This week's municipal election marks a great and opportune time for newly elected school board trustees to commit themselves to leading the fight against student bullying.
In particular, trustees in the Chinook's Edge School Division and the Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools are encouraged to make the safety and success of every student a top priority every day of the school year.
And if that means coming down much harder on those who bully, then trustees should know that they have the support of the public at large to do just that.
Bullying of students by their classmates – whether it's in person or online or through other social media – has become a nationwide concern in recent years.
In some tragic cases, including in Alberta, students have taken their own lives as a result of bullying, devastating family and friends and ending what should be productive lives just as they are getting started.
As part of the ongoing fight against bullying, the Chinook's Edge School Division has implemented both policies and procedures aimed at protecting students at all grade levels.
The division's hazing and froshing administrative procedure defines those activities as “those that result in bullying, humiliation or harassment” and that “any activities that encourage hazing should be eliminated.”
“The division believes hazing and froshing activities are detrimental to individual students and school climate and are therefore prohibited. The division believes that hazing is an abusive and humiliating activity and expects that students will neither initiate, participate or encourage hazing or froshing,” the procedure states.
The division's harassment policy prohibits “conduct or communication in any form, (including technology use, computer, internet, email, messaging and cellphone) of attitudes, beliefs or actions which might be reasonably known to be unwelcome.”
The Canada-wide fight against student bullying is stronger than it has ever been, with educators and the public at large acknowledging that when students are bullied, they become victims in need of protection and support.
At the same time, it has become accepted by many that bullies should never be treated with kid gloves, but instead should be handled severely, both as a deterrent to their activities and as a message to others who might consider bullying.
As newly elected school board trustees take up their positions this week, they are encouraged to work with teachers, students, staff members, parents and others to make West Central Alberta schools bully-free.
And if that means that the fight against bullying needs to be stepped up even further, then trustees should do just that.
