Sherrie Bennett
Being victimized by school bullies is a frightening experience for your child, and frustrating for any parent. Ignoring a bully is never the answer: the faster you act, the better the chances of controlling the bully's behavior.
What Is Bullying?
"Bullying" can include lots of behavior, including:
- Sexual harassment of another student
- Teasing and excluding
- Calling names
- Physically pushing or otherwise attacking
- Threatening or hazing
- Damaging or stealing belongings
- Demanding money
Title IX of the Federal Education Amendments of 1972 makes it illegal for any public school receiving federal funding to discriminate on the basis of sex. Recent federal court cases have given parents of children sexually harassed in schools a right to sue their school districts, where:
- The school districts knew of the harassment and were deliberately indifferent to it
- The harassment was so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it could be said to deprive the victims of access to the educational opportunities or benefits provided by the school
What Can You Do As A Parent?
If your child is being sexually harassed or bullied by another student, it's best to take action right away rather than waiting for the students to work it out themselves.
You'll want to talk to teachers and the school principal immediately, as soon as you find out the specific facts. It's important to document times, places and witnesses carefully, so that you can give detailed information to school authorities. Take photos of any injuries, and have your child write down a detailed description of what happened.
If there are other students who are also being harassed by the same bully, you should encourage their parents to speak up to school officials. School representatives are more likely to respond immediately if they see the problem is affecting several students.
If talking to teachers and your principal doesn't bring results within a couple of days, write a letter to the principal and school district superintendent, outlining the facts and demanding an immediate response to the problem. Many public schools have adopted zero tolerance policies against bullying in the aftermath of nationally-publicized school violence incidents, and are especially sensitive to this problem.
Call The Police
If there has been a physical assault of any type, it's important to call the police right away. The police can investigate and check the bully's juvenile records to see if there have been previous assaults. Even if there haven't been prior incidents, the bully will hopefully end up in juvenile court - and possibly detention - as a result of the incident.
The police can help you get a restraining or anti-harassment order keeping the school bully a safe distance from your child.
Talk With A Lawyer
If your child has been physically or sexually assaulted by another student, you'll want to talk with a local attorney right away. Attorneys who sue public school districts or specialize in personal injury litigation are probably best suited to represent you.
Lobby For Anti-Bullying Laws
Once you've resolved the particular bullying situation you're concerned about, consider lobbying for and supporting laws to punish school bullies in your state. Check on the "Bully Police Web site" to find out the status of laws in your state.
If your school district has an anti-bullying policy, but isn't following up with specific education programs or consistent enforcement, it's important to speak out. Being verbally aggressive may prevent bullying of other children in the future.
Related Resources on lawyers.com
- Education and School Law articles and information
- Education and School Law attorneys
- Personal Injury attorneys
- Education and School Law Message Board for more help
Web Links
- Bully Police