an anti-bullying policy that will work

you begin by teaching students exactly what is expected of them in terms of their interactions with adults and other students.

you establish standards of conduct and then you follow through with consistent and inescapable "consequences" for those who fall short of the standard.

with respect to accountability for one's conduct, leadership must be by personal example.

"bullies" are "identified" and "rehabilitated" according to a process that reflects the meaningful participation of stakeholders.

if the bullies are "disruptive"; they are removed from the mainstream. they become the responsibility of other "teachers" with a gift, and an interest, and resources and support.

bullies and other chronically disruptive students are not reasonably the responsibility of a classroom teacher. nor is it the best use of a classroom teacher.

they are again "mainstreamed" when they no longer represent a "disruption" for other students.

there are a lot of words in "quotation". by which it is meant that stakeholders will sit at a round table and decide what those terms mean in their community. ...which implies honest respect for site based decision making; with real resources and decision making power available at the educational interface; the place where students are directly served.

if we have to buck the bureaucracy to do right thing for 98,000 if our sons and daughters; then we will use the district's lawyers and resources to litigate in the interests of students, teachers, parents and the community;

for a change.