Since 1999, every state has passed laws to address the problem of school bullying. Public awareness about bullying and the harm it causes has increased, and many school districts have adopted anti-bullying policies. Yet, bullying has become an even greater problem. To better understand how schools are adapting to combat bullying, let’s look at the components of a typical anti-bullying policy and highlight recent trends.
Anti-bullying and cyberbullying laws and policies differ from state-to-state and are adopted at the state and local level. In some cases, different schools in the same state could have different anti-bullying policies. Ideally, every school should have a written anti-bullying policy. Typical provisions include:
Most schools’ anti-bullying policies are posted on the school’s website. Recent trends have shown that schools are taking steps to increase awareness of these policies and to make them more accessible to parents, students, and the public at large. In addition, schools may be required to file statistical reports with the relevant school district or state agency. This may include reporting the number of bullying incidents by category, such as physical bullying, verbal bullying, and electronic communications bullying, more commonly known as cyberbullying.
Anti-bullying policies have changed over time. In addition to the basic provisions noted above, some schools encourage parental involvement to help eliminate bullying, which can include education efforts for parents and students alike.
When a child is bullied physically, the injury may be apparent. If a child gets a bloody nose, you can see the physical harm, but the mental harm may not be apparent. Victims of bullying can experience severe and lasting emotional harm such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Bullying has even been known to cause students to commit suicide. Incorporating provisions on victim assistance, such as counseling and treatment for mental health issues, into anti-bullying policies is becoming more common.
Preventing bullying in the first instance is the primary goal of a good policy. Unfortunately, bullying can happen no matter how many steps a school takes to prevent it. Thankfully, many school policies are progressing to require access to counseling and other mental health treatment.
Targets of bullying can now be threatened, harassed, and ridiculed 24 hours a day via text and social media. This can be a very vicious and destructive form of bullying. Schools recognize that cyberbullying causes harm to students’ academic performance and school activities’ participation and is destructive to the student body as a whole.
Even though cyberbullying might actually occur off-campus, many schools have begun adopting policies to prevent online bullying. This is because, while the bully may have uploaded the offending material outside of school, the post can still be viewed and circulated by students who are on campus. As a result, good anti-bullying policies are being updated to address this new online threat. In summary, anti-bullying policies serve an important role in protecting students from abuse. When a good anti-bullying policy is followed and enforced, it can make a huge difference in students’ lives.
Written and maintained by the LegalShield content team, covering legal and identity protection topics for individuals, families, and small businesses.
It’s usually much easier for families to settle an estate with a Will than without one. The term for dying without a Will is intestate. When this happens, state laws determine the distribution of an estate, not the person who has passed or the people they care about. If you’re trying to settle an intestate estate, consider seeking legal guidance.
In this guide, you can find more information on conservatorship vs. guardianship, as well as alternatives to these options.
Unilateral is a common descriptor for contracts that means “one-sided.” Rest assured that in most situations, a lawyer can worry about contract interpretations for you, but read on to find out more.
A Beneficiary Deed is a legal document where you name someone to get your real estate after you die. In many states, it’s also called a Transfer-on-Death Deed (TODD). This type of deed can help property pass to a named beneficiary without the hassle of probate.
Your daughter just went off to college and became ill. She goes to the doctor, and they want to see certain records from her childhood, such as shot records. She calls you and asks you to call the family’s long-time pediatrician to acquire the records. No problem – right? You call, and the office tells you that since your child is 18, you are no longer allowed access to her records. Your child is an adult and as a parent, you have lost your authority.
In general, the answer is no, you can’t get a divorce for free. That may be disappointing news if you’re interested in a free divorce, but the good news is, there are ways to lower costs.
Let's walk through how much it costs to change your name by situation, what you'll pay to update your documents, and how to keep your total expenses as low as possible.
Before you decide what to do about a traffic ticket, take a breath and seek some advice. Every situation is different, so ask a lawyer to explain your options.
