“If you do it one more time, I am going to…” These threatening words characterize a scenario I witnessed many times in my child’s middle school. The teacher who uttered these words drove me nuts. She constantly threatened students, but she did not follow through. Her words were never linked with action, so her credibility was lost.
The State Board of Education recently discussed and debated a policy against harassment, bullying, and discrimination that reminded me of this teacher. How many policies or rules are needed before enforcement? Maybe one more?
Let me be the first to say, I have no tolerance for treating others hurtfully. My parents and teachers taught me, and expected me to be kind. Actions otherwise led to consequences I learned to avoid. You know, the golden rule, or else. My peers and I were not given chance after chance to change our behavior. Words meant action!
Obviously the State Board of Education assumes systems around the state ignore the current laws, policies, and regulations regarding these actions. Besides federal and state laws regarding such acts, Mecklenburg County has 41 references to policies discussing harassment and discrimination. A Wake County School System’s website search revealed 66 responses regarding harassment, bullying, and discrimination. Do you think maybe it is time for enforcement?
Department of Public Instruction officials said they routinely receive reports of instances of harassment and bullying. So this policy mandates local boards to “develop and maintain policies and procedures to prevent, intervene, investigate, document, and report all acts of harassment, bullying, and discrimination.”
DPI wants to foist more paperwork on all systems. In a statewide policy no one school will be accused — you know, the shotgun method. Thinking more policies and paperwork prevents these acts is naïve, to say the least. More words without action simply lead to credibility lost, just as in the case of the middle-school teacher.
Why don’t they enforce what is already written? Well, then there would be no media attention or political correctness. It was fascinating watching the board’s two-day debate regarding this policy. The first draft included 19 factors to look for regarding these acts. The list included: “an individual’s race, color, sex, religion, creed, ethnicity, political belief, age, national origin, linguistic and language differences, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, socioeconomic status, physical characteristics, marital status or disability.”
While the general policy was not controversial, the list created disagreement. The board instructed its staff to present two policies for action the next day — one including the list, the other without.
The next day a motion was made to adopt the policy without the list. Quickly, a substitute motion was made to adopt the policy with the list. It became obvious State Superintendent Mike Ward wanted the politically correct list, while Chairman Howard Lee chose the other. Both passionately advocated their point of view. A vote was finally taken and wisely a majority of the board defeated the substitute motion. The policy without the list prevailed.
There is no need for another policy, particularly with all the added paperwork and staff development mandated for local systems. However, I applaud the rational decision to remove the list. In fact, one comment from Lee merits repeating. He said including the list encourages individuals to feel victimized. Amazing, that was just what I was thinking.
So while parents, citizens, and policy-makers continue to question academic standards of North Carolina schools, never fear. Our schools will now be freed from all acts of harassment, bullying, and discrimination. This time they mean it!