Life Lessons and the New Anti-Bullying Law

As the school year is winding down and we are getting ready for finals, graduations, summer camps, and the hot summer days at the pool, perhaps it's a good time to ask ourselves and our children to reflect on the lessons learned this past year.  

I'm not just speaking about those lessons learned in the classroom, but those life lessons learned on the playground and lunchroom as well.  It is important not only to teach our children the academics that will allow them to achieve success in the world, but to respect their teachers, classmates and environment.  More importantly, the children must not only learn these lessons, but be able to use them daily as they face difficult situations. They need to understand what behavior is expected of them and the consequences that will happen when their behavior is not up to par.

Effective September 1, all districts in the state will be required to have an updated anti-bullying policy in effect and all will be graded on how well they handle incidents of harassment and bullying.  Take a look at the DOE document denoting the policy requirements. It is going to take a concerted effort to ensure that the district meets the state requirements, and it is supposed to be done using current resources, with limited incremental costs.  I'm not entirely sure that this requirement can be met while incurring little to no additional costs, but this is an area worth funding!

I truly believe that we need to put a stop to bullying and there should be a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment. It should not have taken a suicide by a Rutgers student to put a strict policy into effect. As a parent, I have watched children's behavior toward their peers be both compassionate and abrasive.  I have seen cases where teachers and administration have handled issues well; and I've seen those where things got way out of control and were not handled properly. 

Perhaps we can ask ourselves how many times we felt that our children were either victims, bullies or bystanders during this past year.  More importantly, are we sure that they have the tools to act appropriately and not succumb to peer pressure?  When you are informed about an incident that your child was involved in, do you jump in and defend your child or do you hold your child accountable at home as well?   

Bullying occurs at all ages and all stages. If we try to ignore it, it won't go away.  Are you willing to share your experiences and how the adults involved handled the situation?  Do you think your school has dealt with harrassment issues properly?  If not, what should be done differently?  Do you think the new policy is beneficial for schools or is there too much red tape involved?  Please share your thoughts on this topic.