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In reply to the discussion: Twelve-Year-Old Nevada School Shooter Left Suicide Note – Bullies Called Him Gay [View all]greatlaurel
(2,004 posts)In my school district, they call their discipline policy "Zero Tolerance". If there is a fight, both kids are punished equally. This makes sure that bullying becomes rampant. Kids who are picked on are not allowed to protect themselves, so they put up with it until they cannot take it any longer. Every person has a breaking point. Then once they fight back, they get punished equally with the bully. The bullies win no matter what. They get to sit with the bullied child during in-school suspension, furthering the aims of torturing the victim.
It is really sick how so many schools from Kindergarten through university fail to stop bullying. Because the schools and families of bullies fail to address it, bullying continues into adult life and into the work place. Bullying behaviors are acceptable and even encouraged in American culture.
My condolences to Jose's family and to Mr. Landsberry's family. They were both victims of the culture of bullying and, at the local level, the administrators who refuse to protect all their students.