Why do we need federal laws to make bullying a crime? And why do we need to require schools to have anti-bullying policies?
The saga of Billy Wolfe should be enough to convince you. Over a year ago, Billy was being bullied relentlessly by two bigger guys from his high school in Fayetteville, Arkansas. He was beaten up in a bathroom at school and on the school bus and in shop class and in Spanish class. The bullies put up a Facebook page harassing him. A brother of one of the bullies even recorded on his cell phone camera, the bully getting out of a car, walking up to an unsuspecting Billy, who was waiting at a bus stop, punching him hard enough to leave a fist-size welt on his forehead and then showing the video around the school.
The authorities did nothing while the violence and brutality went on for three years. Billy’s parents tried to get the bully’s parents and the school authorities to stop it but the assistant principal, Byron Lynn Zeigler, did nothing to stop it. Oh, he said it was Billy’s fault. He blamed the victim. The school bus incident was recorded, but the Ziegler immediately suspended Billy. Days later watched the recording and showed Billy’s parents that their son was innocent.
Billy’s parents finally went to court. After almost a year, the court has ruled on whether to keep considering the motions on behalf of Billy.
Why do Billy and his parents need laws?  And why do we need to require schools to have anti-bullying policies?
According to the story by Scott F. Davis in the Northwest Arkansas Times, although the court kept intact many of the charges, it ruled that the plaintiffs (Billy and his parents) failed to show that the school had an official policy that lead to the alleged problems surrounding bullying.
Let’s put that in simple English. Assistant principal Ziegler argued that since the school didn’t have an official policy supporting bullying, it wasn’t the school’s fault that bullying occurred on school premises and they can’t be held liable for the bullying. Also, since the school didn’t have official anti-bullying policies, he didn’t have to stop the bullying; even that part of the bullying that occurred on school grounds.
Because there are no laws specifically about bullying and beating kids up, Billy’s parents had to try to use laws that are on the books against sexual harassment.
Now do you understand the need for laws that would require administrators to take proactive measures to prevent bullying on school grounds? Also the need to have laws that would require administrators to stop bullying that’s brought to their attention.
The kids at school all knew what was going on. They knew that the legitimate authorities had turned their backs and given the bullies a free hand. When the responsible authorities allow bullies to control the turf, they allow violence and scapegoating, harassment and brutality.
Billy may have tried to fight back, but that doesn’t make him the problem. That just makes him one child against large kids. And with the size disparity that often happens in middle school and high school, he can’t win without adult help. When his parents went to the schools, way back at the beginning when it was only threats, the district wouldn’t act.
I’m sensitive to principals that don’t protect the victims because I’m from Denver. Remember Columbine High School.
Of course, the bullies’ parents are to blame for allowing their sons to act that way. But when schools tolerate bullying, the real problems are the administrators (principals and assistants) and teachers.
Have those ignorant, cowardly principals in Fayetteville not learned anything. There are many schools in the country which don’t tolerate bullying because the principals won’t tolerate it and, therefore, their teachers and staff won’t either. And they’re bound by the same statutes and the same laws of conscience as in Fayetteville.
Whatever the court decides on the basis of law; shame on those adults. They have shamed themselves and their community. They are definitely not models who should be allowed to teach or administer for children.
Resource cited: http://nwanews.com/nwat/News/74359/
Ben Leichtling, Ph.D. is author of the books and CDs “How to Stop Bullies in Their Tracks,†“Parenting Bully-Proof Kids†and “Eliminate the High cost of Low Attitudes.†He is available for coaching, consulting and speaking. To find practical, real-world tactics to stop bullies and bullying at home, school, work and in relationships, see his web site (http://BulliesBeGone.com ) and blog (http://BulliesBeGoneBlog.com ).
15 users commented in " School Anti-Bullying Laws Needed to Protect Kids "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackA traumatic experience such as bullying could make such an implications on children when they older. It’s good to enact Anti-bullying laws to prevent serious consequences.
That is so sad. I wish someone would stand up & fight that school about having nothing in the policy. People like that Principal are the reason everyone is killing everyone.
there are so many clicks these days the bullys parents and the principal were probably bbq buddies so they let it slide, the principal is in charge of ALL the students and thier saftey and should have done the right thing and put a stop to it law or no law, how can you expect kids to go AND do well at school if they dont feel safe??? its a bunch of bs if you ask me…so many people nowadays are afraid of offending “the in crowd” (it happens with adults to) they cant do the right thing, if vidios were going around school and all the kids knew what was going on the principal should be fired. big applause for billy for continuing to attend scool with that going on shows who the true MAN (adult) was in this case…i really hope this so called principal faces legal charges and loss of job!!!!
pretty sad they have to have a “official” policy to do the right thing, this principal would probably walk past/ignore it if he saw something happining off school grounds like a 2grader getting beaten up by a 6grader….why cant people do whats right this man is a coward!!!
There is a zero tolerance for drugs..and there should be for bullying too!
And for the teacher or principal who doesnt want to deal with the parents????..GROW A SET!
Adults in this generation are so afraid to upset the parents or make the kid feel bad…messed up!
Bill O’Reilly said it best when describing this overcompensating on our kids…..
“Every child gets a trophy”….Yes, sums it up!
Thanks for the comments.
The reason we need anti-bullying laws? If everyone did what was right, courageous or necessary, we wouldn’t need laws. But since people are always people, we need laws to set standards, specify consequences and support people who want to stop the bad behavior.
That is, we need anti-bullying laws because of the parents, principals and communities that don’t stop bullying. The laws will help the abused and harassed parents and principals stand up to the bullies and their bullying parents. Laws will force reluctant principals and school districts to act or be held liable.
Best wishes,
Ben
Thanks for the comment, HateLiars.
Often, principals are reluctant to take on bullying parents who protect their little terrorists. Hopefully, the laws would give courage and support to principals’ who want to confront bullying parents who pay their salaries.
Best wishes,
Ben
I went online to find something that would help me regarding bullying in school. Last Thursday my son was jumped by a fellow student and sometime during this incident my son saw another student hand the bully some brass knuckles. The fight was broken up and my son was sent home on the bus. I was never notified from the school, I had to hear it from my son. I took pictures of his eye. My husband and I went to the school very irate and met with the vice principle Mr. Beckart. He told us that it was still under investigation and that my son needed to sit in detention until the investigation was completed. I told the principle NO I will bring my son home before you punish him with detention while you figure things out. I got a call at the end of the school day saying that my son was suspended for 5 days! The same that was given to the bully! I was so angry! The principle said he did a thorough investigation and talked to witnesses that my son did throw punches. It was later that day that my daughter came home who attends the same school and she said she talked to about 5 people who saw the whole thing and they said my son did not hit back and that he was being choked and that my son was trying to push the kid off. SO here I am with my son suspended for 5 days, a black eye, a whimp considered by others because he did not fight back and I have NO RECOURSE! We feel like such victoms. (the reason why my son did not fight back was because he has been in a fight before and was suspended for fighting back and he did not want to get suspended because it is the end of the school year and he is trying to pass all his classes and he knows that getting suspended would put him behind) This is so unfair!!! On a side note this kid has been harrassing my son since the 7th grade and my son is in 9th now. There should be some rights for those of us who are victums of bullying!
Hi Lana,
I’m sorry for what’s happening to your son at school.
On the face of it, assuming your son isn’t at fault, it sounds like you’re not going to get any help from the principal or the assistant. Punishing everyone equally is cowardly. It’s been going on for at least two years and he should know who the bully is. Most of the kids know. Asking the bully’s friends is like asking Draco Malfoy’s friends in the Harry Potter series.
You won’t be given justice. Like your son, you’ll have to fight for it.
Administrators, especially cowardly ones, hate publicity. But they can be moved if there’s a lot of publicity that they’re not protecting kids. How would they like to be known as the principal who didn’t stop bullying at the next Columbine High School?
Get facts, interview as many kids as possible. Find students who have been bullied by the same kid. Rally parents. Get a lawyer who knows how to generate a lot of negative publicity. Get the radio stations talking about the problem at the school and that the assistant principal is not stopping it. I’ve been an expert on shows like that and they can be very effective.
Or, get your kid out of there. School is hard enough to get through without having to waste time protecting himself from thugs and terrorists.
Good luck and best wishes,
Ben
First, I would go to the police and get them involved. Secondly, I would go to the news media and get a TV backing. Lastly, I would go to the parents and possibly get my minister to come for support as well. Also going to the school board should be on the list. As a parent I will do what is necessary to protect my kids and believe me I would win if I was put to the test. I would also frequent the areas the bully is and get video to prove the problems exist. Go after the bully and make a difference if you don’t take a stand other kids could also become victims!!
Well my son goes to a school were they started a bulling program it is new to the school It is not working out they have bulling in the lunch room and at the bus stop I just found out last night my son was hit in the growin for no reason the witness say I called the bus driver and they saud that I need to take him to the Er and call the police so I did the Er visit and called the police to our home and they did nothing they said to call the school on monday and take it up with them and so thats what we are doing then to find out my son and other kides are getting bullied and no one is doing any thing about it well I am going to speek for my son and the other kides I will not have this kind of things go on any more and this is why our kides are getting home schooled I really don`t want to go that way my son does love going to school just not what is going on I just pray that I can get this worked out with out going nuts I need to know the law on a 15 yr old hitting younger children my son is 13 yrs old thank you I needed to vent and maybe some one my know our rights thank you .
It is so sad to hear these stories. My three children have been bullied to different degrees. Contacting the Department of Education and reporting, the pediatrician’s help, the police for any physical assaults (insist on an incident report if they won’t file charges), the press, school board meetings and lastly legal recourse. It takes persistence to irritate enough people to get help. Also, the bottom line counts with the school district. Forget the bullies’ parents – apple doesn’t fall from that rotten tree.
Black people had to fight long and hard for their right to basic human respect. Now it’s time to wage a similar battle to ensure human dignity for the most helpless of our citizens: school kids who get ganged up on by yellow dog cowards. A MARCH ON WASHINGTON to pressure lawmakers to enact new anti-bullying legislation is needed. Bullies destroy lives. They are selfish beasts and if it’s no longer safe for them to bully, they’ll be less likely to keep on doing it.
my 10year old daughter was physically assulted by another little girl in her class she was hit several times and punched in the stomach this happened just out side of the school yard property the school administration said they cannot take action and are not responsible the child was not repremanded i dont know what to do the next day i went to pick her up and the little girl was following her again
Hi,my son is in High School and was beaten up by his girlfriends’ ex, who sent messages and threats before the incident (we need to take things serious). My son did tell his uncle, who told him to be smart and ignore him (not to play his game) and that the ex would just get tired and leave him alone. Well the ex never got tired and went with his friends to my in-laws neighborhood where my son and his girlfriend were out for Halloween night, he then got out of the SUV and started telling my son stuff while his friends just yelled to get it over with. That night the ex beat up my son and took off, we are talking about a kid who is part of the wrestling team, football team and ROTC from the school (of course well known) and my son is new to the school and to this city. Well as any concerned parent or guardian would do my in-laws called the police and filed a report, then informed the school (only because the kid had been sending him messages before) after this the mother came to school only to say that her son had been threatened before and that he was only defending himself???? I don’t understand how could some parents just be so in denial especially after their child in past times has been involved in fights with other kids and is very disrespectful with teachers and coaches???? Now we are going to trial and I’m very disappointed because the father blames my child for ruining his son’s future scholarships and stating that his life will be ruined!!! My son told this kid to be smart and not fight because he knew he had all these things going for him and this kid said he didn’t give a #?!?! The school does not want any part in this because since it didn’t happen in school, but guess what my son and this kid go to the same school and he did want to meet him after school one day to fight, so what does this tell us that it can happen anywhere, anytime, bullies just don’t care! Now we will just have to wait for that day in court and expect justice , because I know that he will keep bullying other kids.
I feel frustrated knowing other kids know about the incident and aren’t willing to cooperate just because they are afraid or are buddies to this kid……I do hope all parents take things serious, because you never know how far it will go. My husband and my in-laws knew that the kid was bothering my son and believed my son when he said it’s all right and taken care off, well it sure got taken care off “My son got his ass kicked” and I was not here to protect him!!! If you are wondering why I didn’t do anything when this happened, well I was out of town!!!!
I have a gut feeling that I should take my child out of this school, what do you advice since we do have to wait for court???
We really don’t want to mess up anyone’s future but something needs to be done???
Thank you for allowing me to vent….
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