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BULLIES: Fines aren't sufficient

| August 8, 2014 9:00 PM

“Punishing” the bullies — finally a headline that caused me to go “YES!” But then I read the details.

Kudos to the Coeur d’Alene board for wanting to add criminal charges to the mix. But given the tendency of our legal system to drag things out and then basically give a slap on the wrist, especially to juveniles for less than serious crime, there’s little hope that it will be effective.

Bullying, by its very nature must be dealt with immediately with serious consequences. Otherwise it becomes the talk among the students and many immediately take sides, often against the victim for telling those in authority, and then the problem grows. And when I saw the $72 fine, I thought, “Oh, great, now only rich kids can bully!”

Frankly the “tiered criminal sanction approach” sounds complicated and cumbersome. Again, bullying needs an immediate remedy to be effective. Lacking corporal punishment being administered (which worked extremely well for me as an administrator in private schools), I’m convinced that immediate separation of the offender from other students and monitored travel to and from home is a must. Nothing like having the offender “disappear” for a period of time into the office area of the principal or superintendent to quell further talk. This requires full cooperation on the part of the parents and staff. If parents don’t share in the consequences fully, there will be no long-term solution.

Bottom line, our hearts go out to the students being bullied. As one who loved school, I can’t imagine being fearful to go to what should be the safest place on Earth! My prayers are with them.

JIM KORVER

Post Falls