federal courts, state courts, the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, and the  Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination.

The definitions of discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment are broad. In addition to the above  examples, other unwelcome conduct, whether intended or not, that has the effect of creating a school  environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating may constitute discrimination,  harassment and/or sexual harassment. 

Sexual Harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and verbal  or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: 

• Submission to or rejection of such advances, requests, or conduct is made either explicitly or  implicitly as a term or condition of employment, academic standing, school- related opportunities,  or as a basis for employment decisions 

• Such advances, requests, or conduct have the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with  an individual's academic or work performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, humiliating, or  sexually offensive work or educational environment 

While it is not possible to list all circumstances that may be considered sexual harassment, the following  are examples of conduct that violate the law and policy and which, if severe and pervasive, constitute  sexual harassment. In each case, such a determination will depend upon the totality of the  circumstances, including the severity of the conduct and its pervasiveness. Sexual harassment includes,  but is not limited to: 

• Unwelcome sexual advances, whether they involve physical touching or not • Unwelcome leering, whistling, brushing against the body, sexual gestures, suggestive or insulting  comments 

• Sexual epithets, jokes, written or verbal references to sexual conduct, comments about an  individual's body, comments about an individual's sexual activity, deficiencies, or prowess • Discussions of one's own sexual activities or inquiries into others' sexual experiences • Displaying sexually suggestive objects, pictures, cartoons 

The definitions of discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment are broad. In addition to the above  examples, other unwelcome conduct, whether intended or not, that has the effect of creating a school  environment that is hostile, offensive, intimidating, or humiliating may constitute discrimination,  harassment and/or sexual harassment.