Zero-tolerance bullying policies in schools are more intricate than most parents realize. While the term “zero tolerance” may sound straightforward, the actual policy is far from it. As a result of this complexity, bullying continues to persist in schools.
There are specific guidelines that schools must adhere to before resorting to expulsion, even in cases involving physical assaults. According to the National Association of Psychologists, zero-tolerance policies typically rely on disciplinary measures such as suspension for a wide range of offenses.
The Moreno Valley School District in California reached a $27 million settlement after multiple complaints were made by the guardians of Diego Stolz, a 13-year-old who was a victim of bullying. Tragically, Diego’s parents passed away, and Juana and Felipe Salcedo became his guardians. Despite their best efforts to stop the bullying, they were unable to prevent the relentless torment.
In a devastating turn of events, Diego was pushed, causing him to strike his head on a pillar. A cellphone video captured the incident, revealing Diego’s non-confrontational stance with his hands at his sides. The two juveniles responsible for the incident were sentenced to 47 days in juvenile hall and ordered to undergo anger management training.
Despite Salcedo’s repeated pleas to the school about Diego’s bullying and Diego’s proactive step of reporting it to a teacher, who then involved the assistant principal and offered to change class schedules to protect him from the bullies, no action was taken.
The second grader experienced severe injuries and had to be rushed to the hospital following an alleged incident of hanging. The boy’s mother, speaking in a Fox News report, expressed her distress, stating, “He’s deeply traumatized. He has visible marks under his eyes and bruises on his neck from being choked.”
The school’s statement may not have satisfied the parents’ concerns as they questioned the details of the incident. It has been suggested that the seven-year-old was a victim of bullying by an older student who happened to be in the fourth grade.
The mother of the boy expressed her confusion, stating, “It doesn’t make sense to me. If you’re horseplaying, how do you get caught on a hook? We need answers. I want answers, and we won’t stop until we get answers.”
The school released an additional statement on Sunday, refuting online speculation of a “cover-up” regarding the incident.
“The school principal and the school system are not hiding any information,” the statement explained. “Instead, we are sharing as much information as we can while we carry out a thorough investigation. The investigation is still ongoing, and speculating about what did or did not happen, as well as spreading misinformation, hinders the progress of the investigation.”
A chilling incident occurred when a 7-year-old child found himself hanging on a hook. The potential danger was grave, and it could have resulted in a tragic outcome. Schools are keen on upholding a zero-tolerance policy, as any failure to do so could lead to severe injury. Unfortunately, due to the intricacy of the policy, aggressors often find their way back to the school campus.
Bullying in schools in California is defined as either severe or pervasive physical or verbal acts or conduct, according to the resource provided by stopbullying.gov. It is important to note that the policies in place do not always result in the removal of the bully from the school campus.
Instead, school districts are required to follow a set procedure when addressing bullying incidents. This includes receiving written statements from students detailing the incident, establishing a timeline, conducting a thorough investigation, ensuring protection for those who have made the complaint from any form of retaliation, and maintaining documentation of complaints and their resolution for at least one review cycle.
Anti-bullying and zero-tolerance policies appear to be written in a vague manner. It may be necessary for states, like California, to take a more thorough examination of the “complexity” of these policies, especially in light of the two stories mentioned in this article. If your child has been a victim of bullying, it is crucial to report it to the school immediately.
By following the school’s guidelines, which are designed to protect the person making the complaint, and if the bullying persists, it is important to escalate the issue to the Superintendent of Schools. It is essential to keep fighting for your child’s right to receive an education without the fear of experiencing bullying.
Our thoughts and condolences are with the families involved in both situations discussed in this article. It is our hope that these incidents will serve as catalysts for change in the supposed zero-tolerance bullying policies implemented in schools.
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