Enrichment · Wellbeing

Write it down the day it happens.
Then tell someone.

Keep a dated, factual record of each incident with another student: where, who, what was said, whether it keeps happening and who you told. When it is time to go to the school, print the record and hand it over.

Write down an incidentWhat you get

My record

The worked example is a made-up student’s record of three incidents over three weeks. Your record saves on this device only.

Loading the incident form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

Enrichment · WellbeingFree

What you finish with
A dated record of each incident: time, place, who was involved, what happened in order with words quoted, the kind of behavior, whether it keeps happening, witnesses and evidence saved, how upset you were, what you did, who you told and what they said, and whether you feel safe now; a count of incidents and places; a printed record to give the school.
Who it is for
Students in grades 4 to 12 dealing with conflict, exclusion or bullying, and the parents helping them keep a record.
Format
Browser organizer with any number of saved incidents. Prints one incident, the whole record or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Wellbeing space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Start an incident the same day, while you remember it. Use initials for the people involved.
  2. Write what happened in order, and quote what was said if you can.
  3. Mark the kind of behavior and whether it has happened before; save screenshots if it was online.
  4. Tell an adult and add who you told and what they said they would do.
  5. If it keeps happening, print the whole record and ask the school, in writing, to look into it.

Write down an incident

Why a record helps

Conflict or bullying: what tells them apartConflictBullyingPowerAbout equalOne side has moreHappensOnce in a whileAgain and againPurposeA disagreementMeant to hurt or shameAfterBoth want it fixedOne side wants it to stopConflict or bullying: what tells them apartConflictBullyingPowerAbout equalOne side has moreHappensOnce in a whileAgain and againPurposeA disagreementMeant to hurt or shameAfterBoth want it fixedOne side wants it to stop
You do not have to decide which it is before you write it down or tell someone. The record helps the adults decide.

What the school needs

Schools act faster on specific, dated facts than on “they are always mean to me”. A record that shows the same people, the same places and a pattern over weeks is hard to set aside. Keep it factual and leave out guesses about why people did things.

Your rights, in general terms

Schools that receive federal funds must respond when harassment is based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability; this comes from federal civil rights laws (Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 and the ADA). Every state also has its own bullying law or policy. If you feel unsafe, tell an adult today; in an emergency call 911.

Sources

  1. StopBullying.gov (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). What Is Bullying and Federal Laws (stopbullying.gov).
  2. U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. Dear Colleague Letter: Harassment and Bullying (October 26, 2010) (ed.gov).
  3. Gladden, R. M., Vivolo-Kantor, A. M., Hamburger, M. E., & Lumpkin, C. D. (2014). Bullying Surveillance Among Youths: Uniform Definitions for Public Health and Recommended Data Elements. CDC and U.S. Department of Education.
  4. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (samhsa.gov/find-help/988).

The worked example is made up. This is a record-keeping tool, not legal advice; your state’s law and your school’s policy set the school’s process. Call or text 988 any time, or call 911 in an emergency. Your record stays on this device until you print or export it. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.