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School Employees As Targets Of Bullying

July 2012

By Sara Goldsmith Schwartz

You may have seen the recent news coverage of the bus monitor who was bullied by students. This incident is a sobering reminder that employees can become victims of bullying by students. As reported by news outlets around the country, the incident involved a 68-year-old school bus monitor and four seventh grade students from upstate New York. The students made inappropriate verbal remarks and touched the school bus monitor during a bus ride. The bullying incident was recorded on a cellular phone and posted on YouTube. The video received tremendous public attention and the four students involved in the incident were suspended from school – for one year.

While student-on-student bullying is frequently discussed, student-on-employee bullying has become an increasingly common problem. Clearly, schools are vulnerable to legal claims resulting from such bullying incidents.

In order to foster a culture in which bullying is not tolerated and bullying incidents are quickly and effectively resolved, we recommend that independent schools take the following measures:

  • Conduct a review of the school’s policies and procedures for preventing and responding to allegations of bullying;
  • Ensure that the school’s policies and practices are in compliance with applicable state and federal laws, as well as recommended best practices;
  • Ensure that the school’s policies and procedures adequately address bullying by and against students, employees, volunteers and all other individuals associated with the school;
  • Evaluate the school’s protocols on the related topics of hazing, intimidation and retaliation; and
  • Educate employees, parents, volunteers and students regarding the school’s policies and procedures pertaining to bullying.

* * *

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding bullying prevention and response policies, procedures, and training programs. The Firm conducts bullying prevention training programs tailored to the needs of independent schools, colleges and universities.