Anti-Bullying Policies Gain Popularity

The N.C. State Board of Education decided to stop turning a blind eye to a declining school climate when it adopted the “anti-harassment/bullying policy” in July 2004. The NCSBE informed all school districts in the state to create an effective plan “to develop and maintain policies and procedures to prevent, intervene, investigate, document and report all forms of harassment” in place by January 2005. The edict is an effort to curb skyrocketing numbers of belligerent, disruptive, rude, and violent behavior in the school system, said NCSBE Board Chairman Howard Lee.