Bullying has established itself as a pain in the neck for adults here in the United States (US) over the silent passage of many years. No matter how hard teachers, parents and people in authority come down on bullying, it rebounds with new found aggression. This, nevertheless, does not mean that the fight against bullying is over and that we should surrender our arms to a nuisance that will spread like wildfire if left unchecked. The war that can teach our young generation about how to deal with bullies should not be abandoned so soon. Parents and school administration has many options at their disposal through which they can report incidences of bullying and violence committed against defenseless kids.

Law Of The School Districts

School districts in many parts of the country have formulated a code of conduct for student behavior that allows civil interaction among students, parents/legal guardians, school staff, and community members. This step is taken to create an easy interactive atmosphere for students and adults.

The Commandments

The basic procedure followed in schools to ensure discipline among students and enable parents to report incidents of bullying are below.

• Clearly define student responsibilities, including conforming to reasonable standards of socially acceptable behavior. Obeying constituted authority is compulsory in this regard.
• Appreciate examples of positive reinforcement to excel in good conduct, self-discipline, and academic success.
• Be transparent when explaining student rights.
• Identify misconduct and initiate a due process in that connection.

There are other procedures put in place by school administrations to find new ways as how to stop bullying.

Schools that follow the code of conduct make the principal or principal’s designee responsible for receiving complaints regarding violation of the given policy. All school employees are required to report these violations to the persons concerned.

The Procedures for Investigating Bullying and Harassment are as follows:

• The principal/designee of the school selects another designee, trained in investigative procedures, to handle a reported case. The designee should not be a part of the incident in any way.
• Documented interviews of the victim, the perpetrator, and witnesses are conducted privately and kept confidential. All interviews are to be conducted separately.
• Maximum of 10 school days are dedicated to the filing of incidents and completion of the investigative process.
• If violation falls in the jurisdiction of the district, than the Procedures for Investigating Bullying and Harassment.
• If it falls outside the scope of district and has been identified as a criminal act, the case shall be referred to law enforcement.
• If the violation does not fall in the scope of district and is not a criminal act, then the parents/legal guardians of all students involved shall be informed.

In the case of Louisiana public schools, Act 861 ensure that all school districts maintain a uniform policy to provide equal protection. This Act is known as “Tesa Middlebrook Anti-Bullying Act.”

Per the Act:

• Parents/legal guardians must receive a written copy of the school’s policy prohibiting bullying.
• Parents of bullied students can request a transfer to another school if the persons concerned have made four or more reports on incidents of bullying.
• The LEA must make a space available for the student at another public school under its jurisdiction within 10 days of the transfer request.
• If none of the mentioned options are made available within 30 days of the request, the parent/legal guardian may request a hearing with the school’s governing authority.