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The Star-Ledger
NJVOICES.COM
Protect New Jersey's
kids from school bullies
Posted by The
Star-Ledger Editorial Board March 16, 2009
The New Jersey Commission on Bullying
in Schools has been meeting to consider changes to the state's anti-bullying
policies.
It's a hidden scandal in our schools.
For three nights recently, at locations around the state, the New Jersey
Commission on Bullying in Schools listened to a parade of emotional victims,
frustrated parents and passionate advocates -- all armed with anecdotes and
statistics.
The 14-member panel was formed by the governor to evaluate the effectiveness of
the state's anti-bullying policies. The message delivered in nine hours of
testimony: They're not working. Too many school districts aren't
enforcing them. Bullies are indulged, victims say, instead of being
suspended, expelled and, when appropriate, prosecuted.
Critics say children who are bullied by schoolmates are often victimized again
by teachers who ignore or mishandle the problem, or by administrators who are
more interested in protecting their reputations (and the reputations of the
school or district) and therefore downplay the abuse, hide it or tell victims to
"get tough."
According to the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, 85 percent of gay
and lesbian students will be bullied, and 20 percent will be physically
assaulted. In 80 percent of the cases GLSEN tracked, the school staff did
nothing.
While most bullying involves perceived sexual identity or a disability, it is
not restricted to those situations.
A South Jersey child, bullied daily, had his drink spiked in a restaurant by his
junior varsity teammates. While drugged, he was beaten by the students,
who snapped photos of the assault with their camera phones. Administrators
originally refused to take action because it happened off campus, one parent
said.
Another child was being assaulted on the bus each day, but the principal's
solution was to tell the victim's parents, "Hang on. It's April, the
school year will be over soon."
Death threats are being made in text messages and e-mails and anonymous notes.
One drawing, depicting a student in a noose, hanging from a tree, was taped to
that teen's locker.
Anti-bullying advocates estimate that 160,000 U.S. children skip school each day
because of bullying. Many victims suffer in silence, afraid that reporting
will make it worse. But history shows that unchecked bullying can lead to
depression and suicide and sometimes violent (and massive) retaliation.
Look, we've all been picked on. It's part of growing up. But no
child should be afraid to go to school. When teasing escalates into middle
school emotional hit squads, or when recurring physical attacks bruise kids
inside and out, it crosses the line of growing pains.
Kids will be kids. But kids can also be devastatingly cruel.
And now there is another complication: technology. In face-to-face
bullying, victims know their tormentors. In the murky world of the
internet, faceless bullies can do untold damage to reputations and psyches.
And, unlike other abuse, cyber-bullying doesn't stop when the school bell rings
at the end of the day. Experts say 25 percent of our kids have been
cyber-bullied.
Too often, schools and law enforcement can't decide who should pursue cyber
cases.
The panel, in its report to the governor this summer, should make these
recommendations:
--Schools must change the it's-cool-to-be-cruel culture by teaching students
that bullying won't be tolerated, then enforcing a policy that includes plainly
enumerated consequences.
--There should be mandatory training for school employees -- ranging from aides
to superintendents -- on how to identify and address bullying.
--Teachers and administrators must be held accountable for failing to take
action. Staff should be required to report all bullying incidents to
administrators, and the panel should design guidelines for when and how to
involve law-enforcement agencies.
--Bullying laws and policies should be posted prominently on all school district
web sites. Unfortunately, on many school sites, it's easier to find dress
codes. In some districts, students must read and sign the policy before
each school year.
--School web sites also should contain contact numbers for the Office of the
Child Advocate, the Division on Civil Rights, bias crimes units and other
watchdog state agencies.
Some school districts have been applauded for their anti-bullying efforts.
But testimony to the commission indicates that too many others have failed to
protect our kids. That has to change.
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