At what point is this going to stop? We have been talking about bullying for years. Schools know it is wrong. Teachers know it. Coaches know it. Parents know it. We know the warning signs, we know the damage it can cause, and we have policies and prevention programs designed to address it. So why does this continue to happen?
Bullying can include threats, physical aggression, humiliation, intimidation, exclusion, and harassment online. According to StopBullying.gov, bullying generally involves aggressive behavior, a power imbalance, and conduct that is repeated or has the potential to be repeated. When a child says they do not feel safe, that deserves to be taken seriously.
Oklahoma already has laws and policies addressing bullying. The Oklahoma State Department of Education provides guidance on bullying prevention, school policies, and student safety. The federal government also provides a summary of Oklahoma bullying laws and policies. The rules and resources exist. The harder question is what happens after someone reports a problem.
“How many times does a child have to ask for help before somebody listens? How many warnings have to be ignored? How many children have to get hurt before we finally decide that enough is enough?”
— Donald E. Smolen II
Parents should also pay attention to changes in their child’s behavior. Federal guidance identifies possible warning signs such as unexplained injuries, declining grades, difficulty sleeping, suddenly avoiding school, losing friends, or becoming withdrawn. Parents can review additional warning signs at StopBullying.gov.
If bullying, threats, or violence continue, parents may also want to keep clear records, including:
Some bullying or harassment may also raise federal civil rights concerns. Families can learn more through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
We already know bullying is wrong. What matters now is what happens when a child asks for help. When warning signs are reported, someone has to listen. When serious problems continue, responsibility cannot simply be passed from the student to the teacher, coach, administration, or parent while the child remains unsafe.
Smolen Law | The Alpha Firm represents families in serious matters involving school violence, bullying, student safety, staff misconduct, civil rights violations, and institutional negligence. Not every bullying incident creates a legal claim, but when a child has been seriously harmed and there are questions about what was known or whether warning signs were ignored, families deserve answers.
Learn more about School Assault, Bullying and Student Safety at Smolen Law.
Our children deserve more than another conversation about bullying. They deserve to be safe.
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