BULLYING: Need more than words

As I read Ms. Dolan’s front-page article Sunday on bullying, I became extremely sad. As a former teacher and administrator I know how ineffective words can be in the face of such a serious matter. A bully loves for adults to talk themselves to death about the problem. This is not to say that awareness, meetings, and task forces don’t have value. But where is the bottom line?

Where is the price to be paid by the bully? What are the real consequences? The bullies are listening but all they hear are more words. I read nothing in this lengthy article about what happens to the bully. If I was the parent of a student being bullied I would be incensed by all these words.

I, along with many concerned folks, would love to see Mr. Rutherford come out with specifics regarding the discipline of bullies. What has been done and what is being done and in what specific ways are things improving? There is talk about improving the system of reporting but then what happens?

JIM KORVER

Post Falls