Why 100% of Schools Need to Have a Zero Bullying Tolerance Policy

By:Bella Gallo 

Opinion

Every school across the country should enforce a Zero Bully Tolerance Policy. Zero Bully Tolerance Policies refers to a system where the school has predetermined consequences for bullies which are usually serious and end in expulsion or suspension. To make schools as safe of a learning environment as possible, all schools should enforce this type of policy and here is why. 

First, this type of policy prepares students for the real world. These policies act as "laws" and if broken there are serious consequences. In the real world no matter what their reasoning or excuse for breaking the law is they will most likely still pay a fine or even due time for their crime. This policy introduces the same idea that actions have consequences and that the students will be held accountable not only in their school years but in the real world. 

Next, this policy leave absolutely no room for favoritism. Each person who is receiving consequences for bullying, will receive the same consequence. This will completely rule out any possible chance of favoritism to certain students, genders or races. This promotes equality and reiterates to students the importance that every human being is treated equally in any type of justice system. 

Furthermore, a zero bullying tolerance policy sets clear guidelines. This eliminates any confusion and clearly informs the students of what the consequences will be for bullying. This will keep them from pushing the limit or seeing how much they can get away with. The will better understand the severity of actions when they see it is paired with such serious consequences. 

I know what you're thinking, isn't this all a little too much, they're just kids? But the reality of the situation is that bullying has long term effects that can be detrimental to the students lives. Not only does the victim experience these affects, but bystanders and the bullies themselves do too. The Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs says these victims can experience long lasting anxiety and depression in addition to a major decrease in academic achievement. Students who are victims of bullying can quickly lose their love of school and learning as it becomes an anxiety trigger for them. This can make them feel isolated causing depression and loneliness. That is why these strict zero tolerance policies need to be implemented. We can not let our students be stripped of their love for school while we only give their bullies a day or two of detention.

The consequences for these bullies need to be concrete and made clear to all students. Enforcing zero tolerance policies is a huge step in the right direction to make schools a safe learning place for everyone. But some argue these policies are too much.

Connectusfund.org reports that some have major problems with these types of policies. One argued that educators must be educated on how to enforce these types of policies correctly. All sides considered, educators would simply have to report the situation to the schools disciplinarian, who should already be well educated on bullying in schools and what its consequences should be. Not every teacher may have the capability to see situations with their students unbiasedly, which is why reports of bullying could be handed up to administration where the policy could be implemented from there. 

With the growing use of social media and cyber-bullying, schools need this policy more than ever. All schools need to protect their students and implement a zero tolerance bullying policy. Next time you hear a conversation debating the pros and cons of a zero tolerance policy, I challenge you to use what you learned today to inform your colleagues.