Bullying Policy in Public Schools - Kansas

Page history last edited by Andrea Latham-Ingham 7 mos ago

Note: please note that this issue brief should (a) link back to the issue overview on this topic, (b) be focused either the local, state, national, or global level, and (c) be neutrally presented, based on facts, and include footnotes for each of the items. See the Research Guide and Information Sources to assist you.

Goal Statement

Link here to the Bullying Policy In Public Schools overview page for the goal statement related to this issue brief

Scope of the Problem

There is evidence that in 2/3 of the 37 school shootings since 1974 the attackers felt either persecuted, bullied, threatened, attacked, or were injured by their peers.
Over the last decade there has been an increase in youth suicide and depression; between 1980-1997 the rate of suicide increased 109% for 10-14 year olds.
74% of 8-11 year old students report that teasing and bullying occur at their school.
A recent study indicates that in the United States 5,736,417 students are involved in bullying - as either a bully, a target, or both.
For a better understanding of bullying and the intense social, psychological and emotional problems that it creates visit this PowerPoint.[11]

Past Policy

The Menninger Peaceful Schools research project, which began in 1999, is believed to be the most ambitious privately-funded study of its kind. It was designed to compare an anti-violence/bullying intervention to an intervention that focused on individual students and schools conducting business as usual. Researchers aimed to determine which intervention was more effective at reducing bully-victim problems. Schools were divided into three intervention study groups, including an anti-violence/bullying intervention. This environmental intervention focused on the entire school climate with the behaviors and attitudes of all persons in a school building (students, teachers, even administrative and other support staff). The intervention assumed all could potentially be part of the solution. Preliminary findings indicate that this group was the more effective of the three interventions. [1]

School bullying is not a new phenomenon and has traditionally been thought of as a normal part of childhood and growing up. The common adage “boys will be boys” is an example of how aggressive behavior exhibited by male children is minimized or rationalized as somehow natural. Additionally, some individuals actually believe that children who are bullied are subsequently toughened up and, as such, better prepared for the harsh realities of adulthood. Not only are these types of beliefs ill conceived, but “longitudinal research indicates that childhood bullying is associated with adult antisocial behavior, such as criminality, and limits opportunities to attain socially desired objectives.” (Farrington, 1993 in Craig et al., 1998, p. 7) [2]

Current Policy

Current policy recently approved by Iowa Effective September 1, 2007, Iowa Code Chapter 280 Requires both Public and Nonpublic Schools to establish policies prohibiting harassment and bullying against students by employees, school volunteers, or other students. Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity are covered under the Safe Schools Law. Students' may now seek remedies under both Chapter 216 and Chapter 280.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

Section 1. (a) As used in this section, ‘‘bullying’’ means any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal or physical act or threat

that:

(1) A reasonable person, under the circumstances, should know will have the effect of:

(A) harming a student;

(B) damaging a student’s property;

(C) placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student;

(D) placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to the student’s property [3]
Each school district in Kansas must develop a bullying prevention plan to comply with the state's anti-bullying legislation, which was passed in January and revised in July to include cyber bullying. [4]

Here are the anti-bullying plans or policies in place or being considered by local school districts this fall:
Cyber-bullying and bullying behavior on USD 429 property, in a USD 429 vehicle, at any USD 429-sponsored activity or event, and/or through the use of electronic devices whether on or off campus, are strictly prohibited.[5]
A safe and civil environment is needed for students to learn and attain high academic standards and to promote healthy human relationships. Bullying, like other violent or disruptive behavior, is conduct that interferes with students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to educate students in a safe environment. The school district cannot monitor the activities of students at all times and eliminate all incidents of bullying between students, particularly when students are not under the direct supervision of school personnel. [6]

Policy Options / Program Models

Link here to the Bullying Policy In Public Schools overview page for policy option/program models related to this issue brief.
Proposed Bullying Policy for Kansas (This link will take you back to the main page.)