Fly4Fun;1400430 wrote:Are fights now a zero-tolerance situation where they don't account for the circumstances?

It's been a while since I was in grade school, but in the 90's the staff generally tried to figure out the circumstances and handle punishment appropriately.

Gblock;1400431 wrote:most of the time its student A getting on student B's page and saying im going to kick your A** or You suck d*** or your mom sucks d*** etc..

as far as the police..they dont really have time for this around here. i doubt you would get very far with that. plus, while they dont mind coming to the school with this issue, most around here probly wouldnt "snitch" to police

JU-ICE;1400442 wrote:This was just an update in the Newark Advocate: http://t.co/zSpkqAP8Og

Basically, a fourth grader has been suspended for cyber bullying. The article states it did not happen during school, but was a violation of the schools Code of Conduct.

Fly4Fun;1400430 wrote:Are fights now a zero-tolerance situation where they don't account for the circumstances?

Manhattan Buckeye;1400445 wrote:The article doesn't say suspended (unless I read it incorrectly). Just disciplined. You know, a talking to, as in stop being stupid.

redstreak one;1400579 wrote:For those of you asking why schools have these policies, ask yourself do you think they want to do this? Do you think boards of education, superintendents, principals and teachers want to have to handle these types of problems? The majority would be no, now there are some out there I am sure that love to get involved in everybody elses lives, but the majority are forced by parents, and the public in taking care of them. What is funny is law enforcement and our courts would laugh most of this stuff out of the courtroom or police station, but heaven forbid the school not look into it and handle it! lol

gut;1401586 wrote:To me there are, or should be, parallels to the workplace. Harass a colleague outside of work and you likely will be fired. Besides maturity, which would dictate more leniency and alternatives, I don't see a significant difference vs. the classroom. It's the same goal - an atmosphere conducive to what you are trying to accomplish (learning in this case), and as such I think a code of conduct should apply outside the school walls.

gut;1401586 wrote:To me there are, or should be, parallels to the workplace. Harass a colleague outside of work and you likely will be fired. Besides maturity, which would dictate more leniency and alternatives, I don't see a significant difference vs. the classroom. It's the same goal - an atmosphere conducive to what you are trying to accomplish (learning in this case), and as such I think a code of conduct should apply outside the school walls.

Think about how backwards that is - we recognize that mature adults' productivity and livelihood can be threatened by such harassment, but with kids it's just part of growing up, with absolutely no distinction for the degree and type of bullying?

What I'm saying is being part of the school community imposes certain responsibilities on those kids. And if a parent is unwilling or unable to control their kid, I think the school should have options up to and including expulsion.

Manhattan Buckeye;1401721 wrote: You can't just say "besides maturity" because it is all about maturity. Maturity is why kids can't vote, can't get a credit card, can't do a lot of other things and are treated like kids. I would guess everyone as a child was "teased" or "bullied" at some point. How the child deals with it is part of growing up. I can see how the internet makes such more public, but the issue itself has always existed.

gut;1401772 wrote:Learning maturity is also part of growing up. I'm not sure when kids know better, but I'd suggest it's at a pretty young age. Learning there are consequences to actions is something responsible parents begin instilling at a very young age.

hasbeen;1401779 wrote:And if the parents don't do that, the schools have to? I'm not sure I like that.

Benny The Jet;1401824 wrote:I don't think the schools HAVE to, but they do one way or another. Example, homework not turned in that day = no recess. Not very effective for high schoolers, but works on elementary.
Another example would be if you keep your notes in order and worksheets in order, you can use them on your test. If you're not responsible enough to be organized, you won't have the benefit of having them to help you.

hasbeen;1400665 wrote:Not disagreeing but at some point schools needs to give responsibility back to the ****ing parents.

hasbeen;1401779 wrote:And if the parents don't do that, the schools have to? I'm not sure I like that.

Gblock;1403838 wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/middle-schooler-says-administrator-bullied-her-opening-her-124813672.html

this is a lil extreme but along the lines of what things i have seen in schools.

Off camera, one of them reportedly told the station that school officials possess far-reaching authority to investigate issues related to student safety — authority that could even exceed the power that mere police have to investigate mere crimes.

gut;1403841 wrote:As it relates to behavior that adversely affects the school's community, yes. If you want to be part of that community, then you have to live up to and adhere to certain standards and code of conduct. The parents can choose to intervene to change behavior, or they can find a new school for their kid. Not sure how that's the school taking away responsibility from the parents.

hasbeen;1403850 wrote:I'll bring up the dumb baseball example again: If Johnny and Joey get into a fight on the baseball field(not a school sponsored event) and then there is tension in class, but nothing that breaks school rules happens. Should Johnny and Joey be suspended?

What I'm arguing is that it shouldn't be the schools responsibility to discipline students for things that happen outside of school events.

hasbeen;1403850 wrote: What I'm arguing is that it shouldn't be the schools responsibility to discipline students for things that happen outside of school events.