School Bullying

It is indeed good that the sheriff's office created the Critical Incident Response Plan. All public schools desperately need such a program. Right here in Highlands County, several students were severely brutalized and traumatized with little follow-up.

The recent incidents elsewhere clearly mandate that measures be taken to protect all students, especially the vulnerable ones, and especially in this day and time. History shows that the basis for these terrible acts begins in the home, not in the school; yet, our society expects the schools to resolve these serious problems.

It is also known that the bullied can and do become bullies, so the effort by the sheriff's office is only one part of the need to protect the vulnerable. Domestic violence is another serious malady in our society, but we are slow in addressing it. How many spouses have to be killed or maimed before the government passes appropriate laws, and the courts enforce them to truly hold violent perpetrators accountable, and their victims safe from them?

Our students need a safe and positive environment in which to learn and become productive citizens. At least there they would have peace of mind.

An effort has been made for over two years to urge the state Legislature to update the laws that regulate conduct on school campuses. The current laws simply do not address the violations and crimes committed on campus. Two critical issues pervading our schools are bullying and truancy (truancy is one significant consequence of bullying.) Those laws do not require timely and efficient procedures to address noted violations, etc. and they do not establish and regulate appropriate penalties.

The Legislature needs to update those laws; they also need to be prodded by every parent and every civic, social and religious organization in this state that serve our youth to demonstrate the urgency of such action. It is tragic enough that our schools have to be surrogate families for many students.

Gabriel Read
Avon Park