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Highlands Today

School District Revising Bullying Policy

Photo Illustration by Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

The School Board of Highlands County will be voting Nov. 10 on a comprehensive revision of it's bullying policy.

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: October 23, 2008

SEBRING - Bullies beware - Florida school district's, including the School Board of Highlands County, are revising their bullying and harassment policies.

The Florida anti-bullying law, passed by the Legislature in April, requires each school district to adopt a code of conduct against bullying and harassment by Dec. 1.

The School Board of Highlands County's policy is based on the model policy from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE), School Board Attorney John McClure said Wednesday. Most districts are using the model policy.

"I know that Broward County has one that goes far beyond the model policy and some counties are looking hard at that," he said. The FDOE has endorsed the Broward policy as a very good policy.

Bullying is addressed on one page in the Highlands County District's Code of Student Conduct.

The proposed policy covers 13 pages, which includes detailed definitions of bullying, harassment and cyber stalking, and addresses consequences, parent notification, reporting and investigation procedures.

Instructions on identifying, preventing and responding to bullying or harassment is also called for in the proposed policy.

Retired educator and Sebring Optimist Club member Gabriel Read said laws have to be updated with more detail. The club has been active in fighting for stricter rules regarding bullying.

"The way these defense lawyers have been so creative, if it's not specifically spelled out in the law then it's not a crime," he said.

Deputy Superintendent Rodney Hollinger noted recently that district personnel have been involved in 28 training sessions on bullying since 2002.

Bullying has been an issue the district has been on top of for quite some time, School Board Chairman J. Ned Hancock said. "I'm glad to see the state is finally catching up with us."

The School Board of Highlands County will vote on adopting the revised bullying and harassment rule at its Nov. 10 meeting.

The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act requires schools to adopt policies to discourage bullying in person and online or risk losing state funding.

While 35 states encourage schools to develop comprehensive anti-bullying policies, Florida is only the second state to penalize schools that don't comply.

The law is named in remembrance of Jeff Johnston, of Cape Corral, who took his own life in June of 2005. His mother said it followed years of face-to-face and online teasing and harassment that started in middle school and continued at high school.

According to Florida law and the Highlands County School District's proposed policy, "bullying" means systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve: teasing, social exclusion, threat, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, sexual, religious or racial harassment, public humiliation or destruction of property.

Five Ways To Handle A Bully

1. Stay calm and alert. Consider the options and do nothing to escalate the situation.

2. Walk away. Fighting isn't worth it. You do not have to prove yourself by fighting.

3. Take a non-violent stand. Speak respectfully: "I don't want to fight you."

4. Report it to authorities, but discuss with them how you will be protected from retaliation.

5. Get away. Find safety or call for help.

Five Ways to Prevent Bullying

Conversely, parents often do not learn that their children are bullying other kids until they get a phone call from school or another child's parents. If you suspect that your child is picking on others, here are some ways to intervene:

1. Notice if your child lacks empathy, dominates others, is selfish or refuses to accept responsibility. This could be a warning sign of bullying tendencies.

2. If your child ever engages in bullying acts, he should apologize to the victims and undo any damage, such as replacing stolen or destroyed property.

3. Make sure your child doesn't hang out with other bullies who may be influencing his behavior. If he does, encourage new friendships.

4. Help your child understand that physical or emotional abuse is never acceptable.

5. Talk to your child, other parents, and teachers about what is going on. The more you know about your child's everyday activities, the better you can prevent at-risk behavior.

Ken Druck is author of How to Talk to Your Kids About School Violence and founder of the "Families Helping Families" program.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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