Policy states standards,
discipline for bullying
By anna kreyman
Staff Writer
MARLBORO — Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can also hurt me. This was the concept that Assistant Superintendent of Schools Marc Gaswirth conveyed to the members of the town’s K-8 Board of Education.
At a June 3 workshop meeting, Gas-wirth said every school district in New Jersey must develop guidelines that define bullying and the way it is to be handled. He presented the board with a draft policy which outlined what bullying is and the types of disciplinary actions that will be taken for students who participate in this wrongful act.
"Bullying, harassment or intimidation is defined as any gesture or written, verbal or physical act that is perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus," the draft policy states.
Gaswirth said students need to understand that harming other students is bad and that there are consequences to be paid for their actions.
"The board expects pupils to conduct themselves in keeping with their level of maturity, with a proper regard for the rights and welfare of other pupils, for school personnel as well for the educational purpose underlying all school activities," the draft policy states.
Board President Cynthia Green said that a school cannot be an effective learning institution without orderly conduct and respect between students and instructors.
"We understand that all human beings have bad days," Gaswirth said in his presentation. "Therefore, we will not punish those pupils that overall maintain high standards of self-discipline as harshly as we will those that are constantly getting into trouble."
Students who display chronic behavioral or academic problems may be referred to the child study team for possible identification as disruptive or disaffected, which will be recorded in the student’s transcript, according to the draft policy.
"Pupils who continue to misbehave will be suspended from school," Gaswirth said.
The assistant superintendent pointed out that expulsion is not a plausible solution for students attending elementary or middle schools.
"We cannot expel pupils that are younger than 16 years of age because legally all pupils need to be in school until they are at least 16 years of age whether they like it or not," he told the board.
Alternate placement for students under 16 is a possible solution for a child exhibiting chronic misbehavior, he said.
Board member Mark Orenzow wanted to know how the staff has been trained to determine what a student says to be a crime.
"We let the police decide," Gaswirth said, "but we also need to look at who says this, a second-grader or an eighth-grader."
Gaswirth also reminded the board that an inappropriate act may be non-verbal as well as verbal.
According to the board members, the policy on bullying is important because it will set a standard for students, parents and staff members to understand and follow in an academic environment.
"The best discipline is self-imposed and pupils must learn to assume and accept responsibility for their own behavior, and for the consequences of their misbehavior," Gaswirth said.
The policy is expected to be introduced and given a first reading at the board’s June 19 meeting. A second reading and possible adoption of the policy is scheduled for July 15, according to Sharon Witchel, the district public information officer.