The local school district went to great lengths to write the current "bullying policy." They recruited community volunteers to draft the policy in cooperation with paid school faculty.
Bullying is a big problem and this new policy was supposed to be a major tool in curbing the problem.
Unfortunately, the school says the policy is not enforceable because "it's not a law."
When kids are attacking each other verbally, unless it interferes with a class, nothing is done. Staff will actually do nothing more than observe. Not until something physical takes place will they act. At that point, it's usually the student who's being verbally assaulted who acts out, so it's the bullying victim who gets in trouble, because the school has a zero tolerance violence policy.
Honestly, the problem goes way beyond the verbal problems, but I would be interested in how the school can enforce a zero tolerance to violence policy (if you even defend yourself in a physical altercation, you will be suspended...) but they "can't" enforce a bullying policy they paid their own staff to write - does it really matter if it's "not a law,"?
Bullying is a big problem and this new policy was supposed to be a major tool in curbing the problem.
Unfortunately, the school says the policy is not enforceable because "it's not a law."
When kids are attacking each other verbally, unless it interferes with a class, nothing is done. Staff will actually do nothing more than observe. Not until something physical takes place will they act. At that point, it's usually the student who's being verbally assaulted who acts out, so it's the bullying victim who gets in trouble, because the school has a zero tolerance violence policy.
Honestly, the problem goes way beyond the verbal problems, but I would be interested in how the school can enforce a zero tolerance to violence policy (if you even defend yourself in a physical altercation, you will be suspended...) but they "can't" enforce a bullying policy they paid their own staff to write - does it really matter if it's "not a law,"?
