Bullying in WV Schools: Time to Think Outside the Box

School bullies are nothing new, as we’ve had disturbed, angry, jealous people to contend with since the inception of public education in America.  What is new, or newer, since this has been the slippery slope we’ve descended over the past few decades, is the lack of accountability by school administration.

For generations, children who taunted, teased or otherwise violently acted against other children were punished.  The bullies encountered public humiliation by standing in a corner of the classroom - nose to the wall- while their classmates continued their lessons. They stayed after school to write “I will not hit other kids” one hundred times across the blackboard.  They were paddled on their backside, oftentimes by the principal of the school. In other words, they were made to feel ashamed for their actions and sometimes felt physical pain as well. 

Experiencing pain for bad behavior is a good thing. It’s a necessary thing. Only in a country with inverted values is this to be avoided at all costs.

The means of discipline used in the past served the purpose of teaching valid lessons to the bullies.  They learned that not only is it wrong to harm others, but abusive behavior was not going to be tolerated in school. Today, in 2024, we have to pass legislation, such as HB 2890 to allow teachers the ability to remove students who cause trouble in their classrooms.  It’s no wonder West Virginia has a difficult time finding and retaining good public school teachers:

“When the AFT (American Federation of Teachers) and the WVEA (West Virginia Education Association) did a listening tour statewide last year asking their members to report their concerns, the biggest concern voiced by members was a concern for a breakdown in student discipline.”  - WV Delegate Elliott Pritt, Fayette Tribune, Oct. 2023

Public schools in America have declined so much in this area, that you don’t have to look far to find a former teacher who has left their career over the issue.  Meanwhile, our young generation carries the heavy burden of entering public school with increased anxiety, confusion, and disappointment with authority when they refuse to provide a safe learning environment.

The mantra often repeated from public education employees on bullying include: “Tell a teacher what’s going on. Report it to your guidance counselor.”  And yet, when the student does, oftentimes nothing happens.  Sometimes if a child is lucky, a teacher will remove the problem student to a different classroom, but what does this actually solve?  It’s the same principle as trapping a nuisance bear and putting it in a new region.  The problem behavior is not addressed and corrected, it’s only been moved to a new location.

We are seeing the effects of the lack of accountability across the nation.  Two striking cases that happened recently were in Illinois at Wheaton Warrenville South High School and Pennsylvania at Pennbrook Middle School. The story of the boys at Wheaton and their violent attack on a fellow student went viral after another student shared the video of the encounter.  It also allowed local law enforcement to witness the brutal attack which resulted in charges of felony aggravated battery on public property. 

Closer to West Virginia, a male student identifying as ‘transgender’ savagely assaulted a 13-year old girl at Pennbrook Middle School in PA. He repeatedly bashed her head with a metal Stanley cup at lunchtime, sending the victim to the hospital and traumatizing scores of students.  And this was after school authorities had been notified of a problem with this student. Some testified at their school board after the event.  

One student, identified only as “Emily” who witnessed the attack said, “I just hear all this screaming and everybody running.  All of sudden you just hear these terrible loud bangs of the Stanley bouncing off her head… we had to sit there and watch them clean up the blood off those tables and ground, and we had to watch them take her out with blood dripping down her face and I will never forget that.” 

Why do we have a public school system that is allowing such severe attacks and traumatizing our children?  Why have we abandoned our position of enforcing safe learning environments and holding those who exhibit violent behavior accountable?  The results of this are profound:  black eyes, busted lips, concussions, lacerations, hospital visits, anxious students, fewer qualified teachers entering the field and overburdened, frustrated teachers who remain in the system.

Maybe we can find an answer when looking at the West Virginia Board of Education policy on harassment and bullying.  It states: 

§18-2C-3. Policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying.

"(a) Each county board shall establish a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying. Each county board has control over the content of its policy as long as the policy contains, at a minimum, the requirements of subdivision (b) of this section. The policy shall be adopted through a process that includes representation of parents or guardians, school employees, school volunteers, students and community members."

Each county in West Virginia is responsible for their own policy.  The general statement on the policy for Fayette County reads: “It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain an education and work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful harassment and violence."  (Emphasis mine.)

It’s important to recognize the language used: “Unlawful harassment” is defined as:

"harassment BASED on race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), disability, age, religion, ancestry, or genetic information, collectively identified as “Protected Classes”. (Emphasis mine)

Note that THIS type of bullying behavior is distinct from your average, everyday harassment and intimidation.  One is addressed and disciplined by federal law, the other isn’t.

So, what about students who are being bullied because another student just doesn’t like them because of their character? What about the ones who are jealous of other’s social media status? Or the ones who earned a better grade, a place on the sports team or because a teacher shows them preference?  The violence against these kids is no less than those of the “protected class” defined by our Federal Government and yet they are ranked to a lesser degree by our boards of education.

 From the Fayette County policy on bullying:

“Bullying rises to the level of unlawful harassment when one or more persons systematically and chronically inflict physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees AND that bullying is based upon one or more Protected Classes..” (Emphasis mine)

It may include:

Threats

Intimidation

Stalking

Cyberstalking

Cyberbullying

Physical violence

Theft

Sexual, religious or racial harassment

Public humiliation or

Destruction of property 

But nothing is mentioned about these behaviors that are NOT based on the definitions of the “Protected Class”.  Again, the policy states on the first page: “It is the policy of the Board of Education to maintain an education and work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful harassment and violence.” (Emphasis mine)

In other words, if a student engages in the behavior listed above toward a person because of their race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity, disability, age, religion, ancestry, or genetic information (whatever that means) , the board will “investigate all allegations of harassment and in those cases where UNLAWFUL HARASSMENT is substantiated, the Board will take immediate steps to end the harassment, prevent its reoccurrence and remedy its effects.”

What about harassment NOT based on the aforementioned criteria-?  Classifications of hate seem absurd to the child in the ER receiving stitches because of head injuries from a metal object.  Does it matter that the person slamming your head against a concrete floor is angry because of your skin color or your new shoes or that thing you posted on Instagram?  Can we just call hate, HATE?  

As a result of these thoroughly defined classifications that grant more security to the “Protected Classes” under the Federal Government, violent incidents that happen outside of those parameters may be met with lower standards of disciplinary action.  The routine penalty appears to be suspension, without requirement to meet with the county’s anti-harassment compliance officer.  Did you know we have those?

Three cases in West Virginia, all similar, in the last year from families that do not wish to be identified, expressed frustration that their child was bullied at school repeatedly.  When the concern was brought to the attention of the teacher, nothing was done to correct the situation. After repeated verbal harassment, theft and finally a physical altercation initiated by the bully, the victim child responds in self-defense.  The response of the school?  ‘We don’t tolerate violence.  You’re both suspended.’  The bully is rewarded with a vacation from school while the victimized student is now grouped along with those “problem kids” and gains marks against their attendance and academic achievements.  That child wears a scarlet letter along with the black eye while the root causes of the child acting aggressively continues unabated.  

Since there was no honor given to the children who defended themselves or stood up for another vulnerable student, and only punishment, the lesson they’ve learned is twofold: If I stand up for myself, I’m punished, if I don’t, I’m pummeled.  The kids who defend themselves from physical aggression are penalized by the same system that compromises their safety.

 It’s outrageous and it needs to change.

It’s time for West Virginia parents and lawmakers to get involved in order to abolish the status-quo.  It’s time to think outside the box, get informed and put pressure on your county boards of education.  Here are a few suggestions: 

Support Your Representative.

During election season is a perfect time to speak with your local candidates about their understanding and views of violence in our schools.  If you find a candidate that represents your views, help them in their campaign.

Reward Virtue.
Praising children who defend the vulnerable cannot be overemphasized. Affirming their altruistic actions, especially in the presence of their peers, not only rewards them, but it provides an example before others.  Create a way to honor these kids in the public square.


Encourage Communication.
Our children are growing up in a digital age that hampers their ability to effectively communicate face to face.  Teaching them vocabulary, self-control and healthy debate skills may go a long way in diffusing bullies who only know how to communicate by physical aggression.  Consider starting a debate team at your school.

Punish Vice.
Since each county creates their own policy, even within the framework of Federal guidelines, parents can petition their local boards to create policies that better address the current discipline issues. What about community service as a form of discipline? 

Let’s face it, our school administrators fear litigation more than anything. It’s that fear that is presently keeping boys in the girls locker rooms and bathrooms in West Virginia.  Federal law is working to serve the “Protected Class”.  Citizens need to step up to safeguard the Unprotected Class.