NationStates Jolt Archive

About a month ago my high school adopted a policy of bullying and harassment prevention. I think you may find it interesting.

Here is a link to the official bill. (Note that it was passed way back in 2002, but my school started enforcing it in 2005)
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A2000/1874_I1.HTM

For those too impatient to investigate something for a few minutes, I'll capitulate the main points for you:

1. Harassment, intimidation and bullying disrupt a student's ability to learn in a safe environment.
2. "Harassment, intimidation or bullying" includes, but is not limited to, any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.
3. Schools have local control over the content of the policy.

Doesn't sound TOO bad, does it? But wait... would you like to know how it's being put into effect?

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

Discuss.

that's so lame

That's totally retarded and gay. :rolleyes:

I really don't separate those expressions from "You're a ******" or "What a polack". They may be popular, but they are still discriminatory and epithets. While perhaps punishment is a bit far, it would be nice to think people could be civilized about expressing their displeasure with something.

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

Good. Those expressions don't belong in a school environment where everyone is supposed to feel, and be, safe. That they are popular is no excuse - they are derogatory, mean and, well, stupid.

Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.


The terms are hurtful. Period. And really, really overused in schools.

Perhaps their heart is in the right place, but I for one don't think that you can ligistate against bullying and such attempts just complicate an allready tough issue. Like you said such phrases are common and are mostly said without any spite or malice towards the reffered groups, this doesn't make it acceptable to use these phrases but I hardly think useing them qualifies as bullying and such measures do nothing to solve the problems of bullying.

(PS I onl read the summary, not the article)

You CHOOSE to tell people you are gay. You have to realize that if you admit, you will probably be made fun of. I personally think that you choose to be gay, but even if you don't, if you tell people you are, you will get made fun of. You should just expect this. I feel sorry for retarded people, and i try not to say retard. People need to realize that if you treat kids perfectly, they will grow up pussies and not go anywhere.

I really don't separate those expressions from "You're a ******" or "What a polack". They may be popular, but they are still discriminatory and epithets. While perhaps punishment is a bit far, it would be nice to think people could be civilized about expressing their displeasure with something.

Here, here.

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

I'm not entirely convinced this is 100% accurate.

But so? What does "written up for punishment" mean?

Is calling someone "gay" or "retarded" or "similar ... expressions" OK, just because it is popular?

Is the the point to teach you that using such expressions is wrong and inherently harmful?

Under the statute, you were given clear warning. The school district formed a policy, defined improper conduct, described what condut was expected, described what the consequences of improper conduct would be, defined what the consequences of a false accusation would be and publicized all of this! If someone chooses to disregard the policy despite knowing about it, tough cheese.

You have no right in school to insult or harm others or to disrupt the education process. That is the point of the policy.

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

Discuss.

You obvivous mean to harm someone by using those offensive phrases. Calling something "gay" means it's homosexual, which is infered as "bad" then.

You obvivous mean to harm someone by using those offensive phrases. Calling something "gay" means it's homosexual, which is infered as "bad" then.

And calling someone a "retard" in that contact infers that they are stupid. That is supposed to mean they have delayed development, which makes fun of people who actually are mentally handicaped.

Thats good. I'm all for zero tolerance. Maybe the teachers will be able to do their jobs now. Kids are there to learn. How many kids have been tortured and teased while teachers and bus drivers pretended not to notice? They make it the victim's problem-the victim has to "tell" a responsible adult and often winds up suffering more for that. Others keep it quiet til they explode and kill someone or themselves.
Curtail the bullying behavior, dont tolerate it. Come down on them hard and early and stop it from becoming a common practice. I was bullied in the 5th grade on an occasion. Serious bodily harm came to my aggressors and I was supposed to be in trouble, but instead had a father with a set of balls that put the school and police back in their place. No teacher saw me being picked on by one boy, they didnt see it escalate and draw in his toadies, but all of a sudden became aware when a swingline stapler began denting their heads. If someone victimizes my kids in school I will make sure the school is doing everything they are supposed to-if that doesnt work, I will go to the kids house to straighten it out with the kids parents.

And calling someone a "retard" means their stupid? That is supposed to mean they have delayed development, which makes fun of people who actually are mentally handicaped.

Um, yes.

Don't know why the question mark.

The school has a responsibilty to educate my children. They also have custody and care and a safe environment. Isnt it hard enough to learn, without worrying about the scum bag that wont learn is teasing you constantly or he's going to get you after class or in the gym locker room?
If I cant trust them to do this, I have to go to school with my kids.

we all know this isnt aimed at two kids bumping into each other in the hall and one blurting out "asshole" in frustration. We know it means targeting and deliberately pressuring a victim, demeaning and threatening.
I dont do it and I wont tolerate it happening to anyone I know.

About a month ago my high school adopted a policy of bullying and harassment prevention. I think you may find it interesting.

Here is a link to the official bill. (Note that it was passed way back in 2002, but my school started enforcing it in 2005)
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A2000/1874_I1.HTM

For those too impatient to investigate something for a few minutes, I'll capitulate the main points for you:

1. Harassment, intimidation and bullying disrupt a student's ability to learn in a safe environment.
2. "Harassment, intimidation or bullying" includes, but is not limited to, any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.
3. Schools have local control over the content of the policy.

Doesn't sound TOO bad, does it? But wait... would you like to know how it's being put into effect?

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

Discuss.

There should be a zero-tolerance policy on bullying and harrassment, the latter being taking that "you're gay" remark and doing it continuously and to be hurtful. That crap is creates infinite problems later on in life for the victim, and was cited as one of the main reasons the guys at columbine murdered many of their classmates.
However, free speech is the cornerstone of free thought, and offhand remarks like "thats so gay" or "you're retarded," should not be punished. Only when the effect and/or intent was to harm someone physically emotionally or psychologically should the school step in.

Sounds like a great idea to me. I hear those terms every day at school and I hate it.

But so? What does "written up for punishment" mean?

Is calling someone "gay" or "retarded" or "similar ... expressions" OK, just because it is popular?

Is the the point to teach you that using such expressions is wrong and inherently harmful?

You have no right in school to insult or harm others or to disrupt the education process. That is the point of the policy.

I'm not *exactly* sure what happens when you're written up. I've heard of incidents of chats with the vice principal, warnings, and detentions. I've never been written up because I don't say stuff like that.

By the way, I agree with everything you're saying. I'm just bringing to policy to everyone's attention.


You obvivous mean to harm someone by using those offensive phrases. Calling something "gay" means it's homosexual, which is infered as "bad" then.

Exactly the administration's point. And, FYI, I always tried my best not to use these phrases before any of us knew about the policy. I'm trying to be objective. Please don't kill me. :p

There should be a zero-tolerance policy on bullying and harrassment, the latter being taking that "you're gay" remark and doing it continuously and to be hurtful. That crap is creates infinite problems later on in life for the victim, and was cited as one of the main reasons the guys at columbine murdered many of their classmates.
However, free speech is the cornerstone of free thought, and offhand remarks like "thats so gay" or "you're retarded," should not be punished. Only when the effect and/or intent was to harm someone physically emotionally or psychologically should the school step in.

Interesting double-speak.

Are these statments "the cornerstone of free thought" or are they "offhand remarks"?

"That's so gay" and "you're retarded" don't contribute much to the marketplace of ideas, do they?

And the effect of the widespread use of such terms do harm other people emotionally and psychologically.

Whether one makes such statements out of ignorance of their harmful nature or not, one may be appropriately punished when one knows they are not to use the terms at all and does so anyway. The intent is to break the rules -- rules designed to prevent the harm. "You can't prove I meant any harm" is not particularly relevant.

I am a strident defender of free speech. But there are limits. And you are in an educational setting. There are further appropriate limits. And derogatory slurs -- which may be protected speech in some contexts -- are inappropriate in public schools.

About a month ago my high school adopted a policy of bullying and harassment prevention. I think you may find it interesting.

Here is a link to the official bill. (Note that it was passed way back in 2002, but my school started enforcing it in 2005)
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A2000/1874_I1.HTM

For those too impatient to investigate something for a few minutes, I'll capitulate the main points for you:

1. Harassment, intimidation and bullying disrupt a student's ability to learn in a safe environment.
2. "Harassment, intimidation or bullying" includes, but is not limited to, any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.
3. Schools have local control over the content of the policy.

Doesn't sound TOO bad, does it? But wait... would you like to know how it's being put into effect?

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

Discuss.


But its not good to be using that language. Maybe you can LEARN something and stop acting homophobic. It might not be bad to you, but think about other people for a second. If you were black in an all-white school, you wouldnt want people saying "nig***" to you all the time, so whats the difference.

About a month ago my high school adopted a policy of bullying and harassment prevention. I think you may find it interesting.

Here is a link to the official bill. (Note that it was passed way back in 2002, but my school started enforcing it in 2005)
http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2002/Bills/A2000/1874_I1.HTM

For those too impatient to investigate something for a few minutes, I'll capitulate the main points for you:

1. Harassment, intimidation and bullying disrupt a student's ability to learn in a safe environment.
2. "Harassment, intimidation or bullying" includes, but is not limited to, any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic.
3. Schools have local control over the content of the policy.

Doesn't sound TOO bad, does it? But wait... would you like to know how it's being put into effect?

Anyone caught saying "That's gay," "You're retarded," or similar popular expressions (at least in my school) is immediately written up for punishment. Even if the intent to harm someone was not confirmed.

Discuss.

You're retarded and homosexual. No harm intended.