Teachers That Make the Extra Effort Can Make All the Difference

I would like to continue our most recent class discussion on bullying and the accountability (if any) the schools should assume. I absolutely believe schools should be held accountable for bullying; most of the time, but this issue isn't that cut and dry as a "yes they should" or "no they shouldn't" assume responsibility. It seems we all agree that schools can be held somewhat responsible for bullying on school grounds, along with the kid and parents. The question becomes when should the school be responsible for off grounds bullying. I recently posted a blog about a bullying incident in Alabama, where it was the second time one particular student beat up another particular student in the same school year. The first time was just a couple punches to the face, causing a black eye, but no further damage. The parents still went with their son the school to discuss with the principle (or vice principle I'm not totally sure) about other minor incidents such as pushing into lockers, knocking books out or the boys hands, etc. Nothing overtly physical, but bullying none the less. The parents said to the school staff that they predicted another incident, and feared it would be worse since the bully had not gotten any consequence for any of the bullying so far. The school thought the parents were overreacting and basically said boys will be boys and they don't have the necessary staff to devote to monitoring the interactions of one bully and victim.

The parents were right, there was another incident and it was much worse. The boy who had been beaten up by the same bully and pushed into lockers all school year is now in a hospital room with multiple broken bones and fractures. They had one picture on CNN when I first saw the story and I had to look away, his face was had no natural color to it, it was smothered in totality by purple and blue bruises. The bigger picture here is not whether the school should be held responsible, but maybe one teacher or counselor had noticed this ongoing bullying earlier, maybe this could have been prevented. It's not that teachers should be babysitters, but If they make the extra effort it can perhaps make all the difference.

Does anybody really not think the school should be held somewhat liable in the case above. The bullying was happening on and off school grounds (the more physical done off school grounds) there was physical evidence it was occurring and the parents went to the school to warn them that a more brutal attack was not possible but "likely" to happen, and the school still did nothing. In fact they did less than nothing by insinuating the parents were overreacting, so they really didn't even assure them that they would make a conscious effort to ensure their son was safe at school. This is one example of many that I would argue that the school should absolutely be somewhat responsible for not taking the bullying issue seriously.

In one blog I read it referred to the low pay public school teachers receive. I couldn't agree more, which is exactly why most teachers would want to make the extra effort to ensure the safety of their students. If they aren't becoming teachers for the money then they are because they legitimately care for the kids right? If they legitimately care about their kids why would not be concerned about what happens to them during off school hours. Teachers are not expected to be babysitters; but they are mentors and could, I'm not saying "should", but could make the difference of a kid being constantly bullied so his/her education experience is one of pain and fear and frustration or by picking up on it in its early stages taking the first steps to put a stop to it so the aforementioned example doesn't have to happen again.